Weird German Blue Rams found - Body looks like parrot Cichlids

[wackydan]

I was at Feeders Supply in Louisville while up here on business.

They had a tank with German Blue Rams.... but these looked very very different from the norm....

While they had the exact same coloration/patterns, their bodies were totally different from what I've seen as normal. They were about the same size as a Blue Ram should be, but their body looked like a parrot cichlid had been squeezed into it.

I assume this is some sort of hybrid or mutated part of the species?

[pugwash]

Guess they're some deliberate hybrid, that is popular somewhere in the world. Saw some over here in the UK a little while ago, and, like you, thought they were revolting! So there must be a market somewhere!

[MacFish]

I've seen them around here too. Usually labelled as "Balloon Rams".

Blue Rams are pretty much perfect, why would anyone mess with them??

[Star_Rider]

sounds like the 'Ballon' ram..'

like MacFish I have to wonder why anyone would mess with them..they are beautiful fish..left ala natural.

[jessicar613]

Are you talking about Louisville, KY? I live in Lexington and the balloon rams are all I ever see around here. They are hideous looking imo. :(

[liv2padl]

just what the world needs, more oddball frankenfish. :(

[softturtle]

I don't mind them, but I'd rather have regular rams.

I have heard that it is a cross between an angel and a ram. I have no clue as to how sound this theory is but it is just what I have heard.

[wackydan]

Are you talking about Louisville, KY? I live in Lexington and the balloon rams are all I ever see around here. They are hideous looking imo. :(

Yup - Louisville, KY. I live in Lexington and Charlotte (NC) due to work related things....

But had to go up to Louisville again today, so I went to two more of their stores.

I gotta say, they seem pretty decent on prices. Tanks were extrememly reasonable priced in my opinion, based on the many LFS's I get to in my travels. They'll also order in most any tank you want. Fish were also in good shape. They have like ten stores around Louisville.

For example, the 120 stretch that I want was there for $299. The 30 cube Oceanic tank was $139. That 30 cube is normally $199 everywhere else I've been too.

Just glad we didn't get too much ice last night like southern Ohio.

[Rallysman]

I can't find any info on them. I dont know if they are a morph like a balloon molly or if they are hybrid....does anyone have a link to more info?

[Cathy G]

Balloon rams are not crosses between angels and rams. They are rams who through selective breeding - read inbreeding - have genes which cause an deformed swim bladder. They are a mutation, and yes I agree they are rather gross, poor things.
Cathy

[jessicar613]

Wackydan, if you have some stores you like in Louisville, can you pm me w/ a recommendation? I don't get up there often but when I do I'd like to check them out.


Agree about the ice! My daughter has missed so much school in the last two weeks it feels like Christmas vacation. lol

[TipStylez]

Yeah, i just saw these guys at a LFS the other day. Weird looking things...

Lucky my stores didnt get them and got the high fins! =]

[Brian Ferriera]

Never saw this before but found this in goggle.... They look like their constipated. Why do people keep having to do this to fish? Their a pretty fish by them self and I just don't see the improvement.

http://badmanstropicalfish.com/gallery/cichlids/ram.html
(last pic on the page)

Brian