Blue and Gold ram breeding

Christople

Hi I was wondereing if I could breed a GBR and and a Golden ram and create a hybrid sort of thing. Merry Christmas

Byron

This is not advisable. "Hybrids" among fish is something that most of us do not encourage. And with the poor common ram, this has already gone too far with genetically modified fish and so forth.

The blue and gold ram both came from the wild form originally, having been selectively bred for the colour, as far as I know.

Byron.

Christople

Ok thanks I was wondering... I was just wondering... And I think my lfs sells wild ones for I have had my male for around a year and a half. My male follows the female around and will put his mouth on his side and then blow water out of his mouth or bite or something... She is about 1/3 of his sise and there is no visible damage... What is he doing

Byron

This is common behaviour between male/female rams. My Bolivians do similar things from time to time. They also hover about 2-3 inches apart staring at each other, until one give in and moves away (it can be either the male or the female depending upon their instincts at the time). They will nudge each other, even briefly locking jaws sometimes. The male will sidle up to the female and display. Or sometimes the male will quite fiercely drive the female out of his sight, and the female can do the same to the male. Which is why rams need space with plants and wood to divide the line of sight.

If well cared for and in good health (much can affect health, long before you even bought them), rams should live about 4 years, both the common and the Bolivian species.

Byron.

Christople

I have had the male for a long time and he looks healthy... You desrcibed exactly what happens with them. I think he wants to mate but she is not quite ready so we'll see