Golden Ram

[noonoo1]

fish:

Having a problem with my golden ram not eating. All was going very well. Had 4 dwarf gouramis in my tank which were bothering each other and the ram was fine. Had 2 of the gouramis die and then one of them kept picking on the ram, he would not come out and just hid. Managed to feed the ram, by hand, a couple of flakes of food over a few days. Now things have settled down in the tank, gourami not really bothering him and he now comes out and has a good swim around but still not seeing him eat, although he must be eating something as he is producing waste (i've seem him). I wondered if he had a problem with his eye sight as food can be right in front of him and he doesn't react to it. Has anybody got any suggestions? Any help much appricated.

water is fine
also have 5 z danios
2 sucking loaches

 

[Riley]

i guess you could try feeding him frozen foods like brine shrimp and blood worms fish really love that stuff. And im sure if food was infront of him he could smell it, So i don't think its a eye sight problem.you never no he might be just sick of the flakes. So try the frozen food

 

[noonoo1]

Thank you for your reply. I should have mentioned that i have tried him with frozen blood worm which he really loved but now he just lets it float by. I was thinking of getting another tank to put my ram in with more peaceful tank mates eg neons do you think he would then go back to his normal behavour, or is that measure to drastic?

 

[parker313]

What size tank is he in now? You may want to get him a mate if you have the room. Solo rams can do OK, but often like to have another of their own for company. Try to get a male/female pair if you can - 2 males or 2 females can fight.

Til then, try putting a mirror next to the tank. When I first got my male ram, he was very timid and wouldn't eat either. When I put a mirror next to the tank, he started to come out and be social with the female ram for the first time and now comes to the surface to eat as soon as I open the lid

 

[noonoo1]

My tank holds 100 lts.

I will try the mirror. My LFS didn't have any more rams when i last looked so I will have a look this weekend for a female. Will let you know how things go.

Many thanks.

 

[parker313]

Good Luck, I hope the mirror helps! I also used that trick when I had just a female and was waiting for the lfs to get a male. She had fun dancing and swishing around in front of it, it was pretty funny

 

[Riley]

good luck with your ram. it would be a shame for such a beautiful fish to die,but i doubt he will.

 

[noonoo1]

Just a quick update. The mirror seems to have helped with his shyness. Not long after putting the mirror up to the tank my ram has been behaving more like his old self. He is swimming around and i haven't seen him hiding at all. He is eating a little bit better. I think that he is lonely and will try to remedy that asap. Thanks again for everyones help.

 

[Riley]

thats great to hear.hopefully when you get your female he'll be even better

 

[noonoo1]

Just to keep you updated. My wonderful ram is now eating very well and he's out and about all over the tank. I haven't yet got him a female as i have lost some fish and wanted to sort that out before adding any more but i will as soon as i can. I really recommend using the mirror - it did the trick.

 

[AmberC]

So glad hes doing well!