Sick gold ram

Have a look at this pic of my girlfriends gold ram (note the closed tail). It is ill and hides in the coner on top of the filter but does come out to feed. Do you know what it could be and what treatment to use?

There doesn't realy appear to be any outward signs of disease other than the fins.

I would test the water and make sure the parameters are ok. There should be 0 ammonia/nitrIte and nitrAte should be below 40. The temperature should be within reason as well and there should be no major fluctuations either in temperature or in pH. This looks like a water quality issue to me.

Another possibility is internal parasites. Do you know what it's poo looks like ? If it's white and stringy you'll need to isolate and treat for internal parasites.

Possible ways to help the fish would be a large water change with dechlorinated water (as always) and, if the other fish/inhabitants will allow for it, a little salt. Alternatively, isolate the fish and ensure that it is in perfect water and add a tiny bit of salt and watch for any more symptoms.

I should also mention that I am not familiar with 'golden' rams so I cannot say whether it's color/appearance is normal or not but it's finnage is clearly unusual and the behaviour you described points towards a problem.

edit: Though everything points towards a water quality or disease issue, the shyness could also be due to unsuitable or overly-boisterous tankmates. However, the tetra and heavy planting would suggest the tankmates are quite peaceful...

That's looks like a black neon to me, test water in ammonia,nitrite,nitrate,and ph.

The ram is next to the tetra

We cannot see any poo at the moment but did observe her rub against the filter. We will do some water tests soon though and cheak and if high do a water change with salt

Rubbing may be a sign of ick in which case you should treat the whole tank or, if the fish you have can take it, gradualy raise the water temperature to about 83-4 deg F. If you have recently medicated the rubbing may also be a sign of irritation and a large water change should help. Only add salt if your other fish can handle it - that means no scaless fish and if you have any inverts you must take them out first or they'll die.

She has a 35l tank with 1 molly, 3 black neon tetras, a flying fox, a blue ram, a green ram, a stone sucker, and the sick gold ram. I am not sure what an invert is

She's overstocked for a 7gal.

Ok maybe the case but its a mature tank and all the levels are fine. Just due for a weekly water change because of the nitrAtes. Can you suggest anything for her gold ram?

invert = invertabrate = shrimp/snails/crabs etc.

The fish can all handle salt so add just a little to the tank.

Though the levels may be fine a 7 gallon is unsuitable and stressfull for so many fish simply because they are competing for space and the oxygen levels are low.
Removing most of the fish would undoubtedly solve the problem by giving the fish a chance to recover and saving it from undue stress.

A stone sucker? What is this? If it's similar to a hillstream loach it requires much cooler water than the other fish. Tetras require soft, acid water, mollies require hard, often brackish water. Rams are territorial and need more room. The flying fox needs more room too - it grows to almost 5 inches.

Please tell her that her tank needs some major re-stocking or re-aranging if she wants to avoid more sick fish and stunted growth. You shouldn't keep any fish over 4 inches in a 7 gallon and realy you can only put 7 inches of fish in it going by the 'one inch per gallon' guideline. As such, you are currently something like 10 inches above the limmit. The result being stressed fish which leads to disease. BTW, mollies grow to 4 inches.

She should idealy get rid of all the fish except the tetras and molly.

She should idealy get rid of all the fish except the tetras and molly.

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Either that or get a 20g tank. Rams don't tolerate overcrowding and poor water quality too well. But then again, most fish will do poorly in such conditions anyway.

Most likely that your ram has either ich or velvet. Get some anti-protozoan medication and watch for either speck of white spots or grey/gold powder like stuff on the ram. BTW, both ich and velvet are highly contagious.

ok i'll let her know. Thanks all for the advice and help. She will have to have a hard think