Golden Ram With Mystery Issues

[scaeriefaerie666]

I had a pair of golden rams who have been nothing but trouble really.
The male swam into a cloud of medication and poisoned himself so i had to get her a new man.
I got her a dutch ram male after being told they're just colour variations, and they have paried off beautifully, a genuine match made in heaven.
I noticed the other fish flicking and rubbing so i upped the tank temperature to 30C, and went away for a week leaving instructions with my housemate to turn the thermostat down on last saturday. He didn't, i'm not even sure if he's been feeding them properly. He's a moron and we're rapidly falling out.
Anyway, i've come home and noticed the female sat in her 'nest' in the gravel, rapidly breathing. She's not eating and she's very listless. None of the other fish have any concerns or problems at all. I've turned the thermostat down and did a 50% water change yesterday, as well as gavel vaccing and cleaned the filter.
She was still gasping last night so i put some aquarium salt in as it improves gill function hoping it would calm her down slightly, but it's done nothing at all. Shes exactly the same this morning and she's not eating at all. I'm really concerned.
There is NO medication in the tank, just the normal dose of aquarium salt required for general tonic use.
I always use tapsafe, and my water parameters are fine.
Any clue at all? Is it heat stress? and is there anything i can do for her?
xxx

 

[fluttermoth]

I very much doubt it's the temperature; rams are very tolerant of higher temps and actually need to be kept at around 28°C/82°F.

I think your problem is more likey to be this tonic salt; rams really prefer very soft, acidic water. I'd stop using the tonic salt and do a series of water changes with clean, plain, dechlorinated water to reduce the amount of it in the tank. Maybe 25% a day for a week and see if she improves.

Best of luck; hope she pulls through

 

[scaeriefaerie666]

I only put the salt in last night though, and she was like this before. It can't be the salt as there was none in the tank at all before last night.
I'm doing daily 25% water changes but she's not improving. Its not behaviour related to spawning at all is it? I've never had cichlids pair off like this before so i'm desperate to make sure she pulls through
xxx

 

[fluttermoth]

Oh; I see about the salt, I thought you were using it at every water change..some people do...

It doesn't sound like spawning behaviour; my rams always spawn on rocks and don't behave oddly beforehand at all; I nomally don't even notice until I see the eggs.

I'm not sure what to suggest tbh Keep up the water changes and maybe think about some kind of anti-bacterial medication? Sorry, wish I could be more help