View Full Version : Is it Bolivian or GBR????
ChoiAquarium
10-07-2008, 11:35 AM
I just purchased my Ram in my LFS, and the whole tank of Rams was labelled German Blue Rams, So I went on and bought 2 ( male and female ). When I put them in my tank, they kinda looked like bolivian, so I did some image search on bolivians and German Blue Rams, and I noticed that GBRs have red eyes, while bolivians just have black normal eyes.
Can I tell the difference, by looking at their eye color??
My unknown Rams just have normal black eyes, No red color is visible yet.
Or does the red eye color and the whole body color of the GBR take Time to come out?
thanks for the help :)
Hurley
10-07-2008, 11:58 AM
Bolivian Rams are more grey and yellow while German Blue Rams have definite blue in them. In looking at pictures it does seem that the GBR have red around their eyes while the Bolivians do not. Do you have a picture. Some times when fish are stressed they lose their color and it can take a couple days for the color to come back.
Some times when fish are stressed they lose their color and it can take a couple days for the color to come back.
Mine were almost colorless when I first brought them home. Given a little bit of time, their colors came back!
noodles62
10-07-2008, 12:15 PM
It would help alot if you could post pictures.
ChoiAquarium
10-07-2008, 12:15 PM
Hello, thank you for the response
Well, when I first spotted the GBRs/bolivians in my LFS, they were abit dull and colorless compared to the images on google, so I coudn't tell the difference in those 2.
I'll definetely be taking pictures of them Tmr, by borrowing my freind's Camera :P
Try to google the scientific names of blue rams and Bolivian rams respectively, Microgeophagus ramirezi and Microgeophagus altispinosa. That will help with the ID.
evelyn80
10-07-2008, 5:55 PM
while pics would help considerably, i do know from moving my blue ram from my 20 to 30 gallon, he did go colorless for a few days before getting his color back. he still is not completely colored but i think its because he hast claimed a territory yet. give them some and us some pics ;)
ChoiAquarium
10-08-2008, 4:57 AM
Sorry for the long wait people, and again tahnk you so much for helping me out
Ok, here are the pictures :)
file:///C:/Documents%20and%20Settings/Administrator/%EB%B0%94%ED%83%95%20%ED%99%94%EB%A9%B4/IMG_5696.JPGfile:///C:/Documents%20and%20Settings/Administrator/%EB%B0%94%ED%83%95%20%ED%99%94%EB%A9%B4/IMG_5696.JPGhttp://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/IMG_5696.JPG
The manual to attach pics is here.
http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=167754
ChoiAquarium
10-08-2008, 5:18 AM
Sorry for the long wait people, Well I took the pictures today, and I think it looks pretty clear to distinguish from bolivians and german blue ram.
Thank again for helping me out :)
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noodles62
10-08-2008, 5:19 AM
Definately GBRs. Very nice little rams. Good luck with them!
ChoiAquarium
10-08-2008, 6:12 AM
Thank You Noodle.
Can anyone tell me what sex they are???
noodles62
10-08-2008, 6:48 AM
that is a tough one... can you see their vents? I know w/ bolivians that is really the best way to tell; altho i have heard that in gbr's coloring is also a clue. someone else will have to help you w/ the color clues.
Bubbles2112
10-08-2008, 7:23 AM
Hi, It looks to me like you have one definite male. Looking at the first photo--picture of the GBR in the foreground. The end of the dorsal fin is very sharp. Usually the female has a softer rounder end to the top of the dorsal fin. I think that you have two males--but I can't be 100% sure. It looks like they both have the pointy dorsal fin. I'm sure someone here with more experience with GBR can sex these fish from your photos. They are GREAT fish to have!!
Star_Rider
10-08-2008, 9:40 AM
Blue Rams for sure
but sexing may be a bit premature.
I would wait to see if they show more distinction of their traits.
ChoiAquarium
10-08-2008, 10:37 AM
Hi, It looks to me like you have one definite male. Looking at the first photo--picture of the GBR in the foreground. The end of the dorsal fin is very sharp. Usually the female has a softer rounder end to the top of the dorsal fin. I think that you have two males--but I can't be 100% sure. It looks like they both have the pointy dorsal fin. I'm sure someone here with more experience with GBR can sex these fish from your photos. They are GREAT fish to have!!
Yes I think you're right, both of my rams have pointy dorsal fin, does the dorsal fin method work?
Such as females have rounder dorsal fin and males have sharper dorsal fin?
lucy42083
10-08-2008, 1:01 PM
I would not go by the dorsal fin method, it is pretty unreliable, at least with rams. It is true that males tend to have longer, more pointed fins, as well as a distinct spike of the second and third dorsal rays --- but many females have this as well. I have a female gold ram (I have determined her sex by the vent, with the help of many members here), for example, whose fins are more pointed than either of the rams in your photos, and has a much higher dorsal spike on her 2nd and 3rd rays than either of the rams in your photos.
Yours do appear kind of young, maybe too young to sex yet. If you can get a photo showing the vent, that is really the best way -- but again, may be too young yet to tell right now.
jbradt
10-08-2008, 1:04 PM
Looks like GBR's to me... very pretty ones at that!