Bolivian Ram Not Eating

[mark4785]

my two Bolivian rams like to eat algae wafers the best but they also pick at flake food and scavange through the sand for leftover bits--are you able to set up a hospital tank and treat just the ram?   Keep and eye on your other fish to be sure they don't get infected with whatever the ram has.

 
The Bolivian Ram won't eat algae wafers or any other type of food and it doesn't scavenge at present. It just swims backwards and forwards, with pelvic fins clamped, all the while looking at its own reflection.
 
The said ram is in a separate aquarium and i've placed Metronidazole (antibiotic / anti-parasite treatment) in the water.

 

[Sickbound]

Bolivian rams (at least mine) are voracious eaters, gobbling down just about anything. I have five now, but I originally had seven Bolivian rams. The two that died stopped eating a couple days before they died (this occurred within three weeks of their introduction into my aquarium). And from my experience they turn dark when they are stressed. If you haven't yet, I'd recommend to try feeding frozen blood worms or dried tubifex worms. These are my rams' favorite foods.
 
If it continues to not eat even after treatment, and depending on your tank size, I would recommend buying a few more rams. It may be that the reason your ram is not eating is simply stress. They have interesting social behavior and will feel less stressed (granted there is enough space) in groups. If it's a 20 gallon (75L) tank, you could have two total (one male and one female). If it's bigger, say 40 gallons and up, you could have 3-5. Ideally, I've been told, a 1:2 male to female ratio. But, if I've sexed mine correctly, I have 3 males and 2 females, and they get along great.
 
Good luck with your Bolivian ram. Bolivians are by far my favorite dwarf cichlid that I've owned, and I would encourage you to not lose faith in this fish! They have beautiful colors (especially in groups), are incredibly hardy once established in an aquarium, and show great personality and social behavior.

 

[mark4785]

Bolivian rams (at least mine) are voracious eaters, gobbling down just about anything. I have five now, but I originally had seven Bolivian rams. The two that died stopped eating a couple days before they died (this occurred within three weeks of their introduction into my aquarium). And from my experience they turn dark when they are stressed. If you haven't yet, I'd recommend to try feeding frozen blood worms or dried tubifex worms. These are my rams' favorite foods.
 
If it continues to not eat even after treatment, and depending on your tank size, I would recommend buying a few more rams. It may be that the reason your ram is not eating is simply stress. They have interesting social behavior and will feel less stressed (granted there is enough space) in groups. If it's a 20 gallon (75L) tank, you could have two total (one male and one female). If it's bigger, say 40 gallons and up, you could have 3-5. Ideally, I've been told, a 1:2 male to female ratio. But, if I've sexed mine correctly, I have 3 males and 2 females, and they get along great.
 
Good luck with your Bolivian ram. Bolivians are by far my favorite dwarf cichlid that I've owned, and I would encourage you to not lose faith in this fish! They have beautiful colors (especially in groups), are incredibly hardy once established in an aquarium, and show great personality and social behavior.

 
Before moving to the isolation tank it was located in a 120 litre Juwel Lido aquarium. I have considered buying another Bolivian Ram but I have difficulties working out the differences between male and female Bolivians which is something that puts me off.
 
Dark colours definitely indicate stress. I'm not sure what is stressing it though. I'd be more inclined to say that any stress is being caused by a disease rather than the environment.

 

[malfunction]

Hi,

I've found that they can be very fussy eaters when introduced into a new setting. When I first got Bolivian rams they wouldn't eat anything all for a week. Eventually I got them to eat blood worms which I spot fed with a turkey baster. After two weeks of this they settled in and ate anything offered. I've also noticed that whenever I move them to a new aquarium, they get stressed and won't eat for a couple of days.

I think the problems you're experiencing are, at least in part, due to the ram being stressed from being placed in a new environment. If that's the case then I think patiently spot feeding blood worms is the best option. I've found they accept this more readily than other food.

Hope this helps.

