Tropical Fish Forum

Tropical Fish Keeping Help and Advice => The Emergency Room => Topic started by: PaulH on September 13, 2017, 05:32:44 PM

Title: Pale fish
Post by: PaulH on September 13, 2017, 05:32:44 PM

I have a pair of electric blue rams. They have been in the 260L tank for about six weeks. Today, the male has suddenly become very pale. The female looks fine. All the other fish are ok. What could cause this?

Title: Re: Pale fish
Post by: Matt on September 13, 2017, 06:33:26 PM

Is he being chased by the female at all?  Rams can change their colouration quite significantly and rapidly in response to stress and to communicate with each other.  If you think they might not be getting on I can give you a few tips to try and get them friends again :)

Title: Re: Pale fish
Post by: PaulH on September 13, 2017, 07:19:08 PM

Yesterday the male was displaying to the female so they do seem to be getting on ok.

Title: Re: Pale fish
Post by: Matt on September 13, 2017, 08:07:26 PM

Ok well I'm not panicking yet certainly... honestly I would see how it's doing tomorrow and if not improved see if you can spot any other symptoms and let us know.

Title: Re: Pale fish
Post by: PaulH on September 13, 2017, 08:10:13 PM

Will do.

Title: Re: Pale fish
Post by: PaulH on September 14, 2017, 04:19:30 PM

Sad to say that he has died.

Title: Re: Pale fish
Post by: MarquisMirage on September 14, 2017, 05:41:59 PM

Sorry to read about your ram.  I haven't kept them myself so wouldn't have been able to help.

Title: Re: Pale fish
Post by: Matt on September 14, 2017, 06:47:14 PM

Wow sorry to hear about this PaulH.  Is the other ram doing ok? Eating and pooing as normal, normal behaviour? Does it look any thinner or fatter than usual?

Title: Re: Pale fish
Post by: Sue on September 14, 2017, 07:02:38 PM

I know that Matt keeps rams successfully but they can be tricky fish depending on how many generations ago the last wild caught ancestor was. Some breeders use wild caught fish every so often to widen the gene pool. Wild caught rams need very soft acidic water and temperatures in the upper 20s C. Commercially bred rams with no recent wild caught ancestors can tolerate a wider range of conditions.

Title: Re: Pale fish
Post by: Matt on September 14, 2017, 07:07:25 PM

Yes buying cheap with rams can actually pay off as a result!

Title: Re: Pale fish
Post by: PaulH on September 14, 2017, 08:50:16 PM

The remaining female seems fine. They were locally bred fish, supposedly acclimatised to local water. Thel lasted over six weeks with no problems.

Title: Re: Pale fish
Post by: Littlefish on September 14, 2017, 09:06:29 PM

Sorry to hear about your ram.
It can be difficult when there is no obvious illness or injury.