David Johnson

"Thanks for the response. The problem was not the missing article, which is understandable, but the fact it is still listed in the index. So if, like me, you browse the index before decided to buy you got stung. Anyway I look forward to reading it in future issues and from now on will check the listed articles are actually there before purchasing."

"As a keeper of Electric Blue Jack Dempseys I eagerly awaited this months issue for it's promised article on Jack Dempseys. So when I saw it on my newsagents shelves I checked the listings and, yes, page 38 was the Jack Dempsey piece. After purchasing the magazine I got it home, turned to page 38 and was dismayed to find not the listed article but yet another "fish in the wild" article. Any explanation?"

"It's highly unlikely that Balloon Rams would be true German Blue Rams (i.e. bred in germany). The deformed fish sold as balloon or longfinned rams are mass produced in the far east and are generally the worst quality in terms of health and hormonal treatment. Poor quality does NOT mean poor colours (far east rams often look more beautiful than wild rams or true east euro rams because they are hormonally fed). As I said, at some point in the supply chain far east rams are labelled as German/Dutch or Chech. It's completely legal, you could name a fish a Ram from Mars legally."

"You fail to mention the hard part about breeding Rams. Getting a decent pair - 99% of the Rams in UKL shops are hormonally treated, single sex (usually male but never mixed) junk from the far east. Oh and the wholesalers have learnt to call them "German" or Dutch Rams as they sell better."

"Rule number one of internet:

Don't enter into a debate with someone who can't type in sentences.

Nice article, thanks."

"A word of warning - when young many EBJDs are VERY sensitive to disease. They darken, spit food out and eventually starve to death. Notice most pictures and fish for sale are <2" youngsters (and are usually far more expensive than £7.95). If you are lucky enough to grow one over the magical 3" mark then they are truly beautiful and, shockingly, very peaceful. Mine get bullied by Rams and Discus! Normally tropical freshwater fish look better in photos than in the tank. With EBJDs the pictures rarely does the electric blue colouration justice, they look like tropical marines."

"I break the rules and keep altum angels and (Electric Blue) Jack Dempsey's with my Discus. The EBJD is bullied by cardinal tetras."

"I've tried German/Dutch/Wild/UK bred rams. All die within weeks, I must have wasted £100s on these beautiful little fish. I think the importers/wholesalers have worked our far eastern rams have a bad name and make up the names. ALL my fish are kept in pristine, soft water that I breed Discus and other Apistogrammas in."

"Don't let a few set-backs put you off. I came back to the hobby at 36 and still love it. I'd avoid guppies and neons in the future - both are inbred and die easily. Dave Johnson."