What's up with the 'balloon' fish?

[imagirlgeek]

So what's going on with all the 'balloon' type fish....balloon green terrors, balloon rams, balloon guaramis??  What IS this balloon thing??

[fishlady]

Re: What's up with the 'balloon' fish?

i'm not sure about the what?...but i have a ballon green terror and ballon rams and they are adorable.....i really like them alot....

[Cameo]

Re: What's up with the 'balloon' fish?

I guess the Celestial Goldfish weren't enough!

[Mzungu]

Re: What's up with the 'balloon' fish?

What IS this balloon thing??

Do you mean genetically, or just "why?"

[Zulaab]

Re: What's up with the 'balloon' fish?

Balloon refers to dwarfing a fish by breeding the strain that makes for a short body length.  The effect makes the fish appear more round therefore the "balloon" effect.    As far as I know this does not change the fish at all just makes the fish shorter.

[Cameo]

Re: What's up with the 'balloon' fish?

Yeah, I have cattle on my farm. Sometimes a calf is born with an extra leg. We really want to start breeding them for that.

[imagirlgeek]

Re: What's up with the 'balloon' fish?

Balloon refers to dwarfing a fish by breeding the strain that makes for a short body length.  The effect makes the fish appear more round therefore the "balloon" effect.    As far as I know this does not change the fish at all just makes the fish shorter.

Thank you!  That's exactly what I was wondering.  We have a couple of the balloon green terrors, and lately I've been seeing other 'balloon' fish popping up.  I just didn't know if it was a cute name for a different fish or what.  And our female Balloon Green Terror laid eggs the other night, but the male didn't do anything about it except eat them.  That is what started me thinking that maybe they were hybrid and sterile.  I guess he was just more hungry than...um...you know.    

[Zulaab]

Re: What's up with the 'balloon' fish?

Do you have any regular Green Terrors ?  or just all Balloons ?

[imagirlgeek]

Re: What's up with the 'balloon' fish?

No, just the 2 balloon green terrors.  They are about 4" now and he's starting to get a hump on his forehead.  I read that they will start breeding at around this size, and then she laid the eggs...only he wasn't interested.  It could be anything...

[Zulaab]

Re: What's up with the 'balloon' fish?

I have two regular Green Terrors who both turned out to be males.  I am looking for a good female to introduce to them so I can rid myself of the other :)

[imagirlgeek]

Re: What's up with the 'balloon' fish?

Ah....well, I'll keep my ears open for a female green terror.  I wish I had known a couple of weeks ago!  My cousin had a green terror that came with a tank he bought.  He got rid of it already though.  Darn.

[sproett]

Re: What's up with the 'balloon' fish?

Where do you find balloon green terrors?  I'd like to see those!  I haven't been to any lfs in awhile, I guess I need to go make the rounds to see what all these new fish.

[imagirlgeek]

Re: What's up with the 'balloon' fish?

We got ours at Fish N Pets Unlimited.  

They are pretty cool fish.  I'm amazed at how personable they are.  They come right up to the tank every time we walk near it.  Very sweet!

I'm attaching a picture of ours.  It's not a great picture, but you'll get the idea.