Balloon Rams...what the heck

[lellison]

Went to DNA today and saw Balloon Rams. Yea, I was shocked and kinda wierded out. They are just German Blue Rams with a squatty little body. It's very strange and I did not know that they existed. I'm not sure how I feel about them, but I must admit they are super cute little guys. My mom got three of them. lol. She just fell in love with them. They are doing well in her tank and seem to have very little aggession. It just kinda freaked me out when I first saw them.

[xtc]

I'm not crazy about them- not b/c of looks but because of the hybridization. Which is a whole nother topic all together.

IMO- if they make mom happy- that's a good enough reason I guess.

I'm not crazy about DNA because they promote their sale- same as tattooed fish- but I'm not gunna tell you or your mom what you like. So [Sheryl Crow scream] "If it makes you happy" :hehe:

One of the aspects I love about fish keeping is the subtle difference everyone has in collecting/showing their tank(s). Enjoy em!

[lellison]

Yea I wasn't crazy about them at all, but my mom loved the way they were interacting with each other and thought they were cute. lol. I think they are okay I suppose, they add a lot of color to her tank and get along well, so I'm glad she found something she likes. But I did think they were super strange. I just tell myself that if I don't like fish because they have been specialized to look a certain way etc, then I would have to not like all the fancy and beautiful angelfish too. But I'm not for dyed or tattooed fish at all. Some things are just wrong. lol. But I understand what you're saying about the hybridization. Strange to me, but they have a happy home now and mom loves them, so I'm happy. :tada:

[lellison]

:eek: :( My mom is super sad. Lost 2 of the rams. Water conditions are fine, my only guess is stress. They were hiding out a little from the dwarf gourami, but they weren't being chased bad. Maybe just very sensitive. ANyways, it sucks, my mom really liked them.

[bra8ndy8]

:(sorry to hear that!!

[biggin]

I have found DNA has a high death rate the first few weeks they have fish. I think it has something to do with the ridiculous number of fish they buy and shove in the tank.... I saw the balloons a day or two after they added them.... I have no idea how many they put in there but it was horrible. A little deformed fish with no room to move.

[lellison]

Yea, like I said, I don't know how I feel about them, that is just not the way a ram is supposed to be. But Mom loved them, so I was okay with it. I'm upset that they died though. She had one left as of last night. I haven't checked her tank this morning yet. Kinda afraid to :please:

[xtc]

I had a couple of little rams that I got at a shop in Houston- transported em back and they both died in short order- that stunk!!

[fishyjoe24]

what's wrong with dyed and tattoo oh wait we are talking about the :fish: tattooed and dyed fish are just wrong.. i'm sorry your moms fish died.

[lellison]

Thanks Joey, I appreciate your sympathy. She was sad, but I bought her some neons, and a couple of young bosemani rainbows, and she is happy again :)

[fishyjoe24]

that's cool. so how big is your tank, and what do you have in it.

[lellison]

Well my moms tank ( the one I am talking about here) is 29 gal w/ 2 boesmani rainbows, 4 long finned rosy barbs, dwarf gourami, betta, and 6 neons.

[fishyjoe24]

cool cool what about yours.

[lellison]

I have a 29 long with 2 young keyhole cichlids and 4 panda cories. Fancy pleco and a couple of moonlight gouramis to come soon.
I also have a 30 gal hex with a spawning pair of angels and 2 female bettas and a 10 gallon with 3 Brevis cichlids

[fishyjoe24]

sounds cool i have a 240 with tinfoils, clown loachs,pictus catfish,cory cats,and syndontis catfish oh and some leapranious(SP?) too.

[lellison]

Awesome Joey, what kind of cories?

[Catherine]

I can understand how the shape might appeal to some people, but if I were breeding german blue rams (have tanks set up with three pair) and saw shapes like that, I would CULL them. I don't think it is a good idea to breed for those diformities, I think it shows they are genetically weaker overall, thus the high death rate.

[lellison]

I agree.

[kewlkatdady]

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