Attract your attention with its vivid iridescent blue body at the first sight, German Blue Ram (scientific name: Mikrogeophagus ramirezi), also called Electric Blue Ram or Butterfly Cichlids, is absolutely a colorful hit to your aquarium.
Mostly found in the river basins of Venezuela and Columbia, German Blue Ram is familiar with the environment of warm and slow-moving waters. This species requires strict water quality requirements and habitat desires. As such, it is usually not recommended to beginners or intermediate hobbyists.
German Blue Ram, unlike other Cichlids, is quite peaceful and totally safe to keep with larger species of shrimp, snails, live plants, and other non-aggressive fish. It is also fond of aquatic plants and decorations providing hiding places (e.g., rocks, driftwood), especially during breeding season. These items give German Blue Ram a hand in keeping their eggs from being revealed. Without them, German Blue Ram may show their aggression tendency toward other fish they consider potential threats to their eggs.
German Blue Ram thrives when kept in a group of at least three. In order to do so, your recommended tank size should be at least 10 gallons for one German Blue Ram, and around 30 gallons for the three of them.
What You Can Expect From This Fish:
- Vivid iridescent blue coloration
- Peaceful disposition
- Safe to keep with aquatic plants
RECOMMENDED TANK PARAMETERS:
- Temperature: 74° – 82° F (23° – 28° C)
- pH: 6 – 7
- KH: 2 – 10 dKH
- GH: 6 – 14 dGH
- Minimum tank size: 10 gallons per one fish
CARE GUIDELINES:
- Diet: German Blue Ram is omnivore and not a picky eater. They can accept various types of food from brine shrimp, bloodworms to eventually fish flakes or pellets.
- Social behavior: Peaceful, schooling
- Origin: Venezuela, Columbia
- Average adult size: 1 – 2 inches (2.5 – 5 cm)
- Average purchase size: 0.75 – 1.5 inches (1.9 – 3.8 cm)