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October 15th, 2007
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| | Moderator
| ID gender of GBRs....
Im still trying to figure out if one of these GBRs is a female. I am posting photos that I just took awhile ago of the three that I have.
My question is of the ram that has not much coloring, Im wondering if she is a female. Any ideas?
thanks ~ kate
1st photo: 2 males
2nd photo: alpha male
3rd photo:lesser male
4th & 5th photos: possible female?
Last edited by capekate; October 15th, 2007 at 09:45 AM.
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October 15th, 2007
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| | ID master
| The first four are males and I can't tell about the last because the fins are clamped. If you could also post some better/clearer pics, that would be great. I am not sure exactly since the pictures of them aren't too clear.
Tom | |
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October 15th, 2007
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| | ID master
| Like here are some pics of my males and maybe a female.
One of my males 
Another pic of my male 
My pair, the male is in the front and the female is in the back 
I hope these pics can help you with the IDing.
Tom | |
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October 15th, 2007
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| | ID master
| Some things I have found out about IDing the gender of males vs. females are;
1) the females have a more of a rounded tail and the male has a 'V' shape with 'sharp' corners on them
2) the males have a elongated 2nd ray in the dorsal fin
3) the males dorasl and anal fins at the back are more pointed then the females
4) the females have more red on their belly compared to the males
5) the obvious, the females are thicker/rounder when mature and able to mate
I hope these also help with your sexing of them.
Tom | |
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October 15th, 2007
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| | Moderator
| Quote:
Originally Posted by Tom  The first four are males and I can't tell about the last because the fins are clamped. If you could also post some better/clearer pics, that would be great. I am not sure exactly since the pictures of them aren't too clear.
Tom | How do you get to post such large photos? As the size limit really restricts my photos. I will try to do a better close up...
Your photos are gorgeous BTW!!! Such beautiful rams you have there!
thanks also for the advice I will have to go over the list while I look at these guys again.
~ kate | |
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October 15th, 2007
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| | ID master
| Quote:
Originally Posted by capekate How do you get to post such large photos? As the size limit really restricts my photos. I will try to do a better close up...
Your photos are gorgeous BTW!!! Such beautiful rams you have there!
thanks also for the advice I will have to go over the list while I look at these guys again.
~ kate | I use photobucket and it allows me to show the pic and anyone can use it.
Tom | |
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October 15th, 2007
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| | Fish Addict
| Here, you can see the color difference in the male and female. Female has pink on the belly. 
Again, note the belly 
Unfortunately, this pair of rams were my only fish from a reputable source that passed away. I'm not sure of the cause, as everyone else is thriving, and conditions remained stable. However, I do not believe I have a good photo of the male's fins vs. the female's. I will check, though.
Good luck, as it is tricky. My females 2nd dorsal ray was slightly extended, but my males was VERY extended(and no, they were not long-fins) | |
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October 15th, 2007
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| | ID master
| Quote:
Originally Posted by neverendingninja Here, you can see the color difference in the male and female. Female has pink on the belly.
Again, note the belly
Unfortunately, this pair of rams were my only fish from a reputable source that passed away. I'm not sure of the cause, as everyone else is thriving, and conditions remained stable. However, I do not believe I have a good photo of the male's fins vs. the female's. I will check, though.
Good luck, as it is tricky. My females 2nd dorsal ray was slightly extended, but my males was VERY extended(and no, they were not long-fins) | They look great.
Tom | |
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October 16th, 2007
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| | Moderator
| WOW the color on those guys are fantastic! My guys do not color up half as much, so looking for a pink belly is almost impossible!
I am still searching for more GBRs, called another place that is about 70 miles away and nope.. no GBRs at the moment. I tell ya... this is getting pretty depressing!!! ugghhh....
~ kate | |
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October 16th, 2007
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| | ID master
| Good luck on finding some more. It is very hard even here.
