German Blue Ram

Mikrogeophagus ramirezi

A jewel-box dwarf cichlid sparkling with electric-blue spangles. Pairs guard their eggs with remarkable devotion.

A peaceful freshwater fish that grows to 6 cm, lives near the bottom and needs 26–31 °C, pH 5.5–7.2 and an aquarium of at least 60 L.

Care at a glance

Water

Freshwater

Temperature

26–31 °C (79–88 °F)

pH

5.5–7.2

Adult size

6 cm (2.4 in)

Aquarium

60 L or bigger (16 US gal)

Temperament

Peaceful

Group size

Fine on its own

Swims

Bottom

Diet

Omnivore

Wild home

Llanos of Venezuela & Colombia

Good to know

• Territorial. Fights other territorial fish in its zone, especially in small tanks.
• Delicate. Sensitive to poor water quality.

Tank mates

Good company: Bloodfin Tetra, Cardinal Tetra, Chili Rasbora, Dwarf Gourami, Dwarf Neon Rainbowfish, Ember Tetra, Fancy Guppy, Glowlight Tetra, Harlequin Rasbora, Honey Gourami.

Eaten by: Asian Arowana, Axolotl, Flowerhorn, Frontosa, Jack Dempsey, Motoro Stingray, Ornate Bichir, Oscar, Siamese Tigerfish.

Fights with: Black Ghost Knifefish, Cockatoo Dwarf Cichlid, Kribensis, Red-Tailed Black Shark, Sunshine Peacock Cichlid.

Attacks: Corydoras, Otocinclus.

Attacked by: Demasoni Cichlid, Flowerhorn, Jack Dempsey.

Eats the newborn fry of: Betta, Black Skirt Tetra, Bloodfin Tetra, Cardinal Tetra, Celestial Pearl Danio, Cherry Barb, Chili Rasbora, Crystal Red Shrimp, Dwarf Gourami, Dwarf Neon Rainbowfish, Ember Tetra, Endler's Livebearer and 14 more.

Its fry are eaten by: Angelfish, Bala Shark, Betta, Black Ghost Knifefish, Black Skirt Tetra, Bloodfin Tetra, Boesemani Rainbowfish, Cherry Barb, Clown Loach, Cockatoo Dwarf Cichlid, Comet Goldfish, Congo Tetra and 20 more.

Grown ones eat their own newborn fry, so raise the young in another aquarium.

Colours and breeding

• Classic rare
• Electric Blue epic
• Gold rare

In Aquarius a grown male and female breed in a healthy tank. Their young are born about 0.4 cm long and take after one of the parents.

The care values are the ones Aquarius uses, based on how these animals live. Tank mates follow the game's rules: water type, temperature and pH, who can swallow whom, fin nipping, temperament and territory.