One species · 3 varieties

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: Substrate spawner · Hard
Rarity: Common
Family: Cichlidae
Origin: Colombia, Venezuela

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One setup covers every line on this page: care is the species' care.

Overview

The blue ram is a peaceful dwarf cichlid for a warm, mature community tank. It needs more care than the easiest community fish.

Did you know

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

Caring for the blue ram

A pair of blue rams does well in at least 18 gal (70 L). Give them a fine substrate and cover, in a mature, stable tank rather than a freshly set up one.

Blue rams really do need the warmth, at 81 to 86°F (27 to 30°C). Give them soft, acidic water with a pH of 5.5 to 7.0. They are sensitive to nitrates and unstable conditions, so keep the water quality steady. Feed micro-pellets and quality flake, plus frozen bloodworms and brine shrimp.

Blue rams are peaceful and spend most of their time in the lower and middle parts of the tank. They get along with calm tank mates that like the same warmth.

They are substrate spawners that form monogamous pairs and guard their eggs and fry. Breeding them is hard.

Good to know

Mikrogeophagus ramirezi is a dwarf cichlid in the family Cichlidae. Its lifespan is short for a cichlid, often only two to three years. The IUCN lists it as Least Concern.

In the wild

Blue rams come from warm, slow waters in the Orinoco basin across Colombia and Venezuela. They live around plants, leaf litter and submerged roots over fine sand, in water that is soft to slightly acidic.

Other named lines

Every ram variety is the same dwarf cichlid; color and body forms are line-bred and the care does not change.

German blue: the standard high-color form
Longfin: extended fins on any color
Balloon: bred for a shortened, rounded body; a more delicate fish

Weekly picks

Tank mates

Every variety on this page wants the same water, so one set of picks fits them all. These picks match on water type, temperature, pH, size and temperament.

Check the full mix in the stocking calculator