Balloon Dwarf Rams?

[jpedersen024]

Just came back from LFS where the supply and stock are great, but unfortunately the help are useless morons...

Went for a replacement MALE blue ram... ended up with yet another female... which I was pretty sure of when leaving with the bag, yet I still left with it .... Just as much my issue I guess!!!

Anyhow. Noticed new tank filled with beautiful balloon blue rams. Have never seen/ heard of such a thing before, and they are twice the price.... so I am madly looking for info before going back and picking up what I hope to be a PAIR!! Seems like the tank was easier to distinguish, as there were a few brightly coloured who were defending territories it seemed. Mainly males would do that I assume? The fins weren't yet distinctly larger in the front yet (first few rays), but could that happen as they mature? I know about the pink bellies too, but sometimes in the light/ stress of the catch it's not always clear.

Any info would be appreciated! Would a balloon mate with a regular blue ram? I assumed so, yet mr. not-so-informed informed me that that would be 'very difficult'...??

I can't believe he has me doubting myself.... but whatever!

 

[annka5]

I think balloon rams are specially bred from normal rams to get the exaggerated egg shape, e.g. much like some fancy goldfish strains. They can often struggle with swim-bladder issues as they get older due to the strange shape. I would think that the difference in colouration in males /females are exactly the same as for normal rams.

 

[jpedersen024]

Hmm.... normally I am NOT a fan of the balloon species varieties, but these fish did not seem all that different than a regular ram. Only very slightly shorter.

My main attraction was that I thought I could more easily pick out the males by their behaviour, but I am still unsure about whether or not the first few rays are ALWAYS larger.... or whether they grow larger as the fish matures..?? (in ANY ram)

Anyone?

And I still wonder if they will mate with a regular ram... I would really love to have some fry...

 

[Mystix212]

Females will always have the same length of rays in the dorsal. They may be a little bitty fraction high. The males have significantly longer dorsal rays (first 2). They probably get longer with age.

Its very likely you could spawn a balloon ram with a normal one. Try with both for example. Male ballon, female regular and vice versa. Try this is to 15 G or so tanks. Who knows?