Difference between rams and bolivian rams?
 

Hey guys, I was just at one of my LFS and I saw that they were selling cichlid rams. However, they also were selling bolivian rams *which they did not have in stock at the time* I asked them what were the differences between the two, and they said that the normal rams were smaller, and more colorful. I did some researching, and it was true that the rams were a bit smaller than the bolivian rams, but other than that, were almost identical. I was wondering if anyone had more information/experience on the "normal" rams compared to the bolivian rams, or if maybe I'm just being stupid and both are the same species! :lol: Thanks!

Ram Cichlids that I am familiar with are two different main species... the Bolivian Ram and the Blue Ram (also a Gold Ram variety). They have different water parameter requirements, different behavior needs, and the Blue Ram is smaller than the Bolivian Ram... Both are offered in the Tropical Fish Profiles in the dark blue header at the top under Cichlids, or you can click on the highlighted blue names to be taken to their profile.

Hmm, yea I read up on those, but the odd thing was that at the LFS it had bolivian rams, "normal" rams, AND blue/gold rams. That's what confused me, as it seemed to have 3 different species of rams. Their "normal" rams seemed to be inbetween the coloration of a blue ram and bolivian ram, more leaning to the side of a blue ram though. The price was quite different from a blue ram though, which they were selling for 20 dollars, vs 6.98 for a normal ram.

Hmm... well, at one of my LFS they have blue rams that are balloons, like the balloon molly or the blood red parrot cichlid shape. Which they sell for more, and of course are a hybrid and have deformities to it being the ballooned version.

I am not sure what they consider a "normal" ram. Sounds like they are selling something hybrid. Who knows, maybe I am wrong, and there is a 3rd type of Ram... but doubtful. lol

I would ask them what's up with that.

Sounds to me like they have Blue Rams listed as normal rams and electric blues listed as blue rams.

Blue rams look like this

http://www.thehomeaquarium.com/image...am-cichlid.jpg

Electric blues look like this

http://www.aquascapeonline.com/ProdI...Blue_Ram_3.jpg

and gold rams look like this

http://www.fishlinkworldwide.com/fis...s/gold_ram.jpg

They are all the exact same fish (Mikrogeophagus ramirezi), just color variants developed through captive breeding.

The bolivian ram is a different fish(Microgeophagus altispinosa), and looks like this

http://0.tqn.com/d/freshaquarium/1/0/r/y/ram01.jpg


The important part is finding out which one you like the best and then asking where they source the fish from. Blue Rams bread locally tend to accept local water conditions readily. Rams sourced from fish farms in Asia tend to only do well in very soft water, because that is what they are bred in. Bolivian Rams are the hardiest of the bunch but tend to prefer softer water.

Yeah, I didnt think there were any other species of rams outside of Bolivian and Blue... other than color variants (gold or blue and such).

It's funny that they would label a fish as "normal" lol.

Yea, at the LFS it just said ram, and it looked like they had a mix of some yellow, bolivian, blue hybrids or something. It was interesting and confusing at the same time for me.

Yeah, and shame on the LFS for having Bolivians with Blue/Gold Rams, considering their water parameters are different... then again, I dont think too many LFS do much for different water parameters except salt vs fresh and tropical vs goldfish/koi (cold water fish).

This isn't actually true. If Blue rams are bred in moderately hard water they should be kept in moderately hard water. Only wild and asian farm raised Blue rams need the really soft acidic water.

Yeah, but water parameters where they are shipped from probably arent the same as the LFS's water, and most make no attempt to give them the higher water temp or what not.