German Blue Ram/electric Blue Ram?

is there a difference between these two fish? id be keeping 2 in a 29 gal tank with 15 lemon tetras and 8+ sterbaI corys

 

No they are the exact same fish, just different colours

 

No they are the exact same fish, just different colours

okay good to know, cause my LFS only gas 2 GBRs and like 50 EBRs

 

Fyi... new lesson for me .
Make absolutley sure they're NOT balloon rams !!

 

Fyi... new lesson for me .
Make absolutley sure they're NOT balloon rams !!

whats the difference n how can you tell?
heres a semI okay picture of them

 

Balloon rams look like ovals swimming around and gbr appear more torpedo shaped.
Big difference in Health !!

I love the regular gbr. imo the one in the back right would be more safe.
They have awesome coloration that comes through in a healthy environment.

 

Balloon rams look like ovals swimming around and gbr appear more torpedo shaped.
Big difference in Health !!

I love the regular gbr. imo the one in the back right would be more safe.
They have awesome coloration that comes through in a healthy environment.

yeah they only have 2 GBRs and they seem kinda stressed/scared that's why I'm hesitant. does it matter whether or not you keep 2 females or 2 males or 1 of each?

 

GBR and EBR are the same species. It is recommended to keep a male and a female together. They will pair up and hang out together and the male will strut his stuff for the female which is cool to watch. They may even lay eggs but with the other fish its unlikely you'll need to worry about fry.

Two males will be territorial and spar so that isn't recommended. Two females can also get that way although more often they just end up being reclusive and skittish without a male around to bolster their confidence. Whether they are both GBR or EBR or one of each is irrelevant. You could have one of each and they will still pair up if you get a boy and a girl. If you watch the tank for a while at the store you may even see a couple pairs that hang out close to each other as they move around the tank. These fish have already bonded, so if you can get them, great.

 

GBR and EBR are the same species. It is recommended to keep a male and a female together. They will pair up and hang out together and the male will strut his stuff for the female which is cool to watch. They may even lay eggs but with the other fish its unlikely you'll need to worry about fry.

Two males will be territorial and spar so that isn't recommended. Two females can also get that way although more often they just end up being reclusive and skittish without a male around to bolster their confidence. Whether they are both GBR or EBR or one of each is irrelevant. You could have one of each and they will still pair up if you get a boy and a girl. If you watch the tank for a while at the store you may even see a couple pairs that hang out close to each other as they move around the tank. These fish have already bonded, so if you can get them, great.

I know on GBRs females have a pinkish belly (which both of their GBRs are I think male) how do you tell on EBRs? I think itd be cool to get one EBR and one GBR to have more variety in the tank.
is this setup good for them?

 

That set up will be great for them. They like having plenty of cover to poke around and explore near the bottom of the tank.

You are correct the females have pink bellies, but you really won't see that in the EBR. The other defining traits then: males will have the first couple rays (ie spikes) of their dorsal fin elongated. Gives them almost a punk rocker look. The females will have very small dorsal extensions by comparison. The males will also tend to have longer more pointed pectoral fins. The females will be slightly shorter and more rounded. Females that are mature will also tend to be a bit plumper in the belly. If you look at a male head on they will be pretty even thickness top to bottom. The females however (when mature anyhow) will be much wider on the bottom than the boys. Males also tend to have longer more pointed analfins than the females however this is only more apparent in mature adults in my experience.

 

That set up will be great for them. They like having plenty of cover to poke around and explore near the bottom of the tank.

You are correct the females have pink bellies, but you really won't see that in the EBR. The other defining traits then: males will have the first couple rays (ie spikes) of their dorsal fin elongated. Gives them almost a punk rocker look. The females will have very small dorsal extensions by comparison. The males will also tend to have longer more pointed pectoral fins. The females will be slightly shorter and more rounded. Females that are mature will also tend to be a bit plumper in the belly. If you look at a male head on they will be pretty even thickness top to bottom. The females however (when mature anyhow) will be much wider on the bottom than the boys. Males also tend to have longer more pointed analfins than the females however this is only more apparent in mature adults in my experience.

alright so basically with being a beginner it’s potentially hit or miss, because I don't think theyre mature yet, theyre only about 1-1.5inches id think. ^ there's a picture above

 

yeah they only have 2 GBRs and they seem kinda stressed/scared that's why I'm hesitant. does it matter whether or not you keep 2 females or 2 males or 1 of each?

They always look bad in the stores.
They are a sensitive fish put in bad conditions to their needs.

I prefer to keep 1 gbr, but that's up to you.

 

got a semI decent picture of them today when I was picking up my lemon tetras

 

Top picture is a male and a female based on the analfins (the female is the right one, females will get dorsal extensions as well as males, males have longer pectoral and analfins that are pointy).
The normal ram picture is a female.

 

Top picture is a male and a female based on the analfins (the female is the right one, females will get dorsal extensions as well as males, males have longer pectoral and analfins that are pointy).
The normal ram picture is a female.

the normal ram, would she gain coloring after bringing home?

 

my LFS is getting another shipment of GBRs in on wednesday, so hopefully there's more

 

the normal ram, would she gain coloring after bringing home?

The belly will become more pink and she should gain a little more orange look to her head. They are a literal rainbow when they color up. I have two females (one that is a show quality so she has the pretty fin extensions earlier in her life than my other one does) of the regular blue, both have the bright pink belly, dark black marking, blue spangles, and orangey look to the body color (I guess bronze would be another way to say the color), and I have an electric blue male that I picked up out of pity because he was being hounded and chased around causing him to develop a solid black horizontal line on his sides from stress (he doesn't have this line even in the 2 days I have had him).

 

The belly will become more pink and she should gain a little more orange look to her head. They are a literal rainbow when they color up. I have two females (one that is a show quality so she has the pretty fin extensions earlier in her life than my other one does) of the regular blue, both have the bright pink belly, dark black marking, blue spangles, and orangey look to the body color (I guess bronze would be another way to say the color), and I have an electric blue male that I picked up out of pity because he was being hounded and chased around causing him to develop a solid black horizontal line on his sides from stress (he doesn't have this line even in the 2 days I have had him).

so basically no matter what theyre an extremely pretty fish!

theres only 2 GBR in a tank of probably 20 EBR, then in the next shipment theyre gonna put GBR in with some small discus.

 

so basically no matter what theyre an extremely pretty fish!

theres only 2 GBR in a tank of probably 20 EBR, then in the next shipment theyre gonna put GBR in with some small discus.

The GBR should be fine with the discus (I understand not mixing shipments), if you are wanting a pair get a pair. If not aI'm for just one fish that seems personable (my big female is immediately in my face when I look in the tank, my other female is shy because she is in an angel grow out tank instead of an established community).

 

The GBR should be fine with the discus (I understand not mixing shipments), if you are wanting a pair get a pair. If not aI'm for just one fish that seems personable (my big female is immediately in my face when I look in the tank, my other female is shy because she is in an angel grow out tank instead of an established community).

I wouldnt mind eventually getting into breeding. would the GBR and EBR cross breed? if so, what would it produce?

 

the normal ram, would she gain coloring after bringing home?

Yes regular gbr are gorgeous when they are in a good environment.
Up to though which type you like. I can show a oic of the one I have of that would help you ?

 

They can cross, it depends on the fish themselves, sometimes the cross look different even from spawn to spawn.