New Bolivian Rams-unhappy

[2excitedkids]

We got 2 bolivian Rams 5 days ago as our final fish for our community tank(see profile). They are in a quarantine tank at the moment and won't eat, sit on the bottom of the tank mostly and occasionally swim to the other side (when we aren't present).They don't look ill as such -just unhappy.

We tried keeping the lights off for 2 days and have tried tempting them with all the foods our other fish love - sinking discus pellets (no, we haven't got discus but our fish just love them), algae wafers, bloodworms, catfish pellets. I know they are substrate sifters but obviously we don't have a substrate in our quarantine tank - is this why they won't eat.I saw one eat a bit 2 days ago but not since.

We have got them a cave,2 artificial plants and a tree stump to make them at home..still unhappy.
Temp 23/24, pH 7.4-7.6, ammonia etc 0, nitrate 20 (15 from tap).

Is it normal for them to take so long to settle down, how can we entice them to eat. I am worried that if we ever get to put them in the main tank they will never get food because our other fish will eat it before they do! Is it normal for them to sit around the bottom all the time...all the pics I've seen they swim around.

Any advice greatly appreciated.

 

[Truck]

your nitrates are high for rams, unless its your tap reading, your temp is WAY too low, rams should be kept at 28oC, but most community fish will hate you if you increase the temperature.

 

[2excitedkids]

your nitrates are high for rams, unless its your tap reading, your temp is WAY too low, rams should be kept at 28oC, but most community fish will hate you if you increase the temperature.

All the info I've read say Bolivian rams don't need to be kept at this high a temp unlike german blue rams.

 

[Truck]

i still think that 24oc is a bit cool for them IMO 26 should be good, what substrate are you using?

 

[2excitedkids]

i still think that 24oc is a bit cool for them IMO 26 should be good, what substrate are you using?

As mentioned none in quarantine tank but sand in main tank where they will be going.Perhaps we should up the temp to 25 (cos our corys don't like much higher than that).

 

[Truck]

i dont think rams will be suited to your tank, they will die prematurely and are more susceptible to disease at lower temperatures

 

[2excitedkids]

i dont think rams will be suited to your tank, they will die prematurely and are more susceptible to disease at lower temperatures

I have just checked on a very reputable fish resource website ( tropicalfishfinder.co.uk) and also a hread yeseterday on this site (gold rams)where nmonks was writing about rams.

Bolivian rams temp 24-26
pH 6.5-7.5
water parameters-not too soft.

This would suggest they will be fine...they are quite a diferent fish to the german blue ram which would in fact die in our tank...thats why we didn't buy german blue rams. I don't think our water parameters are the problem here.

 

[Truck]

25-28degrees Centigrade

26-28 degrees Celsius

to keep rams healthy nitrates need to be kept minimal. i have kept both species of ram, and have found that they do better at higher temperatures, and overall health is better.

 

[2excitedkids]

Just increased temp to aim for 25. Just looked in tank and found one of them has eaten all his bloodworm but the other one hasn't touched his/hers.
Nitrates are lower in main tank as the plants lower it ,so hopefully will be better.

 

[2excitedkids]

Was obviously worrying about nothing and being impatient.Swimming around happily today and eating every thing in sight.

 

[TigerIssey]

Glad they are happy, does not stop you from worrying though.

Good luck.