Trop Aquarium - * Bestseller of July 2007 *

Quick Facts

Scientific Name : Mikrogeophagus Ramirezi

Size : Up to 5 cm

Diet : Usual Food

Water Conditions : 18 - 26 ºC; pH 6.5-7.5; dH 5-12

Care Level : Easy

Reproduction : Egg Layers

Balloon Ram Cichlid

Rams has always been a very popular community fish, because of its bright colours & peaceful disposition. The Balloon Ram has become quite popular, with its round body, deeper body line & long flowing fins, as compared to the common ram, which has an elongated & compressed body. The balloon ram originated from Columbia, which are mainly wild-caught, but they are now successfully bred in Asia. They come in both blue & gold forms.

The males & females can be differentiated at their juvenile stage, about 6-7 weeks old. Males are usually larger, with its front dorsal fin rays much longer than the female's, forming the 'spike'. The dorsal fin of the male also tends to have a pointed shape near the caudal fin, whereas it's more rounded for the female's. Females are smaller and have a reddish tinge on their pelvic regions, especially when getting ready to spawn. Also, the black spot on the side of the female may have blue or gold speckles throughout, and the male's tends to be solid black.

When breeding, a group of juveniles are usually left to grow together & select their own mates. Once a pair is established & have reached sexual maturity, they can start spawning. They are egg layers that likes to spawn on flat surfaces (eg. rocks, pebbles) or pits in the gravel. The females can lay between 20-200 eggs each time. Both parents will look after the eggs. Their fries are normally free-swimming in about a week

They are best kept in a planted aquarium, with non-aggressive fish such as angelfish, tetras, etc.

		Exporter & Importer of Freshwater Tropical Fishes, Marine Fishes & Invertebrates, & Aquatic Plants.
		An ISO 9001 & 14001 Certified Company.




BESTSELLER OF JULY 2007