German Blue Ram
Mikrogeophagus ramirezi
Also known as Blue Ram, Ram Cichlid
Edited by Ivan F. · Reviewed
Beginner verdict
A dazzling small cichlid in electric blue and gold, but far more delicate than its price tag suggests. It needs very warm, soft, pristine water and is a poor competitor. Keep it only in a mature tank with calm schooling fish, and quarantine new arrivals with care.
Care at a glance
- Min tank size
- 14 US gal
- Footprint
- 24 x 12 in
- Temperature
- 81–86 °F
- pH
- 4–7
- Hardness
- 1–10 dGH
- Swim zone
- Bottom
- Min group
- 2 or more
- Lifespan
- About 4 years
German Blue Ram tank mates and swim zone
Bottom
Spends most of its time in this part of the tank.
Paracheirodon axelrodi
Trichopodus leerii
Hyphessobrycon amandae
Their temperature ranges barely overlap, so you will have little room for error.
Hyphessobrycon herbertaxelrodi
Their temperature ranges barely overlap, so you will have little room for error.
Hemigrammus erythrozonus
Their temperature ranges barely overlap, so you will have little room for error.
Trigonostigma heteromorpha
Their temperature ranges barely overlap, so you will have little room for error.
Paracheirodon innesi
Their temperature ranges do not overlap, so one of them would always be stressed.
Danio rerio
Their temperature ranges do not overlap, so one of them would always be stressed.
Danio margaritatus
Their temperature ranges do not overlap, so one of them would always be stressed.
Tanichthys albonubes
Their temperature ranges do not overlap, so one of them would always be stressed.
Barbodes semifasciolatus
Their temperature ranges do not overlap, so one of them would always be stressed.
German Blue Ram feeding and care
How to feed
- Feed small sinking pellets and granules.
- Offer frozen bloodworm, brine shrimp and daphnia to bring it into condition.
- Feed small portions you can see finished within a couple of minutes, because overfeeding fouls the water fast.
Telling males from females
Adult males grow larger, with longer fins and more intense color. Females usually show a rosy pink belly.
German Blue Ram care mistakes to avoid
- Plan for a pair, and read up on sexing before you buy so you do not end up with two rival males.
- Add only to a mature tank, because it needs pristine water to survive.
- Keep it warm. It wants a higher temperature than most community fish.
- Check tank mates carefully, since few peaceful species share such warm water.
- Check your tank before you buy. Our sourced minimum is 14 US gallons.
German Blue Ram tank setup
A forgiving setup with room for a small community.
TankAt least 14 US gal (54 L), 60 x 30 cm
The smallest tank our sources give for German Blue Ram. We list only tanks that hold this volume (allowing 10%, so a standard size counts) and have at least this much floor.
Aqueon Standard Glass Aquarium 20 Long US
Aqueon Standard Glass Aquarium 29 Gallon US
Eheim clearTank 73 Spain
Why we chose these (Best 20-Gallon Fish Tank: 20 Long or 29?). Nobody here has used or tested them.
Starter kitA kit with the tank, filter and light in one box
We list only kits whose tank fits German Blue Ram, up to twice its minimum volume. A kit whose heater has a fixed setting shows only when that setting is inside German Blue Ram's temperature range.
None of our picks for Spain suits this species. The options below are for the US, and we have not confirmed that they are sold in Spain.
Tetra Complete LED Aquarium Kit 20 Gallon US
Check the heater's setting
Why we chose these (Best Aquarium Starter Kit: What to Look For). Nobody here has used or tested them.
FilterHang-on-back or large sponge filter
Easy to maintain and strong enough for a community without blasting the fish.
Seachem Tidal 55 Power Filter US
Marineland Penguin PRO 175 Power Filter US
Eheim LiBERTY 130 Hang-on Filter Spain
Seachem Tidal 35 Power Filter Spain
Why we chose these (Best Filter for a 20 to 29-Gallon Tank). Nobody here has used or tested them.
