Have 5 Bolivian Rams in my 55 and have had them in there for about months. Four of them seem to be doing quite well but the fifth hasn't grown much, very seldom hangs out with the others, and never comes over to eat. Only time he does seem to eat is when I drop the food over on the side of the tank where he usually stays but even then he doesn't express much interest in food. The area around his gills has started to look rather inflamed but he doesn't seem to be struggling to breath. Best sign of life is that he's somewhat territorial, head-butting the other rams when they intrude on his side.
Water temp is 76, ammonia & nitrite are 0, and nitrate is probably about 30 (doing a big water change after posting this).
If I were going to still be in town, I would feel okay about just keeping a close eye on him but I'm leaving tomorrow and won't be back for about 8-10 days. Don't have any friends who'll be in town for this time so my plan is to set up an automatic feeder but of course I can't put him in an isolation tank for 10 days with no one to change the water.
So, I'm not sure what to do. Don't even know that there's anything wrong with him as the other rams have some red coloring in the same area, it just seems more prominent on him. Thoughts or advice?
Water temp is 76, ammonia & nitrite are 0, and nitrate is probably about 30 (doing a big water change after posting this).
If I were going to still be in town, I would feel okay about just keeping a close eye on him but I'm leaving tomorrow and won't be back for about 8-10 days. Don't have any friends who'll be in town for this time so my plan is to set up an automatic feeder but of course I can't put him in an isolation tank for 10 days with no one to change the water.
So, I'm not sure what to do. Don't even know that there's anything wrong with him as the other rams have some red coloring in the same area, it just seems more prominent on him. Thoughts or advice?