New strain of Blue Rams in LFS

Thread view:

Enable EMail Alerts

Start New Thread

Thread rating:

Jim Anderson - 18 Feb 2005 22:16 GMT

I live in Minnesota, USA, and for as long as I can remember all the Blue
Rams (Mikrogeophagus ramirezi) have been the 'German Blue Rams' from the
stock of German breeders that had bread a more colorfull (?) strain.
They are torpedo shaped, about 1/2 as high as they are long, with a flat
back and stomach.

Today at the local PetCo they have a tankfull of Blue Rams that were
much, much more rounded (Discus proportions), about one inch long and
about 7/8 inch high and very colorfull with tall fins and chubby
looking. These are not German Blue Rams.

Thinking of getting a pair for a new planted 30USGal, in the planning
stages.

Can anyone comment on these observations.

Signature

Hope this helps.
Jim Anderson
( 8(|) To email me just pull my_finger

Reply to this Message

Elaine T - 19 Feb 2005 01:27 GMT

> I live in Minnesota, USA, and for as long as I can remember all the Blue
> Rams (Mikrogeophagus ramirezi) have been the 'German Blue Rams' from the
[quoted text clipped - 11 lines]
>
> Can anyone comment on these observations.

Sounds like an angel or ballon ram. Or possibly hi-fin rams - I've only
seen those once. They're all selectively bred for the different body
shape, like fancy goldfish. For the most part, in the LFS where I
worked we had more trouble with the fancy rams than those with the
wild-type body shape like golds or German blues. It seems that
tinkering with the genetics of an already sensitive fish causes trouble.

BTW, you're a brave soul if you're considering buying any sort of ram at
PetCo!

Signature

__ Elaine T __
><__'> http://eethomp.com/fish.html <'__><

Reply to this Message

Jim Anderson - 19 Feb 2005 02:04 GMT

> > I live in Minnesota, USA, and for as long as I can remember all the Blue
> > Rams (Mikrogeophagus ramirezi) have been the 'German Blue Rams' from the
[quoted text clipped - 21 lines]
> BTW, you're a brave soul if you're considering buying any sort of ram at
> PetCo!

Thanks Elaine-
I've heard of Balloon Rams, never seen one. I have a nice PetCo, the new
fish manager does a very good job with the care of his charges, really
turned his shop around for the better. They were losing their shirt
killing all the saltwater fish, so they hired someone more quallified I
guess. I was hardware shopping and just happened to notice the Rams.

Signature

Hope this helps.
Jim Anderson
( 8(|) To email me just pull my_finger

Reply to this Message

Elaine T - 20 Feb 2005 22:31 GMT

>>>I live in Minnesota, USA, and for as long as I can remember all the Blue
>>>Rams (Mikrogeophagus ramirezi) have been the 'German Blue Rams' from the
[quoted text clipped - 28 lines]
> killing all the saltwater fish, so they hired someone more quallified I
> guess. I was hardware shopping and just happened to notice the Rams.

Nice to hear that one of the chains has its act together!

If all the fish in the PetCo tank are healthy and you really like the
unusual look of the fish, you might give them a try. A lightly stocked
30 gal planted tank is certainly a good way to go for rams. Just don't
get discouraged if the balloon rams don't work out.

Signature

__ Elaine T __
><__'> http://eethomp.com/fish.html <'__><

Reply to this Message

bottom feeder - 21 Feb 2005 22:37 GMT

Just a warning to you: Don't buy any Ram at PetCo. I work there, so
I'm not just trying to bash the place. Wherever they get their fish
(It's probably a fishery out of Florida, but I think some of the fish
are Asian bred.) does not do a good job taking care of their stock. I
went through 3 pairs of Rams before I finally went to a smaller local
store and found some tank raised ones.

--
dan

Reply to this Message

Jim Anderson - 22 Feb 2005 00:37 GMT

> Just a warning to you: Don't buy any Ram at PetCo.
> [snip]
> Dan

Thanks Dan.

Signature

Hope this helps.
Jim Anderson
( 8(|) To email me just pull my_finger

Reply to this Message

Pet Forum / Aquaria / Cichlids / February 2005

New strain of Blue Rams in LFS