Somethings Wrong With My Blue Ram Help!

[xbeckix88]

Firstly i hope this is the right section apologies if it isnt, i only signed up today!

We had 1 pair of blue rams and recently got another. Weve had them a good couple of weeks now at first everything was fine both settled in really quick and seemed happy.

Then in the last couple of days one of them has turned very dark hes almost completely black even hes eyes. He seems to hang near the top and looks like hes gasping for air and is half swimming on his side. Then hour later he could be swimming around the tank again like theres nothing wrong?

I read somewhere it could possibly be stress? we did clean the tank out the other day and it does seem to have happened since this?

Has anyone had this happen before? what can i do?

Any advice anyone can give would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Noahs ark6]

How big is the tank? what are the other tankmates? Are you using a dechlorinator before adding the water? Did you cycle the tank? is there any surface agitation? Do you use an airstone?

 

[xbeckix88]

Tank were using at the moment is 90ltr soon to be upgraded to a bigger one. They share theyre tank with a few neon & phantom tetras, a few lampeyes and a siamese fighter.

Dont think a dechlorinator was used. would this of made a difference?

Sorry but what do you mean by cycle the tank?

 

[Noahs ark6]

A dechlorinator removes chlorine from the water, water companies put it in to kill viruses. Chlorine is toxic to fish and burns there slime coat, it is imperitive that it's used. A cycle is when you build up bacteria in the filter that break down ammonia which is toxic to fish. I advise that you buy some dechlorinator and use it when adding water to the tank, and take a look in the beginners resource centre for how to do a fish in cycle. It's usually best to do a fishless cycle, but seeing as you already have fish in the tank, theres no other option. The most likely reason for the sick ram is stress, due to the build up of ammonia and the chlorine

 

[xbeckix88]

Thankyou very much for the advice and help x

 

[Aquascaper]

What Noahs ark6 said

(was in the middle of writing a reply myself)

 

[Noahs ark6]

Thankyou very much for the advice and help x

Thats absolutely fine

 

[crazyforcordoras]

Is the water the proper temperature (80-82F or 28-30C)?

 

[xbeckix88]

Hi yes it is