Lateral Lines On Rams

[LosC519]

What is the cause of noticeable lateral lines on fish?

Most of my Rams show a thick black discontinued lateral line on the body. Others have a very thin needle like line on the body. The different lines vary on each fish and some lines are more vivid in others. Other then that they appear healthy, colorful, active and social. I keep them on HBH sinking cichlid pellets (waiting for some nls in the mail). They also get all Hikari; Tubifex worms cubes, freeze dried krill, frozen brine shrimp, frozen bloodworms and they like to munch on my Corys sinking wafers.

What can I do about the noticeable lateral lines? I have a pic but it's not as clearly noticeable.

Pic of black discontinued lateral line on Ram

 

[Gilli]

I think this is to do with their moods. I have German blue rams and when one is being chased (as they do with their little 'love/hate' relationships) it loses its colour and get that pencil black line you are talking about.

 

[LosC519]

Yes I noticed it has alot to do with mood change. When I feed meaty foods they brighten up and most of them lose their lateral line completely. When they argue with each other I noticed one will show a lateral line while the other does not. The most dominant Ram in my tank never shows a lateral line.

They hate the pellets I have them on, I can't wait for the NLS to come in the mail. They get really excited when they see me preparing meaty foods for them. Was wondering if anyone feeds their Rams beef or chicken? I would like to feed them some boiled chicken breast.

 

[Gilli]

Thats funny - I found my two hated the cichlid pellets I bought for them too! I feed mine on a high quality flake, and frozen red mosquitto lavae, daphnia and shrimp brine. They are also very partial to prawns, algae wafers hard boiled egg and any snails I find and squish for them which they eat out of my fingers.