Are these Rams deformed?
- Thread starter Pyramid_Party
- Start date
My electric blues are in pH 7.6 and they look nothing like that. They have erect fins, bright eyes, and perfect shape. Can you show us the other fish? You said only 3 look this way, so I'm assuming the rest appear normal?
I know that rams come from soft, acidic water, but if these are electric blues, they are worlds apart from wild rams. Several people who are raising them right now are doing so in harder water with higher pH. But with any fish that's been heavily inbred or selectively bred, you're going to have a percentage of them with defects and other issues. IMO it looks like these should have been culled rather than sold.
Just my $0.02.
I know that rams come from soft, acidic water, but if these are electric blues, they are worlds apart from wild rams. Several people who are raising them right now are doing so in harder water with higher pH. But with any fish that's been heavily inbred or selectively bred, you're going to have a percentage of them with defects and other issues. IMO it looks like these should have been culled rather than sold.
Just my $0.02.
Yes 5 more look fine. It kinds pisses me off case I bought them from someone at a very young age. And now I think he purposely sold deformed ones. I already had 2 others die that were runts/deformed like this too.
They look very ill to me. Any difference in water conditions between your tank and your store's tanks? Did you buy them from store or breeder?
I got them from a breeder. Water conditions are very similar. I had a total of 10 Rams. I had 2 of them die. I got 5 now that look really healthy and then I got these 3 that look sick. Several days ago I noticed some of them with Ich. I raised the temp to 87F. Looks like the Ich is gone now.
How long was the treatment?
Did you use anything else to battle ich?
They look like they just suffered internal bacterial infection with those hollow tummies.
Not surprising though as infections are a consequence of parasites.
Did you use anything else to battle ich?
They look like they just suffered internal bacterial infection with those hollow tummies.
Not surprising though as infections are a consequence of parasites.
It's been close to 10 days. I still have the temp up to make sure the Ich is gone. I have not added anything, just using heat. I have heard heat alone can kill Ich. I was not sure if it was true but I don't see much Ich anymore.
I have been adding some garlic extract to their food too.
Yes these 3 do have hollow tummies, but they do eat. But the other 5 are in good shape.
I am gonna wait it out and see if their health improves. If not I will just remove them. I might keep one in another tank and give the other 2 away. Probably wouldn't kill them unless of course they are suffering. Which I don't know if they are at this point. But I think there's a good chance they will die anyway.
I have been adding some garlic extract to their food too.
Yes these 3 do have hollow tummies, but they do eat. But the other 5 are in good shape.
I am gonna wait it out and see if their health improves. If not I will just remove them. I might keep one in another tank and give the other 2 away. Probably wouldn't kill them unless of course they are suffering. Which I don't know if they are at this point. But I think there's a good chance they will die anyway.
Pyramid_Party;4811581; said:
You can treat ich with just a high temperature, but it really helps to add formalin/malachite green because it will ensure every free-swimming form of the parasite is killed. High temperature just stops them from being able to reproduce, it doesn't always kill.
Also at least 1 ppt salt should be added because ich hates salt, and any affected fish is dealing with many many microscopic holes in its skin from the embedded parasite. Salt will help those heal and help their osmoregulation.
Lupin;4811576; said:How long was the treatment?
Did you use anything else to battle ich?
They look like they just suffered internal bacterial infection with those hollow tummies.
I agree with Lupin, they do look sick. Why not set them up in a hospital tank and monitor them. I would add some aquarium salt as it is a good stress releaving tonic, I have never had an issue using it just don't go overboard with it. See if you could get them to take some Omega One Veggie flakes, not the Super Veggie Flakes, the regular veggie flakes have the Sprulina with the paletability that should get them to accept it, it might help the digestive system, although the garlic should be helping that already. I use it in my tank for the shrimp and the Rams go after it too. If they are tank raised in your area I doubt the Ph has anything to do with it. I also added a vitamin block to the tank, which is somthing I started doing with new fish for the first month or so and during breeding to help boost the immune system. As with all batches of fry some just don't make it, can't repair genitic defects.
