The babies are growing up

[Misty]

Excuse the dirty glass!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v207/EmBeeTM/Photos/RamBabies1_21_08.jpg

Based on everything I've read about the first few spikes being shorter on females, these are girls...right? These are the only two that made it this far. I worried about one of them(the one on the right), I thought it had deformities but when I moved them back up with their parents, it straightened out and now it's the toughest of the two, lol.

If they are, I hope they'll pair with my two unrelated males. If they're boys, I'm selling them!

[bra8ndy8]

awwww congrats!! gr8 pic!

[tsunderl]

It's fun to watch them grow up.

[Misty]

Thank you!
That's about the 1,000th pic of them I tried to get but it's the only one clear enough to see them both. They spar all the time so somebody always zips out of frame or they look like a blobby streak across the pic, lol.

It has been fun watching them. I spent hours upon hours on the floor in front of the tank just watching them. I moved the right one back to the 20g first and a few days later, the other one followed...the adults have been scared senseless ever since, lol.

Since I didn't mention it, these are the Ram fry from several months ago. The two lone survivors out of a big batch but they're good healthy ones, so it's been worth it.

[EAST_TX_RN]

Those are darling photos,Misty. They look like they have little mohawks!

[fishyjoe24]

so there green rams? they look cool. congrats.

[mrsbiggin]

They are SOOO cute

[Misty]

Thank you everyone! Out of the Rams I have, these two are always front and center not being shy so I'm tickled with them. I hope the next batch will have more survive so they don't wiggle they're way into my heart so much, lol.

Now, keep your fingers crossed for me that they're girls!

Joey, I'm not sure I understand what you mean. Are you asking if they're green as in young, or Green Rams? They are young but they're Bolivian Rams. I've never heard of Green Rams but now you have me curious.

[mematrix]

so there green rams? they look cool. congrats.

No they are Bolivians Microgeophagus altispinosa they get bigger than GBRs and sexing them is harder than GBRs If you wouldnt mind May I See picks of the parents (known male and known female) please I had Bolivians once but could never sex them hoping to learn how to.

Curtis

[Misty]

I'll try my best to get a pic for you. I don't like to handle my fish and put them under the stress just for a pic so I'd have to catch them at the front of the tank and that's hard to do because these are the shyest pair I've ever seen.
I'll see what i can do though.

[fishyjoe24]

No they are Bolivians Microgeophagus altispinosa they get bigger than GBRs and sexing them is harder than GBRs If you wouldnt mind May I See picks of the parents (known male and known female) please I had Bolivians once but could never sex them hoping to learn how to.

Curtis

oh ok thanks. yes misty i was asking them if they where "GREEN" GBRS.

[Misty]

No they are Bolivians Microgeophagus altispinosa they get bigger than GBRs and sexing them is harder than GBRs If you wouldnt mind May I See picks of the parents (known male and known female) please I had Bolivians once but could never sex them hoping to learn how to.

Curtis


Here's the best I can do. Take everything you've ever heard about their differences and throw them away. I have 4 females, 4 males and two juvies now and not a thing I've heard can be applied to any of them.

For instance, once the males and females reach adulthood, in spawning mode or not, they have no black spikes in their dorsal fin. It's either pale grey or not there at all, however, both juvies have the black and it's as black as black can get.

If you've heard that males have egg spots (I heard that for the first time yesterday), just ignore it because it's from their prospective. All of them have some, but when the males brighten up for courting, their's shine more.
In fact, that's one of the only ways to tell males and females apart, is when they brighten up. I have a pair of gorgeous males with very vivid red, blue, yellow and orange and there's just a smidgen of black/grey on their heads. The other two males have about half the color that those two do and the females have very muted red, blue and yellow.

The other way to tell is by the tail rays. They both have them but the older males will have longer trailing rays, while the females have shorter so it's very easy to buy a young male when you're looking for a female.

Now with the anal fin, I haven't noticed a difference is shape but it takes us back to color. The males will range from having a bit of blue and barely any red to a vivid blue with a lot of red. That's when those spangles/eggspots show the most, when the colors are the brightest. The females will have a trasparent to muted red anal fin...again with some spangles.

The semi-adult males and females look a lot alike. They both have the grey mottled patches on their bodies but the males will have more colors. It's subtle though so you have stand and watch their actions. The males will try to attract the females but the females aren't interested because of the young male's lack of color.

Anyway, on to the pic. This one is blurry but it's the best I could get, my batteries where dying and I was trying to hurry, but you can see most of the differences.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v207/EmBeeTM/Photos/Male_Female_BolRams.jpg

[supersmirky]

That's a really good pic. It shows both together for some good comparisons. He's got good coloring by the way. Looking good.

[Misty]

Thank you!
I have two males with colors like that, it's even better when you're looking at the real thing. I love watching them.

[supersmirky]

Yes I agree. The camera just cannot capture the beauty as seen in real life. I enjoyed seeing them. Maybe next time I will get to observe their new behavior under the new lighting you have. Hows the big red plant doing?? Is it still thriving? Also, did you set up your Green NRG? It took a full day for mine to actually get going really good.

