Electric Blue Ram – Mikrogeophagus ramirezi

Electric Blue Rams (Mikrogeophagus ramirezi)

Electric Blue Rams, Mikrogeophagus ramirezi, are a bright captive-bred colour form of the popular Ram Cichlid, selected for intense metallic blue colouration across the body and fins. Also known as Electric Blue German Rams, Blue Rams or Ramirezi Cichlids, they are peaceful dwarf cichlids with excellent display value in mature planted aquariums. They are beautiful and relatively small, but they should not be treated as hardy beginner fish, as Rams need warm, stable, very clean water and calm tank mates.

Common Name:
Electric Blue Ram, Electric Blue German Ram, Blue Ram, German Blue Ram, Ram Cichlid, Ramirezi Cichlid.

Scientific Name (Latin):
Mikrogeophagus ramirezi
Captive-bred Electric Blue colour form.

Maximum Size:
Usually around 4–5 cm.

Water Type:
Freshwater

Origin / Natural Habitat:
The Electric Blue form is captive-bred and does not occur as a natural wild population. Wild Mikrogeophagus ramirezi is native to the Orinoco River basin in the llanos of Venezuela and Colombia. It naturally inhabits warm, slow-moving, shallow waters with soft, acidic conditions, low mineral content, vegetation, cover and calmer margins.

Water Parameters:
Temperature: 27–30°C
pH Range: 5.5–7.0
Hardness or Salinity: Soft to moderately soft freshwater preferred; avoid hard, alkaline conditions and sudden changes.

Temperament:
Peaceful but territorial when breeding. Electric Blue Rams are suitable for calm community aquariums with gentle tank mates, but pairs may defend a chosen area during spawning. They should not be kept with aggressive cichlids, fin-nippers or fast boisterous fish that may stress them or outcompete them at feeding time.

Diet:
Omnivorous micro-predator. Offer high-quality micro pellets, fine cichlid granules, crushed flakes, frozen daphnia, cyclops, brineshrimp, mysis, bloodworm and small live foods. Rams benefit from a varied diet and may show better colour, condition and breeding behaviour when given regular small meaty foods.

Minimum Tank Size:
A minimum of 75 litres is recommended for a pair, with 90 litres or more preferred for a community setup. Provide plenty of floor space, plants, wood, caves, leaf litter and flat stones or smooth surfaces.

Behaviour & Activity:
A lower-to-midwater dwarf cichlid that spends much of its time exploring the bottom, picking at fine foods and holding small territories. Pairs may form bonds, clean a flat stone or shallow pit, lay eggs and guard the area. Electric Blue Rams are usually best kept as a compatible pair or a carefully managed small group in a larger aquarium with multiple territories.

Aquarium Category:
Community Fish
Best kept with peaceful warm-water tank mates such as Cardinal Tetras, Rummynose Tetras, small pencilfish, peaceful rasboras that tolerate higher temperatures, Otocinclus with care, Corydoras species that enjoy warm water, and other calm community fish. Avoid cool-water community species, aggressive cichlids, large predators, fin-nippers and very active fish that may dominate feeding.

Special Requirements or Care Notes:
Electric Blue Rams need a mature, stable aquarium with excellent water quality. Avoid new tanks, fluctuating parameters, high nitrate and poor maintenance. Keep them warmer than many standard community fish, and only choose tank mates that are comfortable long term at similar temperatures. Provide gentle filtration, soft substrate, shaded areas and plenty of cover. Captive-bred colour forms can be more delicate than standard Rams, so careful acclimation and consistent husbandry are important.

Suitable for:
Intermediate fishkeepers

Availability:
Common to occasional in trade / Captive-bred colour form

All images are a visual representation of the fish you will receive, made to be as accurate as possible. Please note that Mother Nature is a wonderful thing, and variation in patterns and colours will occur — that is part of the unique beauty of these animals.