HeaterKeep it at 81–86 °F (27–30 °C)
Adjustable heater, about 5 W per gallon: 100 W at 20 gallons, about 150 W at 29. Enough power to hold a stable temperature in most homes. Size up for a cold room.
Aqueon Pro Adjustable Heater 100 W US
Aqueon Submersible Glass Heater 100 W US
Eheim Thermocontrol e 100 Heater Spain
Tetra HT 100 Electronic Heater Spain
Why we chose these (Best Heater for a 20 to 29-Gallon Tank). Nobody here has used or tested them.
Water conditionerDechlorinator such as Seachem Prime
Tap water contains chlorine or chloramine that harms fish.
Seachem Prime US
Fritz Complete Water Conditioner US
API Betta Water Conditioner US
sera aquatan Spain
Tetra AquaSafe Spain
Sold at Kiwoko · Sold at Tiendanimal · Sold at zooplus.es · Maker's details
Why we chose these (Best Water Conditioner for Betta Fish). Nobody here has used or tested them.
Test kitLiquid kit such as API Freshwater Master
Tracks ammonia, nitrite, nitrate and pH while the tank cycles.
API Freshwater Master Test Kit US
API General & Carbonate Hardness Test Kit US
See it at The Shrimp Farm (a retailer; affiliate link) · Sold at Bulk Reef Supply · Maker's details
sera aqua-test box (Cl) Spain
JBL PROAQUATEST COMBISET Plus NH4 Spain
Why we chose these (Best Test Kit for a Freshwater Aquarium). Nobody here has used or tested them.
SubstrateUnfussy about decor, but it sifts mouthfuls of substrate, so soft sand suits it.
We are still choosing products for this.
Hiding places and decorNeeds adequate cover: flowerpots, piping, wood forming caves, a flat rock for spawning and dried leaves.
We are still choosing products for this.
PlantsSafe with live plants
Cycle the tank before adding animals. See our guide on how to cycle a fish tank.
Where to buy German Blue Ram
We have not found a store that sells German Blue Ram under its scientific name yet. We add stores as we confirm them.
Live animals and plants travel by courier. Check the store's live-arrival guarantee, and only buy once your tank has cycled (see how to cycle a fish tank).
Some US states restrict certain species. Check our US state aquarium rules table and your state's own rules before you buy.
German Blue Ram FAQ
What size tank do German Blue Rams need?
Our sourced minimum is 14 US gallons (54 liters), with a footprint of 60 x 30 cm. A bigger tank is always easier to keep stable.
How many German Blue Rams should I keep?
A pair works well. Add more only if the tank is large enough for each fish to claim its own space.
What can live with German Blue Rams?
Good matches on our list include Cardinal Tetra and Pearl Gourami. Avoid Neon Tetra and Zebra Danio.
How long do German Blue Rams live?
Care guides report about 4 years. Stable water and a good diet make the biggest difference.
Why do my German blue rams keep dying?
Water quality and temperature are the usual causes. Heavily inbred stock is also fragile, so buy from a careful seller and keep the tank warm and clean.
German Blue Ram facts and sources
- Family
- Cichlidae
- Native to
- Orinoco basin, Venezuela and Colombia
- Adult size
- 1.6 in (4 cm)
- Temperament
- Peaceful
- Social needs
- Harem/Pairs
- Diet
- Omnivore
- Water flow
- Gentle
- Substrate
- Fine Sand Required
- Live plants
- Yes - Loves Plants
- Shrimp
- Will Eat Shrimp
- Fin nipping
- None
- Vulnerable to nippers
- Yes
- Breeding
- Moderate
Sources
- Seriously Fish: Tank size, water ranges and behavior
- FishBase: Cross-check of water ranges and size
Lifespans are approximate and come from aquarium care guides, because these databases rarely publish them.
Where sources differ, we show the Seriously Fish aquarium figures.
Spotted something wrong? Report a parameter correction. For a sick fish, see our veterinary disclaimer.