rams with gold balloon and angle

[scalelord]

I've been on the hunt for golden balloon body rams everywhere and I'm coming up empty - only found one in all of western New York and it's not looking too great. Has anyone else had any luck finding these fish? I tried eBay but the one seller is probably pulling theirs due to quarantine - any other ideas where to look?

[coltin]

I'd advise against buying those golden balloon body rams, to be honest. They're genetically deformed and prone to internal issues due to their stunted growth. It's a shame, really - these fish are bred to look unique, but they're actually pretty low quality.

Their shorter bodies cause a lot of problems, and they usually don't live as long as they should. It's all because some breeders in Asia think they look cool, but they're really just causing these poor fish a lot of suffering. I've got zero sympathy for the people who are behind this - if they had to live with the same health issues they're inflicting on these fish, maybe they'd think twice about what they're doing.

[boomer]

I couldn't agree more with coltin - the only way to put an end to this inhumane practice is by refusing to buy these deformed fish. By not giving in to the demand, we can hope to see a decline in the cruel treatment of these animals. It's heartbreaking to think that their suffering is solely for the sake of someone's twisted amusement.

[kingrise]

This situation is eerily similar to the GlowFish debacle. The key takeaway is that by withholding our financial support, we're effectively voting against such practices. If we continue to fund these operations, they'll only be incentivized to repeat their actions, perpetuating a cycle of harm.

[coltin]

While Glofish aren't perfect, they at least remain normal in shape - it's more about added coloured genes rather than physical deformities. The main issue with balloon fish is the shortened body and resulting internal problems, making them a less desirable choice compared to Glofish.

[aquagone]

I'd advise against buying those golden balloon body rams, to be honest. They're genetically deformed and prone to internal issues due to their stunted growth. It's a shame, really - these fish are bred to look unique, but they're actually pretty low quality.

Their shorter bodies cause a lot of problems, and they usually don't live as long as they should. It's all because some breeders in Asia think they look cool, but they're really just causing these poor fish a lot of suffering. I've got zero sympathy for the people who are behind this - if they had to live with the same health issues they're inflicting on these fish, maybe they'd think twice about what they're doing.

I'm still wondering how to identify if a fish is man-made deformed. I recall purchasing bubble eye goldfish years ago, and I'm not sure if it was a result of human intervention. The memory still brings me a tinge of sadness.

[coltin]

The bubble eye goldfish has a genetic mutation that occurred naturally, but people have selectively bred this mutation to create the big bubble eye strain. It's a natural mutation, but not ideal for the fish, as it causes swimming difficulties, eye problems, and the bubbles can pop and get infected.

A normal goldfish should resemble a bronze common goldfish, with a long, slim body and a short tail. All the fancy goldfish, like bubble eyes, orandas, ranchus, fantails, and comets, were developed in a similar way - a natural mutation was bred and inbred to create the strain.

Balloon fish are no different. A deformed fish appeared in a batch of fry, was raised and bred to its parents and siblings, and the offspring were bred to the parent with the deformity, resulting in the creation of balloon fish.

[aquagone]

I'd advise against buying those golden balloon body rams, to be honest. They're genetically deformed and prone to internal issues due to their stunted growth. It's a shame, really - these fish are bred to look unique, but they're actually pretty low quality.

Their shorter bodies cause a lot of problems, and they usually don't live as long as they should. It's all because some breeders in Asia think they look cool, but they're really just causing these poor fish a lot of suffering. I've got zero sympathy for the people who are behind this - if they had to live with the same health issues they're inflicting on these fish, maybe they'd think twice about what they're doing.

That's really sad to hear.