Tom | |
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October 17th, 2007
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| | Fish Addict
| Thats too bad they're so hard to get some places. My favorite LFS always has bolivian rams, blue rams and keyholes in stock. The closer LFS, which has mostly saltwater fish, typically has long fins in stock, but I don't like their appearance, as they seem like a bit of a freak of nature. Their fins are never clean and long, they're usually rippled and obviously mal-formed, most likely from dirty water at the fish factory 
Although, don't let that give you the wrong idea about this LFS. They're changing water almost every time I go in! | |
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October 17th, 2007
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| | Fish Keeper
| hard to tell by the photots but there second spinal fin is much higher  Rock On Callum! | |
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October 17th, 2007
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| | Fish Mentor
| Nevereninja/Tom, why is it hard to get hold of rams? I've seen them once or twice at my lfs and reading your posts it hit me that they are rare. | |
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October 17th, 2007
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| | ID master
| It's just rare to find them in stores, except one that always has some in(I don't think they get sold). And the price for me is about $13 for a single one, so it isn't really cheap to get them either.
Tom | |
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October 17th, 2007
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| | Fish Addict
| I have no idea. I suppose it is just because they have a reputation for being very hard to care for. They're not idiot-proof, but I don't think you have to be an absolute expert to care for them, either.
They are only $6.99 at my LFS, so they're a bit on the high side, but not ridiculous. | |
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October 18th, 2007
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| | Fish Keeper
| i see 'em all the time here i didn't no they were rare? Rock On Callum! | |
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October 18th, 2007
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| | Moderator
| It also seems that the African Cichlid is more popular. At least there is so much more of them in the LFS than dwarfs. Most chain LFS do not even carry the dwarf rams. The smaller local fish store ordered some for me, now today I will go take a look and see if they brought in 4 females for me. Im keeping my fingers crossed that finally today I get some females. The lone GBR in the Discus tank sure can use some company!
~ kate | |
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October 18th, 2007
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| Well disappointment reins... waaaa.... I just got off the phone with the LFS that was ordering me the female rams. It seems that a fish order did come in, but NO rams... man! grrrr.... This is really frustrating. They said that there is no guarantee that there will be some next week either. Soooo on that note, I did some more research of area Pet shops/aquariums. I located one in Qunicy MA called Lovely Pet Center and they had a good online site and info. So will call them and see if they have any and hopefully I can take a ride up there on saturday. Its a 83 mile drive one way, but will be so worth it if they have what I want. Just have to convince my husband to drive me up!
wish me luck!! 
~ kate | |
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October 18th, 2007
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| | ID master
| Hope everything turns out for you.
Tom | |
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October 18th, 2007
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| | Moderator
| Well I talked with the owner on the phone today and at the moment he does not have any GBRs. uggh... He is going to talk to his supplier and hopefully I will know something next friday. Well.. no trip up there this weekend!
I do not understand why it is so hard to find these fish.. the owner at the store said that they do not ship well. That they are very sensitive fish, and that he doesnt get much of a call for them. That most folks want the easier- to -take- care -of tropicals. He said that I would probably have better luck going through an apistogramma club. YEHhh if I could find one! But he is going to do his best and see if he can get me some next week.
So for now... my three guys are on their own and truly one GBR is all alone in the 55g tank. I really want another there so that he doesnt get stressed out!
ohhh wellll.... so the saga continues!
~ kate | |
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October 19th, 2007
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| | Fish Addict
| Its expensive for shipping, but they're up for sale all the time on aquabid.com, and you would be guaranteed the sexes you order. | |
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October 19th, 2007
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| | Moderator
| Thanks NEN,
I have been checking out aquabid and notice that twofishguz have some great deals there. The shipping cost really leaves me hesitant on buying them online. Plus that and they are so sensitive not sure if shipping is a good thing or not. Tho the cost in gas to go where I need to go next week, will amount to the shipping cost anyway! So will have to re think this....
~ kate | |
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October 19th, 2007
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| | ID master
| If the store owner is going to bring some in for you, ask if you can get the from Florida, because they are always so much more colorful then the other ones.
Tom | |
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October 19th, 2007
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| | Moderator
| The store owner said he only uses one supplier and I do not know where the fish are coming from. I wonder if it would be possible in the future if I decide to buy online that I may be able to find a online store from Florida??
~ kate | |
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October 19th, 2007
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| | Fish Mentor
| Best of luck in your search! This happened to me too.
Rams were one of my first fish they died pretty soon after i got them. That was years ago. When i have space in my tank i might get some. | |
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