Gold Balloon Ram Breeding

[Jay Geiler]

My wife purchased around a dozen Dutch Gold Balloon Rams and they are stunning but she's getting discouraged because they're not breeding despite her/our best efforts. We've had success with electric blues and apistos but these are stumping us. We have a known pair in one 10 gallon and a trio in another. They are a little under a year old and should be breeding by now. Water parameters we believe are good - we feed a very varied diet including numerous live foods but I am interesting in any comments or suggestions others might have.

Are they too young yet even though they are clearly mature and sexable?

Thanks

 

[Chromedome]

Balloon body fish often have difficulty in breeding due to their deformities. It is not just that the spine is bent, but many of the internal organs are pushed out of place because of it. Some males are functionally sterile because the tubes don't make the proper connections.