Ram Cichlid Turned Dark And Inactive.

[Chelonia]

The last time I saw my Ram cichlid it was in good condition it ate competitively along with mbuna cichlids and frontosas. This Ram cichlid had been with me for more or less two months. I don't see it being bullied by other cichlids. So i was greatly wandering why it suddenly became awkward. I've noticed this behavior for almost 3-4 days now. Just last night I saw it surfacing and breathing there for a long period of time. It was lethargic. I don't think it's poor oxygen because my pump releases air into the water, and other cichlids don't behave the same. I became critical to think it's experiencing neuropathies due to high oxygen in the tank, because of it's small size. So earlier this morning I did a 25% water change and cleaned the foam in my filter. Thinking it's reacting to the water quality; because I fed the other cichlids guppies last days and it might have raised unhealhty substances. But I'm wandering my Black Ghost Knives are just doing well, which are more sensitive to water quality - right? Or maybe it's reacting to the frequent methylene blue application into the tank? and regarding this , does methylene blue kill my good bacteria in the filter? So, anyways, I'll be going home later this afternoon after my class. I hope see it improve or to observe it improve in the following days. BTW, it turned dark, though the rainbow colors did not fade. I don't think it's sad because it has no ram companions. Nor it's in mating color and behavior. Please HELP! Thanks!

 

[meguro]

u shouldnt mix new worlds with old worlds. No doubt ur tank has a pH of like 7.8+ and high hardness. That would make it pretty adverse for the ram and most likely the BGKF too

 

[snowflake311]

Why are you going to add methylene blue? Do you have parasites?

Have you checked your water? Whats the Ammonia, nitrites, and nitrates? If its 0 0 and nirtates under 20 your good.

If its a Blue Ram its stressed the ph might be too high. That is a very bad mix of fish for a Ram to live with. If you can move the Ram to a QT tank and keep water clean feed him good food and see if he get better. A little R&R with clean water and do wonders for a fish.

 

[spectrum]

Rams need a pH of around 5.5 and mbuna need around 7.8. Nuf said.

 

[kaivalagi]

Rams need a pH of around 5.5 and mbuna need around 7.8. Nuf said.

I think you've quoted the lower limit, the upper pH requirement is more like 6.5-7.0 but none the less based on region and pH requirements you can't really expect to keep blue rams and mbuna in the same tank!

In a couple of months cichlids can change, the likely hood is he wants his own space and so do the others...and he's getting the brunt of it as he's no match for them what-so-ever