I have a 75g with 9 labs that are breeding and doing well. The German Blue Ram (Mikrogeophagus ramirezi) is a type of cichlid that can be found in Columbia and Venezuela. The best way to get a pair that will hopefully live together for their normal 4-year lifespan is to let them select each other from the group in the store tank. Author Note: If you want to keep more than one German Blue Ram in the same aquarium, it’s best to limit the number to two. For most aquarists, the difference between 10 and 20 gallons isn’t that much (both in cost and finding space for the aquarium). 3. Ram cichlid doesn’t like bright light and it’s better to put some fluctuant plants on the water surface. Swimming juveniles is still under the male care. Ram Cichlid Care Size Lifespan Tankmates Breeding. Water circulation is formed by means of long tube sprayer fastened along the narrow wall 3-4 cm away from the water surface. Author Note: This is quite small for a cichlid, making them a very approachable species if you don’t have a lot of room. When setting up the inside of their aquarium, the most important items to include are plants. Author Note: It’s also necessary for you to perform partial water changes on a consistent basis. Lastly, it’s a good idea to have a bit of a slow current to mimic their natural habitat. The electric blue ram is beautiful dwarf cichlid that’s great for people who are new to keeping fish. Most cichlids are known for their aggression but the Electric Blue Acara is the well-behaved child in the family. They’re quite peaceful and their list of compatible tank mates is rather long (we’ll get into this further on). There are many different types of aquarium catfish out there. See more ideas about cichlids, aquarium fish, tropical fish. I'm looking for something that will contrast with the labs, but am mostly concerned with cross-breeding. … Would an electric blue ram be a good tankmate for these guys? Blue Ram Cichlid Care Guide The Aquarium Guide. We recommend feeding the little babies brine shrimp. The German Blue Ram Cichlid is one of the most underrated freshwater species you can find. The curved black line that runs vertically from the forehead in normal blue rams is absent or almost absent in this breed. Microgeophagus ramirezi var Goldface Electric Blue (Shipping at 1.25”+) Rare new Goldface beauties you must own if you love Rams! The fish is indigenous to the West Indies, but it is believed to have been seen as far north as Miami until the 1970s w… I have a 30 gallon cycled tank, with 6 pearl danios, and 7 harliquin rasboras. In your situation, I would consider the … M. ramirezi … Any large or aggressive fish should be avoided at all costs. German blue ram cichlids don’t like a lot of water flow, so use baffles around air filters and pumps, but do provide low-flow air stones to keep enough oxygen flowing in the tank. 6. A tank that isn’t heavily planted will make them feel unprotected (which will elevate their stress levels). If you are about to set up a community aquarium, however, then you will need at least a 29-gallon tank. Tank mates for your Blue Ram Cichlid. Male takes more part in the cover guarding. If you have intention to keep several couples then the tank has to be spacious and have covers, since the fish just like all cichlids sticks to its territory. Juveniles start their coloring during the 3rd month of their life, but they get maximum color not earlier than being 90-100 days old. The aquarium can be decorated in the style of its native river in the South America. Ram, Blue ram, Dwarf butterfly cichlid and Ramirezi Blue Natural Range Orinoco Basin, South America. But if possible it’s better to keep them isolated up to their puberty which gives the ability to watch if they get enough feed and if they aren’t pressured by the adult fish. While Blue Rams aren’t true bottom-dwellers, they will spend a lot of time near the substrate digging around. This is due to its beautiful blue coloration, especially when fed correctly, and its hardiness. The average lifespan of a German Blue Ram is around 3-4 years. Don’t remove it from the substrate not to damage its tiny shell. German Blue Ram (Mikrogeophagus ramirezi) – A dwarf cichlid species, the German blue ram only grows to about 2 inches long. They like surface plants and this can help encourage them to breed. We've noticed that our ram gets stressed at … You can do this by either controlling your light source directly or using plants to reduce the amount of light that makes it to their area of the aquarium. Any products from a high-quality seller will do fine. Ram Cichlids Tank Mates You are going to have little to no problems introducing tank mates for your Ram Cichlid. They belong to the Cichlidae family which is they largest group of freshwater fish. The Blue Ram is from South America and any PEACEFUL cichlid from there will work. No matter how good and differently juveniles are fed one can’t obtain their fast growth. The waters this species prefers are slow-moving and a bit on the murky side. In any case the water hardness shouldn’t exceed 10°dGH, pH value should be close to the neutral one and the temperature should be not lower then 25-27 °C. The body is pure blue. There is a good reason that its name (pulcher) from Latin – means beautiful. They are dwarf new-world cichlids, and there are several types you might consider: Bolivian Ram; German Blue Ram; Electric Blue Ram There’s often a significant amount of plants in the area where these fish gravitate, which helps them stay safe as well as find food. They’ll leave the little critters alone and go about their business! To accommodate them, a sandy substrate is usually ideal. There are some specimens that are more yellow on the front and back thirds of their body, with some faded dark blue toward the middle. These little cichlids are timid fish and tank mates should be chosen to compliment this. This will usually snap them out of their funk and get them eating again. Species – Electric Blue Ram - Mikrogeophagus ramirezi. It has all the beauty and character of the bigger South American cichlids, without the drawbacks like aggression, the need for a large territory and digging habits. A lot of newer aquarists don’t even know this exists since it’s not as common as a disease like Ich (which they can get as well). One of the most important parts of German Blue Ram care is maintaining the water. Smaller fish can become food for these cichlids, so you’ll want to