Where can I find German or Bolivian Rams In NoVA

[ir0n_ma1den]

I really want German blue rams or bolivian rams, but I went to petco and petsmart today, and they didn't have them. I haven't checked wally's or the Centreville Aquarium yet.

Does anyone know where I can get a pair?

[moogoo]

petco and petsmart won't have them. They don't carry them at all.

Wallys doesn't have them either.

The superpetz in annandale has them. I was just there last Friday. They have both GBR and gold rams. They're toward the back. They also just redid their tanks and now have a pretty good selection of plants to choose from, including HC, glosso, etc. The GBRs I saw were $8.99 each and looked about 1.5" in size. Standard price as far as I can tell since Foster/Smith has them for the same.

I intend on picking up a pair, but not until my tank is well established and the plants have filled in. Didn't you just set up your tank? I would advise you to wait before you start adding livestock. Especially $9/each rams.

[ir0n_ma1den]

ya, i'm definetly going to wait so they can have some hiding space, but it's good to know that somewhere around me has them.

I've never been to superpetz, is it any good?

Do they also have Harlequin Rasbora?

[moogoo]

I don't remember if they Harlequin Rasboras. I didn't have much time to browse on Friday and things have changed since before.

The changes are definitely for the better. The equipment there is still overpriced though, but they do have a good selection for emergencies. Fish selection is average. They have some nice ones, but then not some you would also expect them to have (e.g., they have rams but not cardinals). It is definitely worth a trip if you've never been there. Their fish prices are reasonable to a bit on the expensive side.

I plan on taking a trip up to silver spring some weekend to check out a place called Scales. It's new and I hear lots of good things about it, including that they have rummies and cardinals in stock and that they quarantine all their fish. Superpetz seems to quarantine too and you'll see it written on some tanks as "Not for sale yet". Have a visit, it's fun to browse. They have a massive lion fish in the back. Literally the size of a regulation NFL football. He's huge.

[KurtG]

Scales does (did) have them in Silver Spring. They are locally bred. I picked up a female there as I was finding only males at other places.

[ir0n_ma1den]

Ya, I also heard of Scales, but after google mapping them, I will not go (1h 45min trip). Superpetz is only 30min away. I am glad that I live down the street from Centreville Aquarium since they can do special live orders on things, but their stuff is also overpriced (for cured Fuji LR, its like $8.50 a pound!).

[ir0n_ma1den]

Haha, I just called Centreville Aquarium and they are carrying them for ony $7.50!

[KurtG]

My only caution is that in my search, I found that many places import hormone altered fish (only "colorful" males). If you want a pair, make sure you are careful with you selection and don't base it only on color (especially if it is a tank full of only males). Scales had local tank bred fish and though they were small, I was glad to find a female. I had already tried the two larger stores in MD.

[ir0n_ma1den]

what is the difference between a female and male?

[KurtG]

The male generally has a taller second spine on the dorsal, the end of the dorsal fin also extends over the caudal peduncle (tail area) whereas the dorsal of the female usually stops short of the tail. The female may also have a pink belly and blue speckles in the black spot.

You should aim for ALL of these visual cues.

[EricSilver]

There is a much closer store in Silver Spring called Tropical Lagoon, which specializes in fish. They are just off the Beltway on Georgia Ave. I drive past it almost every day, but have never gone in. The reviews I have read are positive.

Tropical Lagoon
9439 Georgia Ave
Silver Spring, MD 20910
301-585-6562

From their web site:

We carry a large variety of fresh water fish, including:

King Kong parrot fish
Black ghost knife
C. Spectibile
Red dragon flower horns
Royal pleco's
Burmese border loaches
Red tail hemiodus
Healthy cardinal tetras
5 inch iridescent sharks
Pond comets and koi
Seven stripe frontosa
German rams