Terrified Blue Ram

[spankysalad]

Have had a blue ram in my community tank for about 6 months now. When I first got it, it was fine i.e. would swim around normally, went for food that was descending and floating and was generally not afraid of shadows or movement. Now it sits right at the bottom under some bogwood in complete shadow all day every day, only venturing out about an inch from his hiding spot to pick at food on the bottom. Any outside movement will cause it to shoot back into its hiding spot in a flash. I have 8 black neon tetras and 5 panda corydoras as tank mates which pay no attention to the ram what so ever, so i can't see that being the issue. Is it because it's the only member of its species in the tank? It is extremely colourful still and it has been like this for a while which makes me think it isn't sick or anything.

 

[fluttermoth]

Rams very rarely lose their colour; even when dead...

What are your test results? (ammonia, pH, temperature etc); rams are a very sensitive and delicate little fish.

 

[spankysalad]

Tank has been established for nearly a year now and the nitrite and ammonia are low. Temperature is 26C but I do have slightly hard water in this area so do you think that's the cause? I would have thought if it was ill it wouldn't be reacting so vigorously to disturbances like it is at the moment.

 

[Proxo]

Tank has been established for nearly a year now and the nitrite and ammonia are low

Low should be 'Zero' ?

 

[fluttermoth]

Tank has been established for nearly a year now and the nitrite and ammonia are low

Low should be 'Zero' ?

Agreed. 'Low' is just not good enough, I'm afraid.

Don't forget that fish are not really 'domsticated'; they're not evolved to show any signs of weakness or disease; they will die rather than act unwell, in most cases, so behaviour is not really a good indicator of how a fish is actually feeling.

Your hard water may well be a problem. 'Tank bred' rams that have been brought up in your local tapwater wil be more hardy than wild, or near wild, fishes, so that's something to look out for, but you may just find you can't keep them. You could consider collecting rainwater and using that istead, as it is naturally soft.

 

[spankysalad]

Well when I say low it was on the lowest colour of the testing kit I used so it would be zero. I bought the ram from a local store but I wouldn't be able to tell you if it had been tank bred or not. You say that behaviour isn't an indicator of how well a fish is doing, and that it will die rather than act unwell, so surely that would mean there is another reason for its skittish behaviour.

 

[ez_101]

Try putting the temp up to 29c.

Tank mate might help it become more sociable, are there other hiding places?