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Finally I got the Rams, got 5 of them, I got them not in the best shape besides they are too small to sex them. The Larger one of them seems not to be doing fine He is rapid breathing, and spent almost all the day hiding behind the heater, checked Ammonia & NO2 to avoid any minicycle, both are in 0, so just have to wait and see????, it's hard qhen you can't do nothing

Hector

Hi hector,

I would check to see how much water movement you have on the water surface. If there is not much it might be a good idea to increase it. You can do this by adding an airstone or if you have a HOB filter of cannister reducing the water level a little. This will increase oxygen levels in the water.

If you think you already have good water movement then perhaps the new fish are a little stressed about being moved to a new home. If they werent in great condition when you got them then the one that is behaving shyly could be taking more time than the others to settle.

I hope they feel more at home soon.

---

Before you criticize someone walk a mile in their shoes. That way you're a mile away and you have their shoes.

My German Blue Rams breath heavily all the time, it is normal for my two pair. They are fine, spawning every one to two weeks and they eat like there is no tomorrow. So don't let the rapid breathing throw you. They are also known to be a little shy, mine are not but I've heard from others that they are. Hope they do well for you.

Among the weekend I've lost 3 of them, again tested my water no ammonia or Nitrites are present, Currently my Nitrate test kit is empty, so I can't check Nitrates, I guess is not an issue due a made a 60% water change before the rams arrived, today I'll take a sample of my water and take it to the LFS for another test, and depends in the results if there is still some rams reaining there I'll pick it up, my first guess (and I hope) is they become very stressed due the trip, I told the LFS guy that I want the fish before they release them in their tanks, but couldn't make it on time.

About water Movement and O2, I've an Ac filter, and an sponge filter in the tank, so I think it is not an issue

If you can't get fish directly in the distributor or breeder's water, then don't buy them the first day they're at the store. It's better to give them time to acclimate to the store's water. This would be even better advice for Rams with their reputation for frailness.

Ok Bad news guys, lost all of them, here are my readings:
Ammonia 0
Nitrites 0
Nitrates 10 mg/l (I guess it is 10ppm, if someone can help me here would be appreciated)
PH 7
gh/kh Not measured yet

I spent more/less 1 hour acclimatizing the fish to my water, as I said, Bought the fish the same day they arrived to the LFS, did I do something wrong or just bad luck???, Want to give it another try, if you can give some input I'll appreciate that

Thanks in advance
Hector

I've heard that rams just dont ship well and tend to die soon after arrival... It might have had something to do with the stress of being shipped to the LFS, staying at the LFS briefly and then being moved again out of their tanks and into yours without time to adjust all in the same 24 hour time period.

That's another good reason to buy the fish after they've been at the store for a while - so that you don't happen to get three weak fish who are already likely to die - instead you get the fish that actually survived in the store for a week.

The point here is that I asked for the fish cause they usually aren't available, and if I let the fish in those tanks (at the LFS) for one week, surely they would not be alive either, so my best shot was to bring it home with me that day , Remember I'm not in the US and I don't have all the stock you have available, plus the LFS here are not the top 1 ranked worldwide, and that is what I have to face.

Hector