blue balloon rams

[fish_r]

just a cpl of pics of my new blue balloon rams, not too colourfull yet as the pic was taken just after i put em in, got 3 of em hoping to get more...

[DiscusEden]

Mine looked a bit like that for a day or so. But less colour and more with the rolling around upside down.

But yours are cute little things! Nice colour for only having had them for a day. Good luck with them! Let us know how they go? I'd love to see them again when they've had a chance to colour up. (Small hint - more pics please?)

Are they in the 3 foot?

[fish_r]

did u get ur from Amazon DE ?
sorry to hear they arnt well
i took about 20 photos to get them 2 pics lol, time for a new camera i think...
will try get some more pics soon as i can for u good excuse anyway
yep trying them in the 3ft again now the tank has had time to settle...
i actually prefer the look of these rams to the standard ones now

[DiscusEden]

Hey, they're alive, I prefer that look too!

No, never been to Amazon. Got the males from the LFS down the road from me, and the females from the lfs near work - impulse buy. One of each might live. Maybe. They look OK for now. The golds seem hardier than the blues - I thought it was supposed to be the other way around.

Yours are pretty little things, I like them! All males?

Good luck with the more photos - just 'cos it's nearly impossible doesn't get you off the hook!

[fish_r]

lol
is that the shop at Mt Barker ? seen them advertising on TV lately and also pic of the discus on the advert nearly made me pack a lunch and head out for a look alway keen to suss new shops out
is good the rams are so cheap, mine were an impulse buy too
i have my fingers crossed for ur's

not sure what sex mine are, i'm "HOPELESS" at sexing fish but they all look the same to me ?
hopefully get u some more pics soon :P

[DiscusEden]

I was told the thick black stripe at the front of the top fin (?dorsal??) indicates it's a male. Then again, it might indicate they're selling me colourless grey fish & they saw me coming a mile off.

Based on that, your photos should be males? Do they display at each other?

Haven't been to the Mt Barker one either - was going to, but a friend said the tanks at the Stirling one were cleaner - before you ask, haven't been there yet either - are you seeing a theme yet?

It was the one at Belvue Heights I got the males from. So purdy!

By the way, anyone feel free to correct me at any point here!

[Th0mas]

I would think it's more closer to a female - though I'm no ram expert.

Just the extra pink/red in the belly area and the more intense black marking on the pelvic fins.

From another site:

male balloon ram



female balloon ram


normal male ram


normal female ram

[gingerbeer01]

Agree with thomas top picture is definitely a female. Two best ways to judge sex are the pink belly is female, and the black spot tends to have blue sparkly bits in females and not in males.

Also supposedly front ray of top fin is longer in males - but recently I have seen a lot of females with this trait.

Get yourself a nice german ram and you will soon pass on the balloons. I just picked up another pair yesterday. Will have to try for some pictures, but they are in a breeder tank at the moment.

Steve

[fish_r]

thx for the info and pics guys

[Robdog]

I personally think the balloons should be culled.