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Hi everyone I am currently in Iraq and my wife is at home taking care of my tank 75 gallons.
My tank has 5 congo tetras, 2 bushynose plecos, 1 clown pleco, swordtails, 1 danio, a few cherry barbs, and some corys, and 1 blue ram. Since i have left there has been an increase in fish deaths, my wife would find fish dead, and sometimes half eaten. A few days ago while talking to my wife she told me that my favorite swordtail had just died, she said that the blue ram had attacked it just before it died, this was the first time she wittnessed it she also said that it has been chasing other fish also. The fish are well feed and the water quality is fine. I have lost like 10-15 fish in the past 9 months, mostly smaller fish. I had the ram for a few months before i left and had no problems. Could it be the ram? they are peaceful fish. any suggestions?
p.s. I am considering moving him to a 10 gallon tank if so what would be good tank mates?
thanks

fish have personalities like anything else. i watch one of my neons beat up on another fish for no reason the other day. sometimes ya just get bad apples. might wanna try removeing the ram for a few days and see if the problem persist in the 75g. its hard for me to believe a 2 inch ram took out all these fish in a 75g tank. there is more then enough room for them to get away. especielly seeing its only one ram so its not breeding and getting insanely territorial to protect the eggs. this is a tough one but i would try removeing the ram to find out for sure if it is the problem. you could even place a divider in the 75 to keep him away from the other fish.
you didnt mention the decor in the tank. is it heavily planted with alot of places to hide? some caves? driftwood? this are all things that mark his territory. the more things you have in the tank the harder it is for him to see other fish and also has a place to hide if he feels threatend.
just some thoughts you might wanna try. hope it helps.

Sin

While it's unlikely a Ram would be that aggressive, it's not unheard of. Sometimes an individual fish may be more feisty than others. Try separating him, but leave him by his self in the 10 gallon. If he was aggressive in a 75, he'd be even more so in a tighter space! BTW, the BNs may be munching the fish that are already dead. This is normal behavior, and I doubt any fish are being killed to be eaten (with the fish that you have). Also, has your wife done the same maintenance that you had performed? A deterioration in water quality could make some fish weaker, and more vulnerable to attack.
P.S. I pray for a safe return for you and your friends from Iraq. Hopefully things will stabilize sometime soon.

thanks for the input, i have a big hunk of drift wood and a few plants. My wife has been doing most of the maintance that i was doing before i left. Most of my plants died since i left but there are still some left
thanks

if i move the ram to a 10 gal, i would like to have some other tank mates, perfreable some cat fish to eat the fallen food and to eat an algea.
any suggestions

You're unlikely to get algae in the 10 with just the Ram and a few scavengers, so I'd suggest a trio of kuhli loaches. They're quick and like to hide, so it would be more difficult for the Ram to bother them. Provide hiding spots for them, such as driftwood, overturned clay pots, caves, and/or plants.

Maybe your ram needs a friend? I've often heard of rams acting in extreme ways when by themselves. ie aggressive to other tank mates or hiding constantly.

I really dont think the ram would be happy by itself in a 10g. Try getting a second one in the 75g and go from there.

Lindy

PS, tell your wife she is welcome to start an account here too, we will all do our best to help her maintain the fish while you are away.

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