Balloon Ram

[lilaliend]

After my introduction someone asked me to post a picture of my "Balloon Ram". I posted it in the New World Chichlid section, and I got two nominations for FOTM (something I knew nothing about till now). So here's a picture of my Balloon Ram. I say rare because the little guy is extremely shy and never comes out if I'm near the tank, not even for food. I had to set the camera up very far below that tank and zoom in alot. Then had to crouch down and wait for it to actually come to the front of the tank.

I didn't see a pinned thread for this months FOTM though.

 

[LadyMinion]

Great photo, he has beautiful finnage!

 

[mandi]

Wow he's beautiful!

 

[fufanu360]

so colorfull!!

 

[Earthgirl]

Very Nice!
I know it is really hard to snap pics especially when they are shy or nocturnal

 

[FanOFish]

lilaliend, great looking fish.....can you tell me the difference between a balloon ram and a german blue ram? They look very similar to me.

Thanks

 

[lilaliend]

Sure I can... it's not a big difference though. The Balloon rams are actually just a hybrid of the German Blue Rams (which are from venezuala, so I don't get the whole "german" part). They just have shorter, rounder bodies then usual... "dumpy". I guess they add more of a 'cute' aspect to the Ram. Compared to the normal ones like you see here. (not my picture) Actually, the two rams in the top corner are regular blue rams, you can notice somewhat that his body is more elongated, but the pictures isn't really straight on him so it's a little difficult.

 

[Crystal]

He is georgous!

 

[lilaliend]

TY

 

[G_Sharky]

Cool looking rams, but aren't they also called Bolivian Rams

 

[lilaliend]

Bolivian Rams are close, but merely 'cousins' of blue rams. For specific's look up their scientific names. They're of the same genus (Microgeophagus), but two different specific species. The German Blue's are of the Ramirezi species, whereas the Bolivians are of the Altispinosus.

German Blue Rams - Microgeophagus Ramirezi
Bolivian Rams - Microgeophagus altispinosus

They're damned close though. The German Blues are easier to keep and seem to have bolder coloring. I think the Bolivians are bigger as well.

 

[FanOFish]

Thanks, these are great pictures I don't think I have ever seen a balloon Ram.

 

[tear-scar]

There seem to be so many varieties of Microgeophagus Ramirezi, I'm getting confused.

I have 2 of that species (I think, not bolivian), but neither of them has the black markings yours does. One of them is a regular body type, and the other has the balloon body type (see photo in sig). Is it a difference of color strain or species?

 

[lilaliend]

tear-scar,
Do they have pinkish bellies?? It could just be that they're both Females. The females are much duller, especially the black stripes. The males have much darker blacks and more vibrant colors. Another insteresting thing, if you have two males in a smaller tank, they'll get ALOT darker and their fins will be much more bolder as a 'dominance' thing. So if they're not males, it could be that they're not feeling threatened, or that they' sick. Lets hope they're just both Females.

I know between my male and female, the male has real dark stripes like the tiger barbs I have, and you can hardly see the stripes on the female.

BTW all,
Yeah... balloon ram has passed away I was worried about em for the past week or so. He's such a shy and scared fish that he never came out to eat. They also apparently have a HORRIBLE survival rate, so the 4 weeks I had him was actually a 'good' run. Very sad

 

[lagrant]

Those little guys are soooooooooo cute!!!