FishProfiles.com Message Forums

Okay, if you participated in the "Euthanization…(I had to, it’s no fun)" topic I just posted, you know how much this frustrates me... My other Ram is having a problem. If you didn't read that thread, I had to Euthanize my Golden Ram today. This is different though, my Bolivian is rubbing his gills on the sand... Gill Flukes? I don't see any signs of any problems aside from the rubbing on the sand. No redness or irritation around the gills that I can tell. He ate normal tonight, hasn't been "hiding out" or anything, and seems otherwise normal...

???

Ammonia: 0
Nitrites: 0
Nitrates: N/A
PH: 7.6
Temp: 76f

It is very posssible something could have come through your water. I would try to get a good Anti Bacteria and Anti Fungal.
PrimaFix and MelaFix could/might help also add airation, turn the light off, use lees feeding, sit back and hope it works for the problem fish.

It could be contagious so keep an eye out for any more problems.

Have a look in [link=My Profile]http://
www.fishprofiles.com/interactive/forums/profile.asp?userid=6741" style="COLOR: #00FF00[/link] for my tank info

[link=Betta 11Gal Desktop & Placidity 5ft Community Tanks]http://photobucket.com/albums/b209/keithgh/Betta%20desktop%20tank/" style="COLOR: #00FF00[/link]

Keith

Near enough is not good enough, therefore good enough is not near enough, and only your best will do.
I VOTE DO YOU if not WHY NOT?
VOTE NOW VOTE NOW

Good advice from keith there, id go with that.

Flicking is a sign that something is irritating either the fish's gills or skin. Since rams are particularly sensitive to water quality, the first thing that should be done is a 50% water change or water changes over a period of two or three days to see if it impacts on the symptom as you have no other visible symptom.

The second thing that I would consider is your filter and general tank cleanliness. If you have not recently perform filter maintenance, do it now. Do you have visible deletrius in the tank, do a surface vacuum of the substrate.

The next thing that I would consider is nitrates. Nitrate buildup for a sensitive fish like a ram can be very stressful leading to disease and death. If you cannot perform the test, take a water sample to your LFS and ask them to test it for you. By the way, water changes reduce nitrate levels!

Only after considering the above three items would I consider medicating the tank.

__________
"To steal ideas from one person is plagiarism; to steal from many is research."
researched from Steven Wright

Okay, I did a 50% water change last night. General tank cleanliness is pretty good. No algae, no food or fish waste. I do every water change with my gravel vac, so that was done last night. As far as filter maintenance goes I recently replaced my filter cartridge (last week.) I’m sorry but I am not familiar with the term “deletrius???” It could be NitrAtes, I didn’t have a NitrAte test (I got one last night) and the NitrAtes were high (80 ppm!!!) That is when I immediately did my 50% water change. My concern here is that I also tested my tap water and I am showing NitrAtes @ 40 ppm in my tap! Whatever can I do???

I would re-test your tap water for nitrates with a different test kit to be sure that you have that level of nitrates in your water. Take a sample to your local company that provides water treatment such as Culligan or to your LFS. If your nitrates are that high, I would ask if your local water utility shows that level of nitrates. I doubt that nitrates are that high in a municipal water supply.

If they are, then I would consider using a 50% mix of RO or DI water with tap water as your water source for the aquarium.

Last edited by Bob Wesolowski at 16-Dec-2005 08:58

__________
"To steal ideas from one person is plagiarism; to steal from many is research."
researched from Steven Wright

Okay, I am going to go out tonight and get a new test kit. I will make sure to re-test and post the results here, as well as make any necessary changes to my water supply as/if needed. I thought that was awful high for tap water myself. I am hoping that it is just a faulty test that I got.