blue ram varieties

[anggrek@juno.com (Tsuh Yang Chen)]

 mr. dilbert,

i'm no expert but i can tell you what i know based on what i see in
petshops here in nyc.  
the blue ram (Microgeophagus ramirezi, aka, Papiliochromis ramirezi,
depending on whom you ask, scientists are still debating whether the
first name is valid, it also used to be Apistogramma ramirezi, in some of
the older books, but that name is no longer valid) comes from the flooded
savannas of venezuela.

because it is a popular fish in the hobby, there are many varieties
developed by humans.  they are in general larger and longer in body size
than the wild species.  there is also gold and long-finned varieties. 
the so-called german ram is a much more compact, small, pretty and
colorful fish, and i hear, sturdier and easier to keep.  i have never
kept one so i can't tell you if they are hardier, but they sure are
prettier.  unfortunately, rams seem to be rather difficult to keep, i
myself have had more luck with their larger relative, the bolivian ram
(M. altispinosa).

i hope this is helpful.

tsuh yang chen, new york city

On Sun, 01 Feb 1998 21:57:09 -0600 Andy Dilbert <ixtapa@hempseed.com>
writes:
>Hello all!
>
>I hope I'm not posting too off topic for this list, but I need to get 
>some
>info about rams!  I don't have any yet, but I think they are cool, and 
>I
>aspire to get one or two.
>
>The thing that I am confused about is the different strains of rams!  
>I've
>heard of blue rams, long-finned rams, German blue rams, and a few 
>others!
>Are German blue rams the best type?  What do German blues look like?  
>What
>is the difference between these different types of rams?  I have heard 
>lots
>of explanations.  I've heard stuff about fish farms in Singapore,
>colouration differences, fish being raised indoors, etc., etc.  I am 
>very
>confused!
>
>I would appreciate any help!
>-Andy
>
>
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