Uber Ram??

[Robo]

Check out the tail on my favorite ram. When I first saw him at the LFS, I thought it was an injury of some kind, but the V-tail is original equipment. It does not seem to slow him down. Not sure if it would breed true, I have never tried to pair him. Anybody seen this before?? Thanks.

[Lisachromis]

That's certainly very different!

[Mike Wise]

I wonder if he has a double tail like double tailed Bettas. If so, I think that it would be worth someones effort to fix a strain with this characteristic.

[Willem Heijns]

It's much simpler than that. This fish has had its tailfin damaged (split) at an early age and the two halves never grew back together.

[Hudson Ensz]

Wow thats an abnormal ram!!! it looks pretty healthy but personally if it is a mutation, i would sleep better if they werent encouraged.

[Mike Wise]

Robo,

Can you get a close photo of the tail and caudal peduncle of this fish? If it is a split tail, it will have the normal number of scales around the caudal peduncle. If it is like a double-tail Betta, it will have twice as many scales.

[Robo]

Mike-
Sorry, been away on spring break. I will try to get better closeups of the tail and peduncle. The picture I posted was actually the first pics with a new camera, so I am still experimenting. What is the "normal" number of scales? I have had the Ram for over a year, and there was no sign of trauma to the tail when I purchased him from the LFS. He appears to have full function and use of the tail.

[Gordon C. Snelling]

MMMmm seems to me that I remember hearing that this was a surgical alteration on the fish. Dont recall the source though.

[Mike Wise]

The typical caudal fin should have 16 rays. If there are only 8 rays in each lobe, then the fish has a split fin. If it has around 16 rays in each lobe, then it is a double fin sport.

[Robo]

Took some more pics last night. Give me a couple of minutes and I should have them posted. Thanks.

[Robo]

Here ya go. These pics are a little better than the last bunch. Let me know what you think. Thanks.

[Mike Wise]

It looks like the fish has a split fin, not a double tail.

[Robo]

That was my conclusion as well, after reading your earlier posts and looking at the new pics. I guess I won't be breeding a strain of super rams after all. He is still my fave! Thanks.