Gold Rams

[bazzbeen]

I bought myself i pair of gold rams 2 and a hlf weeks ago,they seem fine and look fine but ive caught 1 of them flicking and rubbing itself ,not all the time but just now and again,ive done an ammonia test and my tank which is 9 month old has zero ammonia,i also do 20% water change weekly and clean gravel weekly too,i know these fish are sensitive,but i thought id had everything covered,is there anything im missing!.

 

[mattlee]

these fish need warmer and low pH water, what is yours set at and whats your pH?

 

[bazzbeen]

the ph is neutral 7,and the temp is 80of

 

[bazzbeen]

i asked about ph for gold rams on this website b4 i bought them, and 1 of the members posted on my thread saying a neutral ph would be fine for these fish,do i need to lower the ph or will the rams b ok with a neutral ph?

 

[mattlee]

they do better in lower pH levels but i wouldnt try changing your pH to suit a fish just change the fish. adjusting your pH is a very dangerous game as a fluctuating pH can be fatal to fish or at least make them sick. a steady pH is much more beneficial even if its slightly higher or lower than recommended.
if you add chemicals to lower the tanks pH then its going to drop with the fish in there then when the chemicals run out the pH will start to rise again so you add more chemicals and it drops again etc etc etc. with the pH constantly going up and down the fish will at least become very stressed whicj in turn brings on diseases etc.

 

[bazzbeen]

cheers for the advice!never seen any flicking today,so hopefully that could be the end of it!