lf Posted January 10, 2009 Report Share Posted January 10, 2009 I'm doing my homework before investing in some new fish for my 130L tank and need some advice. Tank is currently cycling and I will be adding tetras(6 - 9) and a bristlenose first well in advance of any cichlid pair that I get. Is the Blue Ram the same as the Dwarf Butterfly or are they slightly different. Have done lots of reading on the net about these and some sites say they are different, some the same, but not much to be found in New Zealand (unless I'm not looking in the right place) :roll: . How easy are they to acquire, and how difficult are they to keep. I would be considering just one pair to start with. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phoenix44 Posted January 10, 2009 Report Share Posted January 10, 2009 they are completely different (though from the same species). blue rams are smaller and far more sensitive to water conditions than the bolivian butterfly rams. the bolivians are a pretty fish too - bear in mind they usually look ugly in pet shops but after a while in the home aquaria, they look awesome. look at my post in the "show us your south american cichlids" thread, and look for the bolivian rams. they are really awesome too. males are prettier than females, and get nice long fins. and these fish are really hardy, and even survived a horrible disease outbreak in my tank that killed most of the other fish.s Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ryanjury Posted January 10, 2009 Report Share Posted January 10, 2009 As phoenix said bolivian butterfly rams and blue rams are different species although they belong to the same genus.. However I wouldn't be surprised if you did enough googling you would find blue rams called butterfly rams on various sites.. It is the problem with using common names they differ from person to person and from country to country. The difference should be very obvious if you were looking at them in a store bolivians are usually bigger and have nowhere near the iridescent colours of the blue rams still a very nice fish and alot hardier than blue rams. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
supasi Posted January 10, 2009 Report Share Posted January 10, 2009 Pics taken from Wikipaedia Blue Ram-Mikrogeophagus ramirezi Bolivian Butterfy Ram-Mikrogeophagus altispinosus Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lf Posted January 10, 2009 Author Report Share Posted January 10, 2009 Thanks for the info... :lol: :lol: :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave+Amy Posted January 11, 2009 Report Share Posted January 11, 2009 has anybody noticed that the Bolivian Rams from petshops always have sunken in stomachs?? I've been to SEVERAL petshops and have steered away from buying them 'cos they don't look healthy...does anyone breed these in NZ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phoenix44 Posted January 11, 2009 Report Share Posted January 11, 2009 i breed them.. lol.. but the babies are great food for my other fish so that's the cycle of life for them i suppose. these fish always look manky in shops. but if they show the slightest signs of good colour buy them, and grow them up... you won't regret it... they are actually quite cool. i just bought another one today. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave+Amy Posted January 11, 2009 Report Share Posted January 11, 2009 well scoop some baby Bolivian Rams out for me next time they become free swimming! I'd rather buy from you But WHAT is good colouring on these starving looking petshop Rams Phoenix?? I've stared and stared and left not buying a thing...secretly hoping they'll order another batch in and I'll get them before they end up shrunken. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phoenix44 Posted January 11, 2009 Report Share Posted January 11, 2009 let me know when you comin to palmy next - ill keep some in animates over for you then. you've seen my bolivian im sure (the pic in the other thread), he was from there. was thin, and had big eyes as they all do, but all 5 that i got coloured up really well. got another one today - also is thin but had faint colours on her (i think) so will let you know how it goes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phoenix44 Posted January 11, 2009 Report Share Posted January 11, 2009 well scoop some baby Bolivian Rams out for me next time they become free swimming! feather fin syno ensures that they do not free swim for long Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave+Amy Posted January 21, 2009 Report Share Posted January 21, 2009 Oh man looks like I will have to roadtrip upto Palmy on a day off work - most the staff in the lower hutt animates are pretty clueless when it comes to fish, one staff told me there were no such thing as fry sponge filters and that all filters need to have a motor :roll: despite me telling her otherwise. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phoenix44 Posted January 21, 2009 Report Share Posted January 21, 2009 hmm.. we do have them in stock. sponge filters you attach to the air tube.. counter current flow of air to water creates suction. lol my bit of rocket science for the day. :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave+Amy Posted January 21, 2009 Report Share Posted January 21, 2009 I can't tell you to hold them for me yet since I don't even know when I'll be able to get a day off work, how often do you get them in? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phoenix44 Posted January 21, 2009 Report Share Posted January 21, 2009 everytime we run out. lol. they always look a bit skinny.. but fatten up well and then look cool as. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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