put in species that are about the same size. Hi, After 30 years of keeping fish, my first attempt at keeping cichlids has been successful, and fun! Ram cichlids come in a variety of stunning colors. So, if you have an intention to buy a chichlid it’ll be a good idea to get it from the faithful seller to avoid the fish death or its turning into sad excuse for a fish shortly after it was bought. For the tank conditions, start with the base water parameters and gradually increase the temperature. Jul … But that still means you should pay attention to their basic needs. (Keep in mind that Oscars are from South America . Most of the time, the dominant color on the front half of their body is yellow, and the dominant color on the back half is blue. Aeration itself isn’t required, but slow water flow is desirable. Go. The names Ramirez’s dwarf cichlid, Ramirezi, Ram cichlid and Ram are also used. The Electric Blue Dwarf Rams are the most popular of the Cichlids. This will depend on the dominant colors of the individual fish. Barbs and Catfish are two good options to consider. Ram cichlids are another group of peaceful fish that can live with angelfish. How many rams should I get? The body of the male fish is a dark, electric blue with some black banding. In any case it’s recommended to rise the temperature in the incubator up to the maximum allowed values to decrease up to the minimum the eggs fetation period. The tetra also need a larger tank and to be kept in larger groups, at least 5 of their own type is recommended. Within this region, the entire species is located within the Orinoco River basin. Dim light is the best for them but this should be achieved using floating plants. The Electric Blue Ram is the most recent color morph of the common ram cichlid, the Electric Blue Ram has quickly become a popular addition to the hobby, though it is slightly more difficult to keep than its wild-type cousin. It is advised against keeping the Electric Blue Cichlid with Peacock Cichlids as they can kill the males and crossbred with the females. The speed of air feeding is defined experimentally. This coloration is very bright and attractive. Live-bearing fish such as: guppies, swordtails, mollies and platy, as well as different Characins: black neon tetra, bloodfin tetra, rummy-nose tetra, neon tetra, can be good tank mates. Feeding German Blue Rams is not very challenging. We have 1 male dwarf gourami, 8 diamond tetras, 11 neon tetras and 1 electric blue balloon ram. We plan on keeping these fish for quite a while. Male can be easily distinguished from a female by its brighter abdomen, the male abdomen is either orange or red. While these fish are most commonly known as German Blue Rams, there are a handful of other common names you’ll see used in the aquarium scene. Yes, they can live with almost any community fish that can tolerate the same high temperatures, such as tetras, Sterbai cory catfish, plecos, discus, angelfish, and other dwarf cichlids. In the wild it feeds on plant substances and different small organisms that it finds in a bottom. His favorite aquariums are biotopes (Amazon River),  with Echinodorus and Angelfish. The black spot in the middle of the body … There have been some reports floating around that claim these fish have been found in other areas of South America. Its brightly colored physique is of high ornamental value which is why the demand for them is great in the market. The 1st difficulty that aquarists face is a well known one for the angelfish fans. It’s possible for these fish to uproot them when they’re churning up the substrate.This also makes hardy plants a good decision as well. These acara cichlids are some of my favorite fish for fish aquariums. Would I be able to add an opaline/three spot/blue gourami afterwards? Blue Ram Cichlid Care Guide The Aquarium Guide. Water cleanliness is extremely important for this species. The result of such selection was the emergence of a unique and unusually beautiful fish, which was so loved by aquarists around the world. Ram fish can inhabit alone as well as a couple. That means that potential tank mates have to be able to thrive in temperatures in the 80s. As for the interaction with shrimps – it must be said that no matter that the cichlid is small it is still a cichlid. They’ll get along with pretty much anyone! In case of eggs artificial incubation the process is almost the same, except for the bottom coating and decorations which already aren’t necessary at the very first stage. They are an interesting mix of shy and exploratory! While they’re normally peaceful, breeding makes them territorial and might result in them going after other fish. Millie is a passionate aquarist who caught the fishkeeping bug in high school and has been addicted ever since. Other popular strains include the dark knight ram, the balloon ram, and the electric blue ram. Geographical range and habitat . Originally from Germany, our Electric Blue Rams are healthy, tame, and handfed.The neon blue color form appeared in 2009 because of … Mature males develop more pointed dorsal fins than females and also grow larger at about 2 inches (5 cm) in length. Since these variations such as electric blue or gold Ramirez’s, for instance, are the result of inbreeding and of the following degradation of fish due to intragenic breeding. This will help mimic the natural conditions of the breeding season. These acara cichlids are some of my favorite fish for fish aquariums. The way to success in cichlid breeding is to eliminate these issues. Recommended Tank Size : 30 Litres + Strata : Bottom. The most common are a loss of weight and size as well as sores on their bodies (these can get rather nasty if left untreated). However, those instances are likely just a case of misidentification. Aquarium Source is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. They flourish … The good tank mates for German Blue Ram Cichlids are swordtail fish, guppies, mollies, and plates. Members of the dwarf cichlid group, these gorgeous fish require less room than some of their larger counterparts. Among them are, the Blue Ram, Butterfly Cichlid, Asian Ram, and Ramirezi. Even the most low-powered filter in such a small tank creates over-intensive water flow. This species has the classic fin shape that you expect from cichlids. By this time the female is already taken out of the spawning pond. Ram is an euryphagous fish. 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