 

[mark4785]

Hi,

I've found that they can be very fussy eaters when introduced into a new setting. When I first got Bolivian rams they wouldn't eat anything all for a week. Eventually I got them to eat blood worms which I spot fed with a turkey baster. After two weeks of this they settled in and ate anything offered. I've also noticed that whenever I move them to a new aquarium, they get stressed and won't eat for a couple of days.

I think the problems you're experiencing are, at least in part, due to the ram being stressed from being placed in a new environment. If that's the case then I think patiently spot feeding blood worms is the best option. I've found they accept this more readily than other food.

Hope this helps.

 
Thanks for your advice. I will try what you've suggested in a few moments and see what happens.

 

[mark4785]

I've tried giving the Ram blood worms soaked in garlic juice and blood worms just soaked in its own aquarium water. The fish is 100% dis-interested in food. It doesn't even move towards the food! It was demonstrating this behaviour in the main tank so nothing new.

 

[WILDER]

Some medications can knock there appetite that why I wanted to act fast.
Don't give him large food, just try little bits like daphnia. The smaller the better.
How is he in himself?
Did you add the vitamin supplement?

 

[KieranBoyne]

Hmm.... That's very strange indeed... Have you tried live daphnia?? If my fish ever had a loss of appetite, this would be the perfect thing to bring it back lol.

 

[mark4785]

Some medications can knock there appetite that why I wanted to act fast.
Don't give him large food, just try little bits like daphnia. The smaller the better.
How is he in himself?
Did you add the vitamin supplement?

 
I've placed smaller than normal blood worm 1-2 cm in front of him/her and it is acting as though the food, tweezer and my hand is not there.
 
I have tried an algae wafer and it took one bite and spat everything out. It kept making spitting motions with its mouth for 10-15 seconds afterwards. It then ignored the wafer for a good 8 minutes so I took the wafer out.
 
The metronidazole is very difficult to over-dose according to the tube in which it was supplied in so I've added another 1/2 scoop into the water. I'm going to add a vitamin supplement now.

 

[WILDER]

OK.
Did you add something to the tank for him to hide in. He needs less stress as possible as that also lowers there immune system.
He already showing signs of stress by clamping his fins, looking darker in colour.
 
You can force feed fish but I have never done it. I suppose it very hard to do on a small fish also.

 

[mark4785]

In itself, the fish looks very skinny. I don't think Pets At Home know how to take care of their fish. I've seen their tanks with corpses in more often than not so i'm pleasantly surprised that the little female GBR that they dropped on the floor is not ill as well. She is currently burrowing an hole with "Mr. Ram". I bought him this female as he wasn't getting on with the female that was already in the tank and I'm very happy to see that they are demonstrating breeding behaviour which is something I was 70-80% sure would happen!

OK.
Did you add something to the tank for him to hide in. He needs less stress as possible as that also lowers there immune system.
He already showing signs of stress by clamping his fins, looking darker in colour.
 
You can force feed fish but I have never done it. I suppose it very hard to do on a small fish also.

 
Yes there is a terracotta pot in there. GBR's seem to hate anything that only has one entry point, hopefully Bolivians are different.

 

[WILDER]

Glad to hear the others seem OK.
I would take a pic of the ill fish and get your money back. Or just print the pic you have in isolation and show them.

 

[mark4785]

Glad to hear the others seem OK.
I would take a pic of the ill fish and get your money back. Or just print the pic you have in isolation and show them.

 
Who could I report the store to? Do you know? I think their fish section needs to be investigated.
 
Someone needs to make sure that a person with some knowledge of fish works at that store as I was served by somebody who only dealt with the sale of mammals.

 

[WILDER]

I have never reported a store before so not to sure.
If there not keeping the fish well and there tanks are full of dead fish. Which can also pass disease on you could try the
RSPCA. They will just inspect the store to make sure there following the guide lines..

 

[WILDER]

This might help.
http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?/topic/286140-who-do-i-report-a-bad-pet-shop-to/