[Misty]

Still have all the plants, a little melting but nothing significant. I figured it's just from grabbing, bagging and moving them into a better environment.
David hasn't set it up yet, he got sick yesterday, fighting something acting like the flu.
He might have a little energy to do it today but I'm not real hopeful...same with the light timers. Oh well, I know I don't even feel like opening my eyes when I feel like that so just that he made it to work (he doesn't have a choice, all the other managers are already in Florida) is heroic to me, lol.

Yep, I'll set up an "observers deck"...a dining room chair right square in front of it for you.:D

[supersmirky]

Oh yeah...that stuff is certainly going around! Hope he gets over it soon. Yeah, I could waste a day looking at fish and not have a clue where my time went.

[mematrix]

:D:p::) Thanks Misty those work for me and the descriptins also help a whole lot well i guess i may be trying my hand a bolivians now again thanks for the info and pics
PS: what gets me when i am taking pics it takes like 20 to 1 before i get one that is good glad the camera is a digital or i would be developing a boat load of film waisting most of it lol

Curtis

[Misty]

I'm glad I could help. I'm not a pro by any means but if I can help more, just let me know.

I know what you mean about thie pics...the other waste is the space on my computer that they take up. I have folders upon folders with useless, blurry or just bad pics. I have to go through once in a while and clean it out...it's been awhile because I'm dreading it but it's not getting any better, lol.

Supersmirky- Thank you...I'll relay the message to him. He's been sleeping since 3:30 pm and he woke up about an hour ago (about 3:30 am) and said he's feeling a little better. Honestly though, I think he has the flu.

[puru]

Hi,

Do you any fries of Dwarf cichlid? Let me know.

thanks,

Puru

[Misty]

One of the babies died last week. I was really upset because I've raised these little ones from day one. I still look for them both when I'm in there, they were always the first two to the front.


Hi,

Do you any fries of Dwarf cichlid? Let me know.

thanks,

Puru

Do you mean from the Rams? No, I don't...since I moved them into the 100g I haven't had any luck with them. Sorry...

[puru]

If you have any Dwarf cichlids? let me know.


thanks,

Puru

[bra8ndy8]

fries with that shake?!?!?! LOL sorry............

[puru]

OK sell me their parents. I ll take it.

:)

[bra8ndy8]

They sell them at Fine pet stores everywhere my friend.

[Misty]

I'm confused...I think.:confused:

Are you wanting me to sell you my Rams? Seriously? You don't know me at all because that ain't happening...no way, no how...ever! Ask anybody here. These, well all of my fish, are my loves, but especially my Rams and Angels!

They aren't going anywhere unless it's time to start making little toothpick crosses and burying them in the flower bed.:twitch:

[bra8ndy8]

LMAO @ misty!!

[lellison]

I know, so defensive. It cracks me up. We love you Misty! And I am so sorry you lost one of the babies

[Misty]

Yeah, I'm feeling the love...:rolleyes1:
j/k

:o I know...I didn't mean to come of as harsh, just the thought of selling my babies shocked me, lol. If I was rude, I apologize.

Thank you...
I don't know if it's a good thing or not but having the Corys does make for a fast cleanup but I was a little devastated at what little I found...I think I'd rather find the whole fish.

[bra8ndy8]

I don't think u came off rude.....I was LMAO....thought it was rather amusing!

[Misty]

Oh good!

I was trying to type that reply to Puru so fast that I was stuttering...can you do that, stutter type?roflmao

[supersmirky]

Well...Cory's are a cleanup crew....even if it means fish! lol

[lellison]

Yeah, I'm feeling the love...:rolleyes1:
j/k

:o I know...I didn't mean to come of as harsh, just the thought of selling my babies shocked me, lol. If I was rude, I apologize.

Thank you...
I don't know if it's a good thing or not but having the Corys does make for a fast cleanup but I was a little devastated at what little I found...I think I'd rather find the whole fish.

Misty, I did not think you were rude at all, I'm with Brandy, I just thought it was cute how protective you were:D

[rolloffhill]

OK sell me their parents. I ll take it.

:)


Again, if you want something please don't ask. Post a wanted ad and if someone wants to sell something they will contact you....

[bra8ndy8]

A little late add there Skippy.....he's posted and left by now!

[rolloffhill]

:flipa: I'm only on for an hour a night anymore...

[EAST_TX_RN]

Yeah, I'm feeling the love...:rolleyes1:
j/k

:o I know...I didn't mean to come of as harsh, just the thought of selling my babies shocked me, lol. If I was rude, I apologize.

Thank you...
I don't know if it's a good thing or not but having the Corys does make for a fast cleanup but I was a little devastated at what little I found...I think I'd rather find the whole fish.

You had every right to that response. I cannot believe that someone asked you that!

[Misty]

Aw, thank you!
I really do hope my reply didn't scare them off, like I said, it was just the shock and thought of selling/trading them, lol.

[rolloffhill]

For some reason this individual thinks it's ok to do that. Apparently I missed this thread, and then he did it to Amon too. I don't like it, and I think it's rude personally. If someone wants something go start a thread. Thats why we have that section there....;)

If in the future you see something like that and I don't see it, report the post (http://www.dfwfishbox.com/forums/production/images/buttons/report.gif) and i'll start handling it differently....:)

[Haiven]

I don't think his reply came off the way he meant it. He's obviously not a native speaker, and was just expressing interest.

[bra8ndy8]

Awwww Gotcha Skip!!! Will do!