Blue Rams Keep Dying

[Kivstev]

Very frustrating experience with these fish. I've bought 5 now over the last 2 weeks and have lost 3. I now have another showing the same signs.They last between 3 and 5 days. The scenario is this:

They do very well for the first 48-72 hours. The fish will then start to hide and lose some color and start to breathe heavily and not eat.Then the fish will then sit on the bottom until death. The deterioration happens very quickly. For instance, 6 hours ago my last two Rams were healthy, and now one of them is at the 'lose color and breathing heavily' phase. They usually die within 12-18 hours when this happens. I saw a couple of them 'floating' around similar to a swim bladder problem shortly before death.

Here are my parameters:
ammonia: 0
nitrite: 0
nitrate 5
DKH: 4
dGH: 5
pH 7.8 (The fish are used to a pH of 7.5 at the store and are bred in the Czech Republic.)
Temp: 80F
No Salt

I have 6 Boesemani, 2 Dwarf Gourami, and a Tiger Pleco in with these fish. My tank is a 55G. I feed a mix of frozen blood worm, frozen brine, frozen black mosquito larvae, HGH Super Soft spiruina pellets, OmegaOne flakes, and rarely Hikari brine shrimp.

The sick Ram is now is a quarantine tank most likely awaiting the same fate. Please help with any opinions. Thanks.

 

[dave_oddballs]

i think they would much prefer a ph nearer to 6.8, that could play a a part in their deterioration.
though in my experience with Bolivian rams, dutch rams and gold rams they are reasonable hardy once settled in, in this case they are obviously not settling in. i would initially try and lower your ph slightly over the next few days, not all at once.

 

[Kivstev]

I would have to disagree only because the source keeps his tanks at 7.5 pH and the Rams there have been doing well. I've seen the same fish there for two months. My fish seem to acclimate fine. They get very colorful and are very feisty and hungry. They then go down hill after the 3-5 days. I wondering if it may be something I'm feeding them?

I also notice some brown algae coming up in the tank and wonder if that may be a problem for them?

Your suggestion is noted, however. Thanks.

i think they would much prefer a ph nearer to 6.8, that could play a a part in their deterioration.
though in my experience with Bolivian rams, dutch rams and gold rams they are reasonable hardy once settled in, in this case they are obviously not settling in. i would initially try and lower your ph slightly over the next few days, not all at once.