Blue Ram help

[icon149]

Does anyone have any pointers for keeping blue rams? I have always loved the fish and would like to try breeding a pair but i can't any to last more than 2 weeks in either of my tanks. I have a 10 gallon planted (some valis, crypts, java fern, and anubis), and it is only has light on half the tank (so there is always a dark corner to hide in). I have two small clay planters as caves with notches cut in them, and i am using Peat to bring the [acronym:ec3fbf7b01="power head or Measure of the concentration of hydrogen ions, depending on context"]PH[/acronym:ec3fbf7b01] down a bit and to soften the water. My [acronym:ec3fbf7b01="power head or Measure of the concentration of hydrogen ions, depending on context"]ph[/acronym:ec3fbf7b01] is usually right around 6.8 or 6.6. I can't test hardness right now.

What else can i do to keep Rams happy? I do use tap water [acronym:ec3fbf7b01="power head or Measure of the concentration of hydrogen ions, depending on context"]ph[/acronym:ec3fbf7b01] 7.0 when i do water changes with out any kind of conditioning apart from a chlorine/chloramine treatment.

any pointers would be much appreciated because i just can't keep myself from buying good specimens and i can't seem to keep them alive. both the fish and my wallet need help!

[TankGirl]

Just for background, do you have success with other fish? Also, are we talking about a cycled tank with no water quality issues like ammonia, nitrite or high nitrate?

If the answers are yes, then I don't really see any reason why they should not do well in your setup. It sounds perfect for them. A neutral pH, or even very slightly more alkaline (like 7.2) would be fine, so there is no problem there. The specimens you are getting might have parasites or other illness, I suppose. Do they just not eat and slowly die, or do they show other symptoms?

[savga]

I've had bad luck with rams recently also. I got 3 from the [acronym:fa9b8b1530="Local Fish Store"]lfs[/acronym:fa9b8b1530] and 2 died mysteriously in the first two weeks. The second died after a round of antibiotics that I started when the first got sick. Mine acted sick one day and were dead by the next day. I never figured it out,but I won't be getting more rams from that supplier. The sole survivor is still doing fine. This was in an established, planted, lightly stocked tank.

[AtodaJ]

If you get a group of Blue Rams and within a couple of days a number of them are "breathing heavy" then you are most likely dealing with a weak strain of ram in my humble opinion. The mortality rate will be very high no matter what you do. I find that many rams from fish farmers are of weak constitution. If you can find a local breeder you'll have better luck but a local breeder can be difficult to find.

So what do you do? I like to take note of when the blue rams arrive at the [acronym:8c7fcc9c56="Local Fish Store"]lfs[/acronym:8c7fcc9c56]. Then I'll wait at least 3 weeks and see if any are left. Most will be bought but quite a few will get sick and die). If any are left you've got a better chance of bringing home a strong ram. The biggest mistake you could make is to buy the ram from the [acronym:8c7fcc9c56="Local Fish Store"]lfs[/acronym:8c7fcc9c56] shortly after it arrived there.

Also, acclimation procedures are critical. Never take short cuts when dealing with blue rams. I would acclimate rams over no less than 2 hours.

Good luck!

[TankGirl]

That is good advice, AtodaJ, and exactly my experience with the blue rams available here. I have gotten so that I just wistfully gaze at them, and keep on walkin.' I might have better luck with Bolivians, but rarely see them. A mature tank is important, too - you do not want a new setup with rams.

[icon149]

Its a mature tank, 10 gallon, I currently have 2 black veil angels that are happy as clams, I'm growing them up a bit before i put them in my 75gallon. There are no ammonia, nitrate, nitrite issues. I have always assumed a piss poor quality fish, but i've tried two different fish stores, and i've gotten fish immediately after arrival, and they would be dead in about 1 to 2 weeks (generally right after the warranty ends), and i've waited till they have been at the [acronym:aa95dadc1b="Local Fish Store"]LFS[/acronym:aa95dadc1b] for a week or two and then bought them (always colored healthy looking specimens), and they would die in a week or two. I've kept a ram before but not since i moved to the NC area.

I guess i'll try to fight the urges or get a pair of bolivians, I see them from time to time as well.

thanks for the information,

[medge00]

bolivians, [acronym:1d82125a59="in my opinion"]imo[/acronym:1d82125a59], are too big for a 10 [acronym:1d82125a59="Gallon"]gal[/acronym:1d82125a59]. germans would be ok, but then since they are so sensitive, you'd want be sure they're the only ones in there. If you must have them, wait until the fish have been at the store for 2 weeks, then get them. I've found rams do better with a 3 week [acronym:1d82125a59="quarantine or quart depending on context"]QT[/acronym:1d82125a59] time as well. [acronym:1d82125a59="Just My Humble Opinion"]JMHO[/acronym:1d82125a59]. [acronym:1d82125a59="Hope this helps (or) Happy to help"]HTH[/acronym:1d82125a59], and good luck!

I've had good luck with Germans.

Out of curiosity. What is your water temp, [acronym:8946490a21="Carbonate Hardness"]KH[/acronym:8946490a21],[acronym:8946490a21="General Hardness"]GH[/acronym:8946490a21] in the tank? Using any kind of [acronym:8946490a21="Carbon dioxide"]CO2[/acronym:8946490a21] for the plants?

I keep my rams in a warm planted SA tank, set at 84 degrees. They are very active at this temp. Perhaps the higher temps help fight off ick or parasites when slowly acclimated to the higher temps in [acronym:8946490a21="quarantine or quart depending on context"]QT[/acronym:8946490a21]????? (I'm just throwing an idea on the table to help brain storm. It could be total rubbish, but worth a thought) Germans have always done well for me when [acronym:8946490a21="quarantine or quart depending on context"]QT[/acronym:8946490a21]'ed and slowly raise the temp to acclamate them to the show tanks warm temps.

Are you [acronym:8946490a21="quarantine or quart depending on context"]QT[/acronym:8946490a21] your fish for observations? Also, do you add the water from the bag the fish came in, into the tank?

[icon149]

The water temp is 80 degrees, i don't have a hardness tester so i don't know, but i'm using peat to bring the [acronym:98af8595b4="power head or Measure of the concentration of hydrogen ions, depending on context"]ph[/acronym:98af8595b4] down a little and soften the water. I stopped using [acronym:98af8595b4="Carbon dioxide"]CO2[/acronym:98af8595b4] when i started with the peat (my [acronym:98af8595b4="power head or Measure of the concentration of hydrogen ions, depending on context"]ph[/acronym:98af8595b4] would crash with the [acronym:98af8595b4="Do it yourself"]DIY[/acronym:98af8595b4] [acronym:98af8595b4="Carbon dioxide"]CO2[/acronym:98af8595b4]). I never add the bag water to the tank. The rams would go straight into the 10 gallon where they would stay. I usually acclimate for at least an hour sometimes more with the rams because of the history of failures i've had.

oh yeah and the [acronym:98af8595b4="Local Fish Store"]lfs[/acronym:98af8595b4] just keeps them in regular well water, no [acronym:98af8595b4="Reverse osmosis"]RO[/acronym:98af8595b4] or anything special, so i would assume they could easily acclimate to my water.

While i'm posting, what type of [acronym:98af8595b4="Carbonate Hardness"]KH[/acronym:98af8595b4],[acronym:98af8595b4="General Hardness"]GH[/acronym:98af8595b4] test kits would you recommend?

[TankGirl]

Get the Aquarium Pharmaceuticals KG/[acronym:72f0586539="General Hardness"]GH[/acronym:72f0586539] test kit - it is a dual kit and is reliable. Might be good to know.