Jim Anderson wrote:
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.

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!

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__ Elaine T __
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