sick rams

elizabeth · 04-26-2008, 07:22 PM

I had 5 rams ,6 cardinal tetras, 1 siamese algae eater, and 2 corys in a 29 gallon tank for 4 moths now. One ram got sick, had a white spot beginning at the edge of his body near the tail. I trated the tank with melafix for 7 days, and added salt to the tank. It got better but still had the spot. finally died. two days later two of the other rams had an eye protruding and one of them has a big belly.
I have been treating them with an antibiotic for 5 days as recomended by the package. They still have the eye protruding and their color is not normal. what should I do?
I use the soft water the aquarium shop sells and i add 1 gallon tap water for three gallons of the pure water every time I do a water change. I do 30% water changes every week and clean the filter. I don't understand what I do wrong with my rams. The other fish in the tank are doing fine. Please help!

Thanks,
elizabeth

Jay · 04-27-2008, 01:12 PM

Hey Elizabeth...

We would like to help but the information about your tank is very thin. I'll take a shot based on what you have told us.

German Blue Rams are beautiful, peaceful, little fish, however IMO, they are not a good fish for beginners.

They are extremely sensitive to water conditions and chemistry and frequently go into decline and die if conditions are not ideal.

Quote:

I use the soft water the aquarium shop sells and i add 1 gallon tap water for three gallons of the pure water every time I do a water change.

I'm not exactly sure what you are saying here, are you buying RO or Distilled water from the aquarium shop? If so, mixing it 3 to 1 with tap water is not restoring enough GH (calcium, magnesium, trace mineral salts etc.) necessary for fish health, especially Rams. It is also probably lacking in carbonates, which could cause pH swings.

You say your other fish are doing well, which leads me to think the Rams have had serious immune system problems and serious damage from some sort of bacterial infection and sadly will probably not make it.

I guess that's a fancy way of saying the problem is Stress related. Stress being defined as "an environmental condition which causes a negative physiological reaction" in this case I think it is the water.

The shotgun approach to treatment is probably working against you too.

A complete set of tank paramaters would also be very helpful.

Regards,
Jay