Mysterious Bolivian Ram Death

[SandMan8388]

I recentley went on vacation (ski trip to be exact). And when apon return I noticed that my Bolivian ram was extremely slow and inactive. I didn't think much of it. But it ended up getting worse, and he became very dark in color and sat on the bottom of the tank. This morning he was just sitting in one of the flower pots. But when I got home from school, I found him still a very dark color, and dead. Really unusual though, because the rest of the community is great and none the less happy. I also have a pair of blue rams as well that are doing great.

Here are my water conditions:
NO2: <0.3
NH3+NH4: 0
pH: 7.4

Thanks for your help, input, or advice!

 

[Katchan]

-these are guesses and supossition only

1. Stress from your blue rams

2. An internal disorder

3. Old age? Most dwarf cichlids are not long lived (2-3 years an average)

Andrew

 

[SandMan8388]

Never thought about an internal disease. May of been the cause. I do not think it was stress from the Blue Rams, because he was significally more dominent. Thanks for the help!

 

[Katchan]

Just because the bolivian was larger and may of been dominent this can change, 2 smaller fish can be more powerful than one larger (I have a pair of 3" convicts that happily hold off my 5" queen of the tank blue dolphin (c.moorii)), and if the blue rams decieded to dominate the bolivian for potential breeding reasons or whatever they could probably manage it. Are the blues acting different, is your girl getting really colourful?

But as I said this is all guesswork really without any obvious signs it can be hard?

Andrew