German Ram sick

[Deepdive]

Hello,

A different question here. I have a german ram that was floating at the surface for a day or two. No ammonia or the trites. Other seems fine.

Also is dull and has a red line at the bottom

 

[Deepdive]

Some pics

 

[Aiken Drum]

What is the water temperature?

 

[Deepdive]

What is the water temperature?

25+ celcius. The other one is doing fine

 

[Aiken Drum]

That's far too cold for german rams. It might be enough to survive, but they won't thrive and live a full life. 28c or even 30c, they really need much warmer temperatures than most tropical aquariums are kept.

 

[Deepdive]

That's far too cold for german rams. It might be enough to survive, but they won't thrive and live a full life. 28c or even 30c, they really need much warmer temperatures than most tropical aquariums are kept.

Really? Aquainfo states like 25 and 30 max.

 

[Aiken Drum]

Yes. There is a lot of poor info on the Internet. You would be lucky to have them survive beyond 6 months at 25c, and it would be survive rather than thrive.

 

[Deepdive]

Yes. There is a lot of poor info on the Internet. You would be lucky to have them survive beyond 6 months at 25c, and it would be survive rather than thrive.

Yeah that is why im always afraid of making a choice within this hobby. So much wrong info. Like a lfs said a black ghost knifefish would be cool for me. Those things get much bigger that whst i have in that tank.

 

[Aiken Drum]

I've kept blue rams at lower temperatures, with zero success. They need higher temperatures, and if you keep them with other fish make sure they are suited to those higher temps too.

If you want a dwarf ram at tropical fish temperature, try Bolivian rams.

 

[Deepdive]

View attachment 390409

I've kept blue rams at lower temperatures, with zero success. They need higher temperatures, and if you keep them with other fish make sure they are suited to those higher temps too.

I could highten the temp as long as the info is correct.

Could this be the reason for the swimming at the top? And do you know what the red stripe is? Or is it just ready to breed or something

 

[Aiken Drum]

I think its just not doing well in too low a temperature water. This will compromise its immune system, mean it falls sick more easily, and be less likely to recover when it gets sick. There is no guarantee that rising the temperature is going to solve anything, but it does need higher temperature to have a chance. This will benefit the other ram too.

Do you have other fish with the rams? Would they suit warmer water?

Females have a pinkish belly. It could just be natural colouration.

 

[Deepdive]

I think its just not doing well in too low a temperature water. This will compromise its immune system, mean it falls sick more easily, and be less likely to recover when it gets sick. There is no guarantee that rising the temperature is going to solve anything, but it does need higher temperature to have a chance. This will benefit the other ram too.

Do you have other fish with the rams? Would they suit warmer water?

Females have a pinkish belly. It could just be natural colouration.

Its more like a blood red stripe. And this was sold to me as a male. Although my instinct was right and makes should be bigger than the female.

I have a spare and just gonna let him go there.

From the top of my head it 28 should be max for most of them. Like sterbais i think.

 

[Aiken Drum]

That's the problem. Your info for rams says 25 to 30. Sterbai corys probably something like 22 to 28. Trying to find a compromise temperature just results in the water not suiting any fish. 25c is the minimum for rams, 28c is the max for the cory. Keeping fish at the outer edges of these temperature ranges just isn't healthy long term. They will be OK with temperatures fluctuating in this range, but you want to keep fish together that have similar temperature ranges and keep the water somewhere in the middle of that temperature range.

Unfortunately rams are less tolerant of sub optimal conditions.

As said, if you want to keep german rams then set things up for german rams and keep other fish that prefer similar conditions. Rummynose tetras maybe. Of the corys sterbais are probably the most tolerant of higher temperatures.

 

[Deepdive]

That's the problem. Your info for rams says 25 to 30. Sterbai corys probably something like 22 to 28. Trying to find a compromise temperature just results in the water not suiting any fish. 25c is the minimum for rams, 28c is the max for the cory. Keeping fish at the outer edges of these temperature ranges just isn't healthy long term. They will be OK with temperatures fluctuating in this range, but you want to keep fish together that have similar temperature ranges and keep the water somewhere in the middle of that temperature range.

Unfortunately rams are less tolerant of sub optimal conditions.

As said, if you want to keep german rams then set things up for german rams and keep other fish that prefer similar conditions. Rummynose tetras maybe. Of the corys sterbais are probably the most tolerant of higher temperatures.

Most of my fish are in the same range as the cory. 25 to 26 was in the middle area, with the exception of rams.

I checked and the ranges that i was given and that were on aquainfo are 23-28. As the smallest range. The minimum and maximum temp. Not taking into account the rams.

 

[Andy Sager]

Most Cories actually prefer water a bit cooler than rams do so to start with, they are not a great mix for the majority of them. That said, looking at your pictures in post #2, the fish has either a prolapsed colon or has intestinal worms. The thinness of the fish when looking at it from above more strongly suggests worms considering that many bottom dwelling fish species get worms. IMO, you would need to treat this fish in a separate hospital tank at the proper warmer temperature. TBH, It may be too late for it already but if it survives treatment, you would really need to consider whether you want to keep these fish under your current conditions as they are not the best for this specie.
Hope this helps.