Blue ram

Mikrogeophagus ramirezi

Also known as German ram

FreshwaterFish

Blue ram (Mikrogeophagus ramirezi) — Sven Kullander · CC BY-SA 4.0

Care at a glance

Temperature: 81–86°F (27–30°C)
pH: 5.5–7.0
Adult size: 2.4 in (6 cm)
Minimum tank: 18 gal (70 L)
Temperament: Peaceful
Social behavior: Social
Swim level: Middle
Difficulty: Medium
Breeding: Hard
Rarity: Common
Origin: Colombia, Venezuela
Family: Cichlidae

Overview

Rams are peaceful and spend most of their time in the lower and middle parts of the tank. A pair does well in around 70 liters, with pH from 5.5 to 7 and warm water in the upper 20s. They get along with calm tankmates that like the same warmth. Feed micro-pellets and quality flake plus frozen bloodworms and brine shrimp. They do best in mature, stable tanks rather than freshly set up ones.

In the wild

Blue rams come from warm, slow waters in the Orinoco basin across Colombia and Venezuela, around plants, leaf litter, and submerged roots over fine sand. The water is warm and soft to slightly acidic. To keep them well you really do need that warmth, around 27 to 30 C, plus soft acidic water, fine substrate, and cover. They're sensitive to nitrates and unstable conditions, so steady water quality matters.

Good to know

Mikrogeophagus ramirezi is a dwarf cichlid in the family Cichlidae, reaching about 5 to 6 cm. It's a substrate spawner that forms monogamous pairs and guards eggs and fry. Lifespan is short for a cichlid, often only two to three years. The IUCN lists it as Least Concern.

Did you know

Both parents share the work once eggs are laid, fanning them to keep oxygen flowing and picking off any that fungus over. Pairs will also move fry around the tank, herding them from one spot to another as they grow.