Quarantine ram - mellow or...

[Chris1212]

New bolivian ram in quarantine for about a week now. I haven't seen him eat at all. Swims in place most of the time, periodically turning or going to the other side of the tank. Quarantine tank mate (a male Platy) is very active and eats.

The first day he was in quarantine he was pretty active, testing the boundaries of the tank but now, nothing....I can't tell if he is just chilling out or something is wrong. Almost a week of not eating as far as I can tell.

Tank is 0-.25 ammonia, 0 nitrites, 5-10 nitrates. 77-78 degrees.

Wondering if he would do better or be more active if I moved him to the main tank.

 

[Chris1212]

I ordered some bloodworms so maybe that will do the trick tomorrow or the day after when they arrive

 

[itiwhetu]

These guys like a sandy base and some live plants wouldn't go a miss

 

[Chris1212]

Hmmm wondering if I should just move him into the main tank.

 

[itiwhetu]

He looks healthy enough to me

 

[Retired Viking]

.25 ammonia worries me, I would do a large water change 50-75%. Test you new water before adding it to the tank and see if there is any ammonia. Sometimes when using water conditioner on water with chloramine, ammonia is released because it is a binding agent. This ammonia shows up in some test as the same as regular ammonia. It is a different type of ammonia.

 

[Chris1212]

Thanks for the reply and advice. In my main cycled tank I consistently get .25 ammonia. maybe it is more yellow and closer to zero on the API master test kit but I have a hard time telling. Regardless, can't get it to pure yellow and the fish in that tank are seemingly thriving. I do 59% water changes in my quarantine tank every other day replacing it with both dechlorinated tap water and water from the main tank (about 50-50). I also dose the new water with Seachem Prime.

 

[itiwhetu]

Do you have live plants in your main tank

 

[Chris1212]

No unfortunately fake plants, but plenty of cover and hiding spots with them.

 

[itiwhetu]

Live plants will help to get your ammonia level down. What else is in the main tank

 

[Chris1212]

Two platies and a swordtail (all male) plus three amano shrimp.

 

[itiwhetu]

Will the Bolivan Ram be Ok with shrimp. We don't have shrimp in NZ so have no idea.

 

[Chris1212]

Maybe,maybe not. If the shrimp become a snack I'm ok with that (they are funny to watch). They have gotten bigger so maybe they will be too big....or the thing that gets him hungry again