One Of My Blivian Rams Dont Seem Well

[Dan-CR4]

One of my bolivian rams has gone dark in colour, also he has gone to the bottom corner of the tank with his head pointing upwards and hardly moving at all, even if another fish comes by and pokes him/her. No signs of white spot and all fish have been in the tank since the tank was cycled 18 months back except, 3 siamese algae eaters that were added 6 weeks ago but they are fine and so are the rest of the fish at this time

I have had the tank cycled over 18 months. My water stats that I just checked is

Ammonia 0
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 40
ph 7.8

temp is normal and did my water change sunday as normal and using prime. have done nothing different this week.

Other tanks mates

3 Keyhole cichlid
3 Bolivian Rams (plus the unwell one making 4)
9 Rummynose Tetra
2 Mollies
3 SAE
Malaysian Trumpet Snails

Tank contents: sand substrate, planted, bogwood, rocks & coconut cave.
any help is really appreciated.

thanks

Danny

 

[colleen0309]

Well, your tank is cycled and no ammonia or nitrites. Your pH is high for rams but as long as they are aclimatized to it, that shouldn't be a problem. What is your water hardness, Kh? These are soft water fish and sometimes they can't take the hard water. My blue ram did the same as yours. Unfortunately, mine died before I had a chance to figure it out.

 

[Dan-CR4]

I have not a kh test kit, one thing I should really purchase. The bolivian rams have been in my tanks for 18 months and all four were fine, now this one just dont look well at all, he/she is the smallest of the four I read on a a website that Bolivians would be alright up to 8ph heres what they say about them

Tank Setup

Provide a fine substrate of sand or fine gravel. Bolivian Rams tend to be relatively shy, though if they are provided adequate cover and light-dimming plants, they will thrive.

Temperature

78-80°f (25 to 26°c)

pH Range

Bolivian Rams are fairly adaptable and can live between pH 6 and pH 8.

Hardness

Again, due to adaptability, anywhere from 3 to 12°dH.

I know the ph is the higher side of what they are quoting but thought it would of been ok and up until today have really been well. hope that the PH is not too high for them now.

 

[colleen0309]

As I said, the pH probably isn't the problem. Could the other two rams have paired off and this one is being picked on? I don't have any bolivian rams, but I have kept blue rams. When I lost one of my females, I really don't know for sure what caused it, except maybe the other female. She kept chasing the other one away from the cave. Sorry, that's all I can think of.