What Could Be Wrong With Golden Ram?

[ColR1948]

I bought 5 x Golden Rams around 2 weeks ago, 4 of them died one by one, they were all small around 1/2" long if that.
I have 1 left and that is about 3/4" long, it spends most of the time on the surface, when feeding time comes he joins the other fish in feeding but after that period it takes it's place on the surface again.
I'm wondering if it has something wrong seeing as the others I bought with it have all died.
I have Blue Rams and other fish in the tank but none of them bother it in any way so any ideas what could be the problem?

 

[star4]

Normally hanging round the surface is a lack of oxygen problem, which can be just lack of oxygen in the tank, or not getting enough oxygen due to gill problems ie. ammonia burning. Firstly check your water conditions for ammonia, nitrate and nitrites, and if they are not normal do a water chance. Another possiblity could be if its just affected the rams you recently bought, they could be suffering from gill problems, gill fluke parasite - which will spread to your other fish. If it is gill flukes it will start affecting the other fish and you will need to treat the whole tank. How is the fish after a water change? does it stay in a normal tank postition for a day or so after clean water has been added? this could be its got more oxygen due to the fresh water. Try adding an extra airline or raising the spray bar above the water line to get more oxygen into the tank, this may give the fish some relief until you can fathom out what the problem is exactly. Trouble is there are so many "could be this that or the other" its hard to give you a specific answer, but I hope the above is some help

 

[ColR1948]

Thanks, the other fish are fine, I noticed after a water change it does go down for a while and during feeding but soon returns to the surface.
The thing is the other Golden Rams that died they too used to hang around the surface, possibly I got a bad batch.
If it is Gill Fluke am I best taking it out, trouble is it will be Clove oil because I have no hospital tank to put it in?

 

[star4]

Without seeing the fish I cannot say 100% what the problem is, you can treat flukes with Sterazin (from waterlife) if it is flukes then the other fish can get infected also, being as they have been in your tank now 2 weeks and the rams that died if it was flukes the flukes would have left the dead fish to find another host. Have you noticed any of the other fish flicking against rocks, wood etc?

What was the tank like where you got them from, was their lots of air in the tank? it could be they have been kept in poor quality water with high o2 levels and now in your tank under more normal conditions they couldnt breath. Those that died, were their mouths wide open?

If no other fish are flicking, I would recomend a small daily wc and increase the air into the tank, the air will help it breath without needing to be at the surface and daily wc will help repair any damage to the gills (hopefully if its not too bad). If the other fish are flicking I would go with treating with sterazin. Hope this helps

 

[ColR1948]

This morning I found the Ram dead, as for the other fish flicking I have not noticed it but will get some Sterazin in in case, thanks for you help.

I never noticed the tank they came from, what I do remember was there were only a few Rams left, I got 5 and I think there may only have been a few left after that, the LFS is normally very good so I doubt their water conditions were bad.

My water tests showed good this morning after my liquid drop test and the other fish look OK so far.

 

[star4]

So sorry to hear that , just keep a check on your other fish, if they do start flicking then treat them.

 

[ColR1948]

Yes thanks Star will do.