mcmillanm Posted March 23, 2012 Report Share Posted March 23, 2012 Hi, Just after some advice from those that have/are keeping these lovely little fish... I purchased 2, a male and female from my local LFS over a month ago. They didn't want to catch them in their planted tank so ordered a pair in for me. A few days after getting them the female who was the more brightly coloured of the two went quiet and a day later died. My water paramaters were fine although my nitrates were at 10. I heard they are succeptable to nitrates so bought a nitra zorb and put it in the filter, waited 2 weeks and then bought another female to go with the male. Two weeks later and the female is dead again. As you know these fish aren't cheap at $17-$20 at Hollywoods and my local and I am wondering if it is worth getting any more as I've no idea why they died... Could the male have taken a dislike to the girls although there were no marks that I could see? I've had a couple of Bolivians in my other tank which are a delight to watch and been doing well for over a year. The tank the blue rams are in is an AR850 community tank with no bullies that I can see and has both the 850 filter + an external aquis 1000 so plenty of filtration. pH is around 6.8-7. Just wondering if others have had any issues with these fish? :dunno: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ira Posted March 23, 2012 Report Share Posted March 23, 2012 Hi, Just after some advice from those that have/are keeping these lovely little fish... I purchased 2, a male and female from my local LFS over a month ago. They didn't want to catch them in their planted tank so ordered a pair in for me. A few days after getting them the female who was the more brightly coloured of the two went quiet and a day later died. My water paramaters were fine although my nitrates were at 10. I heard they are succeptable to nitrates so bought a nitra zorb and put it in the filter, waited 2 weeks and then bought another female to go with the male. Two weeks later and the female is dead again. As you know these fish aren't cheap at $17-$20 at Hollywoods and my local and I am wondering if it is worth getting any more as I've no idea why they died... Could the male have taken a dislike to the girls although there were no marks that I could see? I've had a couple of Bolivians in my other tank which are a delight to watch and been doing well for over a year. The tank the blue rams are in is an AR850 community tank with no bullies that I can see and has both the 850 filter + an external aquis 1000 so plenty of filtration. pH is around 6.8-7. Just wondering if others have had any issues with these fish? :dunno: 10 ppm nitrates is fine. Pretty good actually. Blue rams just seem to drop like flies, for everyone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FraserNZ Posted March 23, 2012 Report Share Posted March 23, 2012 I've had 6 in total, all dropped off at different times for no good reasons. Apart from one. They don't have very long life spains so that probably has something to do with it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ryanjury Posted March 23, 2012 Report Share Posted March 23, 2012 I have had no luck with keeping these even when I managed to get some good quality NZ bred ones they didn't last long and I have tried all sorts. Some people are lucky but they don't usually last long for most people Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcmillanm Posted March 23, 2012 Author Report Share Posted March 23, 2012 Hmm, I wondered if that may be the case. As pretty as they are, they are too costly if they keep dropping like flies. I think I'll wait and see how this guy goes and maybe replace him with the more hardy bolivians or some other dwarf something that catches my interest. Thanks for your replies Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LYNDYLOO Posted March 23, 2012 Report Share Posted March 23, 2012 I couldn't even keep the Bolivian Rams alive, lord knows how many I went through, then I finally gave up :an!gry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sheepsnana Posted March 23, 2012 Report Share Posted March 23, 2012 So, my next step would be, go back to the LFS, and ask them to ask their importer "If your fish only last for such a short time, why are you charging so much for them?" :dunno: Seems odd that weak fish can sell for so much. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcmillanm Posted March 23, 2012 Author Report Share Posted March 23, 2012 So, my next step would be, go back to the LFS, and ask them to ask their importer "If your fish only last for such a short time, why are you charging so much for them?" :dunno: Seems odd that weak fish can sell for so much. I guess the price is related to supply and demand and the fact that they last for a couple of weeks makes it hard to prove that it isn't the buyer's fault unfortunately. I WILL however tell them that I lost another & won't be buying any more. :roey: A pity as they are pretty although a bit more timid than my Bolivians who are little characters! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrahamC Posted March 23, 2012 Report Share Posted March 23, 2012 How long were they lasting in the LFS's tank? They should be spending a month in quarantine. Maybe ask the LFS to hold them for you for a few weeks first? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ryanjury Posted March 23, 2012 Report Share Posted March 23, 2012 So, my next step would be, go back to the LFS, and ask them to ask their importer "If your fish only last for such a short time, why are you charging so much for them?" :dunno: Seems odd that weak fish can sell for so much. Guess its one of those things that is hard to deal with.. I think that blue rams are classified as high risk now so they will need a 6 week quarantine, so they lasted at least 6 weeks in quarantine (with minimal losses across the batch) and then made it to a LFS and then to be sold to you. So it is hard to say they were sick or in unwell in anyway? I am not sure how the shops and quarantine facilities keep these guys alive but I certainly didn't have the knack for it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stickyfish Posted March 23, 2012 Report Share Posted March 23, 2012 my females die 2 and managed to keep 1 alive to breed then the 12 that managed to grow up were all males Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
