Balloon/angel Rams

[elliott78]

I purchased a few of these from two different dealers last spring under the assumption they were German Blue Rams. However after further research I found out they were not. Very close, but the rounder bodies finally gave them away, (DUH!)... Anyway, in all I had 6 angel rams or whatever you want to call them. Two died in the first month. The remaining four perished at a rate of one a month for the next four months. This left me perplexed. My 90 gallon tank setup was close to perfect for them at the time and I conduct water changes on a regular basis. Any one else kept these little guys before? Troubles? Just curious....

 

[snowflake311]

This was my first Cichlids. I had two Blue Balloon rams they were both male and one killed the other. They are not harder to keep. Mine lived a year then I added a new larger fish and that stressed him out then he came down with Ich and was still stressed by the other fish he then died. So they are sensitive to stress and are nippy fresh little fish. I know more about cichlids and keeping fish now that I know he should have lived longer.

Here is my little old jerk

The face off

 

[elliott78]

Very interesting... I had mine in with a few angelfish and some other community fish. The balloons did stick toward the bottom of the aquarium and liked to hideout by the plants but come feeding time they were not shy at all. I I've had better luck with every other fish I've kept, even Discus so far, (knock on wood!).

 

[celaeno]

balloon fish (balloon mollies, rams, etc) tend to be prone to disease and have a relatively short life compared to the regular, full-bodied strains.

 

[AstonN24vantage]

i thought it was hard to tell if a baloon fish had bloat! i find baloon fish to be unattractive anywho.