HELP WITH KEEPING RAMS PLEASE

[RUPERT]

Hi there, i've bought several rams over the years but i have never been able to keep them for more than a couple of weeks.
I managed to get two pairs of blue rams about a month ago, within 3 days a female died. After about a week the other female died.After another week one of the males died. Yesterday, the last male died. Any advice appreciated.
My water is ok, except my nitrates are always at the top end of acceptable parameters at 40ppm. Cant do much about it really as it's 20 ppm straight out of the tap.there seems to be a lot of cases with fishkeepers keeping rams. I tend to think that the water conditions used to breed them, is so different to that of the end user so to speak, that the poor things are on a downward slope, health wise,as soon as they are delivered to the retailers.
This must be the case, because you can determine rams requirements by reading a book, finding out on the internet, asking at your lfs, or on a fish forum ect. Then, set up the tank as per instructed, in other words, give the e perfect conditions in a mature cycled tank, and you still lose the fish.
In my view, the problem area points to the time that the rams leave the breeders, then to the wholesalers. I think that their health starts to decline at this point. Its a damb shame. Rams are very beautifull fish, perhaps my favourite fish of all, and i would dearly love to breed them. I had a chat yesterday with my lfs, and they said that they were having some czechoslovakian rams in this weekend, and that they are much hardier than the german,the bolivian ect. Well, i'll see. David.

 

[parker313]

You could be doing nothing wrong. Unfortunately, rams have been so selectively bred for their color that it's left them very weak. Mass breeding with little regard for health will do that. You can have perfect water, perfect tankmates and still just lose a ram for no reason. It sucks b/c they are such gorgeous, personable fish. If you lose these new rams as well, I wouldn't get any more rams from the lfs b/c their supplier must not be getting good quality rams.

I had to give up on angels (other than the one hardy one I have) for the same reason b/c I just couldn't get good stock locally.

 

[Colin_BC]

Blue Rams are the most senisitive to conditions out of all dwarf cichlids. Bolivian's are generally much hardier. I've never kept Bolivian's, but I do agree fully on the blue rams. I have had crap luck with these when everything else thrived with no measurable nitrItes, nitrAtes, or ammonia. I'd think that it is possible it's your elevated nitrates that are contributing to none surviving very long. You could try either using RO water, or keep lots of floating plants or any other that grow fast and consume lots of nutrients (water sprite, hygrophila, limnophila, ust to name a couple).

I just picked up a new Blue Ram trio on Sunday (2F, 1M, grabbed 2F because they are hard to come by here), and so far they all seem good, although I noticed when I got home they gave me the wrong male. The one I got is nice, however it looks like he lost his lower lip in a fight. He is very active and still eats; it just take a couple chomps to actually get the food. I figure since these 3 are the healthiest looking ones I've been able to find in stores in a while, I'll give them a chance. I'm sure if any customers noticed the missing lip on the male at the LFS, he would never sell.

Several of my books all say the same thing about Blue rams, being that because they've been so inbred for their colours, they are extremely weak fish. The following is a quote from Mini Encyclopedia: The Tropical Aquarium by Gina Sandford:

Unfortunately, intensive breeding has resulted in a large number of weaker fish being offered for sale. Choosing healthy specimens can be tricky; if you cannot obtain wild fish, then choose a pair and ask your retailer to keep them in a seperate tank so you can pick them up later when you are satisfied with their condition.

Colin

 

[RUPERT]

Thanks guys, much appreciated. David.

 

[AnthonyRobinson666]

if your still looking for more, read away

http/hjem.get2net.dk/Best_of_the_Web/blue%20rams.html

i found it a blessing

 

[canarsie11]

Rams need a well established tank. How long have your tank been set up?

As far as high nitrates, live plants will help!

 

[RUPERT]

Thanks Anthony, very good site indeed. cheers. David.

 

[RUPERT]

Yes Canarsie, the tank is fully stocked with plants, and has been set up for about 12 years. David.

 

[mematrix77]

Hi rupert My name is curtis and I have found an article that helped me quite a bit with my rams though i have not ran into the sensitivity issue with mine I think this article has some to do with that http/www.aquatic-hobbyist.com/profiles/b...ambreeding.html I hope this helps you out Sincerely Curtis

 

[RUPERT]

Thank's Curtis, very good info, i have printed it out for future reference..thanks again, David.

 

[ramesses]

Oh yes,I remember when I used to have all those ram casualties,more than I dare confess.

-Always take your time picking the right ones.It's not always about color,remember than stressed out fish are going to look pale,and more often than not,when you take them home,they will eventually show their true colours.
-So,I will say that shape and behaviour is more important.Look for very lively quick to respond fish.
-Look around the tank.Does it have a few casualties?'cause if it does I will be heading straight to the exit door.
-Gather all the info you can from the owner and/or employees.Ask where they come from,how long they've been in that tank.
-If they are recent arrivals,ask if you can buy and keep them in a seperate tank for two to three days.Y? Because that way when you come back and you see them healthy,chances are that they will survive at home.
-I also will like to make a point about new arrivals.
Stress will kill any fish,and at no time is a fish more stressed out that when recently transported and transfered to a new tank.There is also the H2O factor.Water conditions change from place to place(and I am not even talking about their transporting bags),meaning they have to get used to the new environment and water parameters.

Rams are a very beautiful and unlike most,I belive they could be very hard fish,given that they are in the perfect setting with good water conditions and a healthy varied diet.

-When taking them home......

-Take your time acclimatizing the new fish.I personally spend two/three hours from the moment I bring them home to the time I put them inside their new tank.This is definately key.Give them time to get use to their new H2O and tank.
-Always do it while is dark.Trust me on this,not only for rams but any shy fish as
well(Discus,anyone?).
-Do not feed them 'till the next day.(tip from a breeder)
-Make sure their new tank has enough plants and hidding places;For they tend to get shy the first few days.
-Use a H2O conditioner,especially the ones that contain aloe for the coating and protection of their gills.

Other than that good luck

 

[RUPERT]

Thank you Ramesses, i entirely agree with every thing you say. Thank you for your time. Best regards, David.