antwan Posted March 23, 2012 Report Share Posted March 23, 2012 I had a pair back in '06 and they seemed quite hardy, spawned and raised their fry. I have just bought another pair yesterday so it will be interesting to see if they last. Hopefully they do cos they're $30ea down here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcmillanm Posted March 23, 2012 Author Report Share Posted March 23, 2012 I had a pair back in '06 and they seemed quite hardy, spawned and raised their fry. I have just bought another pair yesterday so it will be interesting to see if they last. Hopefully they do cos they're $30ea down here. GL with your pair, hopefully they are strong, healthy, successfully spawn for you & you can sell some babies back to people like me! :happy2: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
karina Posted March 23, 2012 Report Share Posted March 23, 2012 I too bought a pair 2 weeks ago. We're ok at first but did notice that they breathe a lot faster than all the other fish. Anyone else seen this? Anyway on monday I couldn't find the male and last I'd seen him he was slightly bloated I thought. Still no sign of him till about an hour ago when I went to clean the tank glass and got that dead fish smell - then I found him. I think he only died today. I too paid more for mine - $31.40 each Question is do I get another male for her? :-? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcmillanm Posted March 23, 2012 Author Report Share Posted March 23, 2012 I too bought a pair 2 weeks ago. We're ok at first but did notice that they breathe a lot faster than all the other fish. Anyone else seen this? Anyway on monday I couldn't find the male and last I'd seen him he was slightly bloated I thought. Still no sign of him till about an hour ago when I went to clean the tank glass and got that dead fish smell - then I found him. I think he only died today. I too paid more for mine - $31.40 each Question is do I get another male for her? :-? I didn't notice my latest female looking sick at all but the original female that I got was breathing rapidly before she died... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
karina Posted March 24, 2012 Report Share Posted March 24, 2012 Well my girl is now not looking so hot. Have taken her out and giving a bath in salt and Malkon (an old treatment that I have some of - old schoolers on here would know what it was). See if it makes a difference if not I guess I will have to euthanise her :tears: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LYNDYLOO Posted March 24, 2012 Report Share Posted March 24, 2012 Buggar, that's not sounding good, how's your male doing, did you manage to find him?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
karina Posted March 24, 2012 Report Share Posted March 24, 2012 Yeah eventually found him by the smell :tears: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danval Posted March 24, 2012 Report Share Posted March 24, 2012 Hey Karina. Where did you get these Rams from? I saw the nicest looking ones I have seen for ages at World of Water a couple of weeks ago, they were big too.... If I had some spare cash I would have got them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
karina Posted March 24, 2012 Report Share Posted March 24, 2012 Hey Danval I have been going to Rotorua to buy my fish lately. The two blues I got were very colourful. I think good stock was imported this time round. Was there again yesterday and bought a pair of blue veiltale rams (very beautiful) and a pair of blue acara's. Were they blue rams at World of Water? and how much? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danval Posted March 25, 2012 Report Share Posted March 25, 2012 I actually didn't see a price as I was only in there briefly. But they were the most colourful ones I have seen for some time. Would love to see some pics of your veil rams once they have settled in Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
myfishybuisness Posted March 25, 2012 Report Share Posted March 25, 2012 maybe try electric blue rams , i find them easy to keep and once you get the breeding sorted they breed like mice Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stephanie Posted March 26, 2012 Report Share Posted March 26, 2012 Ugh, I kept a pair for awhile. They are such beautiful fish. They laid eggs three times and hatched them once, lost them all after a powercut. :facepalm: The female died a few months later, and the male a few months after that. I loved them dearly but was so gutted i've only admired them in fish shops since. There seems to be a lot of threads about them dying so easily. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
karina Posted March 26, 2012 Report Share Posted March 26, 2012 I actually didn't see a price as I was only in there briefly. But they were the most colourful ones I have seen for some time. Would love to see some pics of your veil rams once they have settled in Might be the wrong place to post a photo... but never mind! Blue veil tail girl: Boy is pretty but she unleased her mouth on his tale in the bag while they travelled....naughty girl!! :facepalm: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danval Posted March 26, 2012 Report Share Posted March 26, 2012 :nfs: Thanks for sharing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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