Re: Blue Ram deaths, Suggestions?

[IDMiamiBob@aol.com]

Sherry writes:

<snip>> Okay, I'll hold off on the antibiotic food, but I can't find any 
medicated
>  food aimed towards parasites. I usually order from Pet Warehouse, and they
>  don't seem to carry it. Any suggestions on where to find it? Or would the
>  use of a medication such as Clout be okay instead of the medicated food?
<<snip>

Tetra makes a parasite medicated food, but it is next to impossible to find 
in the U.S.  Clout or some other anti-parasitic would probably be just as 
effective, and easier to get.  But unless the fish are wild, or exposed to 
infected fish in shipping, even parasites are unlikely.  If parasite-infected 
fish spawn, and the eggs are pulled, then the fry usually end up with no 
exposure.

<snip>>  I have no idea where to find a breeder, and this town is too small to
>  support any club that I have found (only 40,000 people in the whole 
County!)
>  The next largest town in the next county is a college town, where half the
>  population goes home for the summer. Not much chance of finding a regular
>  club in the area. <<snip>

Except for the lack of fellow aquarists, it sounds like a nice place.  There 
are a number of folks on this list who breed rams.  If one or more of them 
has emailed you off-list and offered to mail you some fish for a reasonable 
price plus shipping, go for it.  The cost in the end will be less than buying 
fish over and over again.  There are also a couple of what I refer to as 
"commercial hobbyists", who have gotten so involved that they regularly 
import fish from Europe and South America, then sell all or most of them to 
the general public through advertiements and/or web sites, thus generating 
enough money from their enterprise to pay for the expenses of fishaholism.  
These folks are dedicated to quality livestock, and rather than name some and 
offend others I omit,  I'll trust them to contact you off-list as well.

You could aslo subscribe to the cichlid trader email group, by going to 
http://cichlidtrader.listbot.com and filling out the form.  Once on the list, 
announce your need for fish, and see if an offer comes in.

<snip>> Also, the LFS said he would have to get them from his
>  supplier in Chicago, quite a distance from here. I know he gets his
>  angelfish from a local breeder, but obviously he doesn't know of any local
>  Ram breeders. One of his workers say that he has never heard of anyone
>  locally having any luck at being able to even breed them!
  
Sounds like this LFS may be your first customer.

> Thanks,
>  Sherry

Your very welcome,
Bob Dixon
Cichlid Trader List Administrator
http://cichlidtrader.listbot.com


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