Dwarf Ram

[Swampman]

Rams have been my favorite since I had my first fish tank many many years ago. This photo shows how colorful they are.

 

[Salty&Onion]

Never kept rams but man! that is one lovely photo!

 

[PheonixKingZ]

I would love to keep Rams, just every had the funds/time.

 

[Salty&Onion]

I would love to keep Rams, just every had the funds/time.

And I want to keep shrimp and I can't have a ram

 

[PheonixKingZ]

And I want to keep shrimp and I can't have a ram

Then I definitely couldn’t keep a ram in my 29g. I have a colony of 70+ cherry shrimp!

 

[Salty&Onion]

Then I definitely couldn’t keep a ram in my 29g. I have a colony of 70+ cherry shrimp!

Yeah and they will hunt shrimp

 

[kribensis12]

When you say Dwarf Ram, is there a scientific name you could provider? Technically all Ram Cichlids are dwarfs - so what type of variant would this be?

 

[Bub]

This is Mikrogeophagus ramirezi. Same as the German blue ram. This is a balloon variety of M. ramirezi.

Any ram that you see that isn't a standard Bolivian will be one of the M. ramirezi variants.

 

[kribensis12]

This is Mikrogeophagus ramirezi. Same as the German blue ram. This is a balloon variety of M. ramirezi.

Any ram that you see that isn't a standard Bolivian will be one of the M. ramirezi variants.

I thought that it was a balloon variety; I just rarely see them around my area so I was very confused!

It's a beautiful fish; I'm just not one for buying balloon varieties of fish.

 

[JuiceBox52]

Very colorful. I am also not a fan of balloon fish but it is definitely colorful!

 

[communityfluvalroma]

What’s a balloon fish?

 

[Essjay]

It's a fish that has a shorter than usual body shape making it look round. These fish are man-made, by breeding together those fish which had slightly shorter bodies. The fish have problems because all their internal organs are squashed up.
There are a few species of balloon fish - rams and mollies are quite common, but I've also seen images of balloon pearl gouramis.

 

[communityfluvalroma]

Thank you @essjay i never knew that! I’ll definitely keep an eye out.

 

[Essjay]

But please don't buy any. They do come with potential health problems.

 

[communityfluvalroma]

But please don't buy any. They do come with potential health problems.

I definitely wouldn’t after you’re explanation. Poor fish!