Sick Ram - Swim Bladder?

[LucyLu]

I posted in the new freshwater section but this is perhaps better off here. Please can you help my german blue ram is sick and not able to swim.. It's staying on it's side and is curled up.

Tank size: 2ft by 1ft. 60l
pH: 8 - 8.2 ! How do I lower the PH? It's quite high naturally in London.
ammonia: 0ppm
nitrite: 0ppm
nitrate: 0.3ppm
kH: not sure. strip test and it's 10ºd
gH: not sure. did a strip test and it's 14ºd.
tank temp: 28 degrees.

Fish Symptoms: no lesions. staying at the bottom of the tank. contorted body/curled up. looks dead. gills not inflamed. looks slightly paler than usual.

Volume and Frequency of water changes: 10-15% once a week

Chemical Additives or Media in your tank: no chemicals except to make tap water safe. soft fine gravel. plants. rocks.

Tank inhabitants: 2 platys and 6 black neons. Plus this 1 german blue female (am/was going to get a male for her). Other fish are fine and feeding well.

Recent additions to your tank (living or decoration): nothing recent.

Exposure to chemicals: not to my knowledge

Digital photo (include if possible): I can't get a clear pic. Sorry.


Should I take her out and put her in a dark quarantine tank? I can set one up quickly.

Lx

 

[deftuch]

Offcourse if you can set up a quarantine tank then do it! As you must he aware hes in a bad way. Good luck

I meant to day she but never minf

 

[bae1994]

A qaurentine tanks a good idea as long as you have a cycled filter it sounds to me like internal parasites so I'd put her in qaurentine then treat for internal parasites if I was you and keep up the water changes

Bae

 

[LucyLu]

Thanks both. I'll quickly set up another tank now. Take it I shouldn't have as much water in there?

I've just done a water change on my main tank in the meantime as I thought it might help.

Lx

 

[bae1994]

Well what size is the qaurentine and do you have a cycled filter because if not you'll do more damage than good

 

[LucyLu]

It's a 30l biorb as that's all I've got right now.. it'll take a short while to set up.

I'll not put the ceramic media in as she's just at the bottom of the tank and I don't want her to be hurt.

 

[bae1994]

Ok then I'd take some filter media only a small amount and put it in the biorbs filter or a internal if you've got one spare and no I wouldn't fill it to the top as it will have more surface area then

 

[Keeper Of Cichlids]

Just remember with GBR they can get sick very easily if their water parameters are not pristine.
You can lower your pH by using driftwood or peat, your right about the pH in London, always so flaming high.

 

[LucyLu]

Thanks guys. I'm just setting up the biorb now. I had to move a cave over her and point the opening towards the front of the tank as the platys came over to see if she was dead!!!! I'm sure they would have eaten her alive.

I'm really worried about her and hope she makes it. I'll let you know.

Lx

 

[LucyLu]

It's died. Absolutely gutted as she was fine yesterday.

Will get some driftwood tomorrow to try and keep the PH down if indeed that was what caused the issues.... I tried driftwood before and no matter how much I soaked/scrubbed/boiled it kept on discolouring the water. Grr.

Or if I use peat, what do I do with peat and where do I get it from?

Sorry for all the questions.. I just don't want to lose another fishy.

Thanks for all the advice guys, I appreciate it.

Lx

 

[Keeper Of Cichlids]

I've used these in the past in my filter and it lowered the pH - http/www.ebay.co.uk/itm/AQUARIUM-PEAT-BALLS-X-5-LOWER-pH-AID-FISH-BREEDING-/320841033557?pt=UK_Pet_Supplies_Fish&hash=item4ab39da755#ht_1038wt_1139

Sorry for your loss.

 

[LucyLu]

I've used these in the past in my filter and it lowered the pH - http/www.ebay.co.uk/itm/AQUARIUM-PEAT-BALLS-X-5-LOWER-pH-AID-FISH-BREEDING-/320841033557?pt=UK_Pet_Supplies_Fish&hash=item4ab39da755#ht_1038wt_1139

Sorry for your loss.

Thanks so much.

I'll definitely buy some of those peat balls! Do I just plop 1 or 2 of them into the tank? I think it will definitely help to keep the water PH low as I'm struggling with that.

Lx

 

[Keeper Of Cichlids]

I think you put it in your filter, thats what I did and it worked.

 

[LucyLu]

I think you put it in your filter, thats what I did and it worked.

Cheers mate. I'll give it a whirl. I watched the YT video that was included in the Ebay description and you can also plop them in and give the ball a squeeze one a week.

 

[Keeper Of Cichlids]

Your welcome and Lol cool.