SUNKEN BELLY RAMS HELP (OLD THREAD:violent german blue rams ganging up (HELP)

[gilpi]

These little guys are the chihuahuas of the aquarium world, little and nasty for the most part. I went through a period where I thought I could keep a few of them in a tank, one of them took control of the front center of the tank keeping all the others on the sides. Removed him after while and another took over the bullying.

 

[xWarrior15]

So I am having an issue with my male ram. He has sunken belly and has significantly lost weight as you can see from my 1st photo and today's. I am treating him and the whole tank with Esha Hexamita because they also have stringy white poop. So far I am on 2nd day of med. I was thinking after I finish 3rd recommended dose I'll treat tank with Esha NDx for 3 days and then repeat both for 3 more days. Would that be okay? I am suspecting internal parasite here because he otherwise has appetite.

 

[xWarrior15]

Here's also visible white stringy poop on female.

 

[xWarrior15]

Unfortunately I lost my male ram. After 3 days of dosing tank with Esha Hexamita and on 4th day after water change and dose of Esha ndx he died several hours later. I still don't understand why though, its seems he was way too far along or parasite finally killed him? Females have been surfing the glass ever since, they still got stringy poop and after getting them a new male they're a bit more normal, but still there's stringy poop.

Any suggestions here?

 

[xWarrior15]

Meanwhile I seriously hope my new male ram is okay, because every single one of them in the store had this kind of looking belly (I bought it from different store than the one that died this time) he seems to not show much interest in food on second day in the tank, but he+s active and colorful.

Is it possible all fish in my both available lfs's are infested with parasites? I hope not. Here's how his belly looks like.