balloon rams!

[finfan]

ok, i am a little confused now, i saw these cool balloon rams yesterday during my lfs trip,

1) do any of you have/had them?
2) are they a man made hybreed of the german blues?  
3) are they better/worse compared to german blue's or bolivian rams?  

i have been planning on getting 4 bolivian rams because i heard they are hardy compared to blues and less sensitive to water ph etc., yet to see them in any stores,

4) do any of you have extra you want to sell??

i also heard a lot of the rams in stores are "juiced" with hormones for colors,

5) is there any fish store i can trust more than others in that respect?  

i really want 4 rams for my new tank and trying my best to do research in advance and find the best specimens

also, IF i had room i would get some checkerboard and keyhole cichlids, i saw checkerboards in fish gallery, i believe i have never seen keyholes

[AK-71]

Re: balloon rams!

Not an expert, but I asked the same questions few months ago, so my 2c:

1. I've had some from "Fishland", just took the last one (gold) back yesterday. (Good fish, but started to attack "real blue rams I just got from "Fishgallery". Look at "German" there, they said they should have a new batch in today. The most beautiful fish I've seen.)
2. Balloon ones are a product of "selective breeding" - thus man made.
(They look very natural though, not like some other balloon versions of the fish, don't know why they called them "balloon")
3. New pair of real blue rams - so far much better temperament, great colors, they actually like each other a lot. Female, actually looks "girlish":). I hope they stay this way.
4. Fishgallery might, but they cost there much more than "balloon" ones at Fishland.
5. Not an expert, but mine got even more color in my tank in both cases.

Good luck,
AK

[finfan]

Re: balloon rams!

thanks AK for the information.  i want the blue rams too, but i heard that the bolivian rams are more hardy and less sensitive to water conditions, and diseases, did you ever have bolivian rams?  i also never have seen them in a fish store, from pictures, it seems like they are a less colorful compared to blues but still attractive, can't make up my mind now!!!!!

[Zulaab]

Re: balloon rams!

Finfan,

I know that fishland a couple of weeks ago had Bolivian's.  I am not sure but I believe there are some people here who breed them, but not sure.

I had 6 Ballon Ram's from Fishland as you call them.. I today have one left.  They where infected by fungus, and died off fairly quick.  The one left now is doing well, after eradicating the disease from it, but now its in the QT tank and I have no real reason anymore to want to keep it.

[AK-71]

Re: balloon rams!

thanks AK for the information.  i want the blue rams too, but i heard that the bolivian rams are more hardy and less sensitive to water conditions, and diseases, did you ever have bolivian rams?  i also never have seen them in a fish store, from pictures, it seems like they are a less colorful compared to blues but still attractive, can't make up my mind now!!!!!

This is exactly why I considered Bolivian Rams. I was lucky though with the balloon ones from fishland (no losses). Although I thought two of them in the tank in Fishland now might have some slightly strange looking spots on the fins. Hope Blue Rams do OK too. They all looked extremely strong in Fishgallery.
Besides once I looked at these particular Blue Rams - I just couldn't resist, all the reasoning went out the window (it often does with me in LFS)  

[Zulaab]

Re: balloon rams!

AK-71 - Do you still have the Ballon's or did you say you returned them?  If you still have them, are you interested in one more for free ?

[AK-71]

Re: balloon rams!

Just returned yesterday

[finfan]

Re: balloon rams!

thanks for the input, i might just get the blue rams, what the heck, life is short and i have to try them out, if they don't work, i will go with bolivian rams, btw, AK i think i saw a picture of your planted tank - VERY NICE - loved it, feel free to share more pictures

[Zulaab]

Re: balloon rams!

There are some nice Blue Rams at T&T Fish & Reptile on Hwy6 and Bellaire.

[AK-71]

Re: balloon rams!

Here are the ones I got yesterday:

I just made this picture over the lunch break - they look better in real life.

[finfan]

Re: balloon rams!

they are AWESOME looking, seems very healthy and settled, i wish i had my tank and had it ready for fish, i would run and get them, but unfortunately i have to wait, first petco.com sent me a brocken tank, then they sent me the filtration system as a replacement instead of the tank and now they are trying to send the actual tank, i am so sick of them now

[Zulaab]

Re: balloon rams!

AK-71 - beautiful fish :)  I do so love the German Ram.. its such a pretty fish.   -  Finfan I hope your troubles are over soon.