Ram Cichlid

Ram cichlid or German blue ram, one of its popular alternate names, is a freshwater fish indigenous to certain parts of South America. It took its name after Manuel Ramirez, who collected and imported this fish species for the aquarium trade. R.R. Harry and George S. Myers initially described it as Apistogramma ramirezi until it acquired its present name. Its attractive appearance and peaceful, docile nature make for a popular choice in the aquarium trade. Sold under various common names, this species was examined in the studies analyzing fish behavior.

Quick Information

Scientific Name	Mikrogeophagus ramirezi
Other Names	Ramirezi, Asian ram, German blue ram, blue ram, ram, dwarf butterfly cichlid, butterfly cichlid, Ramirez’ dwarf cichlid
Origin	Orinoco River Basin in the savannah regions of Colombia and Venezuela in South America
Type	Freshwater fish
Conservation Status	Not recorded
Behavioral Characteristics	Peaceful, thriving well with other cichlid or non-cichlid species which are not aggressive
School Size	2 – 3 (mostly kept in pairs)
Physical Traits	Colorful, oval-shaped body; pointed tails and fins;
Colors	Bright yellow and green body with patches of white and blue; red eyes; red or yellow fins with lines of blue; black curved lines throughout the body while a spot of the same color is seen at the center
Size (How big do they get)	Small;  2 inches (5 cm)
Lifespan	3 – 4 years
Sexual Dimorphism	Male: Large with a long body Female: Shorter, stocky body than their male counterparts with no extended filaments on the dorsal and ventral parts; also have a reddish-purple coloration on their abdomen as well a blue patch on the region below their dorsal fin
Probable Diseases	Ich, fish tuberculosis, dropsy, bacterial diseases, parasitic infection, Costia disease, hole in the head (common in cichlids)
Approximate Price (How much is it for)	$7 – 8

Tank Setup & Care Sheet Details

Care Level	Intermediate
Tank Size	10 gallons (37.8 liters)  for a single fish

Water Parameters

pH Level	5.5 – 7.0
Temperature	78 – 85°F (25.5 – 29.4°C)
Hardness	6 – 14 dGH
Aquarium  Water Flow	Low

Tank Ambience

Lighting	Moderate
Substrate Type	Gravel, sand, large rocks (for decoration), plants, and driftwood
Tank Mates	Compatible with:  Silver dollar, discus, dwarf gourami, neon tetra, angelfish, cardinal tetra, rummy nose tetra, guppies, kribensis, bettas, clown loach, kuhli loach, and corydoras Incompatible with: Big aggressive fish like jaguar cichlid and green terror
Suitable Position in the Tank	Bottom

Feeding

Diet	Omnivorous and can feed on flakes, pellets as well as live foods
Frequency	2 – 3 times a day

Important Things to Know For Fish Keepers

• If you spot your ram cichlid breathing fast, one of the prime reasons could be due to stress as it takes time to acclimatize. In case you spot other symptoms apart from inconsistent breathing, consult a fish vet at the earliest.
• While selecting the substrate for your fish’s tank, avoid going for the aragonite sand often sold in the markets as cichlid sand. It pollutes the water with harmful minerals, increasing the general and carbonate hardness along with the pH level.

FAQs