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German blue ram, Mikrogeophagus ramirezi

Cichlids · Mikrogeophagus

German blue ram

Mikrogeophagus ramirezi · Llanos savanna streams, Orinoco basin

Photo: Eric Mengel, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

The German blue ram (Mikrogeophagus ramirezi) is a freshwater fish from Llanos savanna streams, Orinoco basin, where it lives in stream habitat. Adults reach about 6 cm (2.4 in). Keep it at 27–30 °C (81–86 °F) and pH 5–7, in calm water. It is peaceful and does best in a group of 2 or more. It eats most foods: flakes, small pellets and frozen foods.

At a glance

Water temperature

27–30 °C 81–86 °F

pH

5–7 soft, acidic water

Adult size

6 cm 2.4 in

Swims

Bottom and mid-water mostly on the floor and in caves

Keep together

2 or more a shoal feels safe

Current

Calm still or slow water

Food

Eats most foods

Temperament

Peaceful

≈ Every value here is an estimate from typical hobby ranges. We're checking them against sources.

Where it comes from

Home water

Llanos savanna streams, Orinoco basin

Orinoco

Lives in stream habitat.

The dot is placed on its home rivers, not an exact collecting site. Map: Natural Earth.

Tank mates

Checked against a roomy 300 L planted tank with low flow and plenty of caves. Your own tank may change the answer: try it in Your tanks.

In the hobby

In stock now

Not in stock at any store we track.

From keepers

The pair guards a patch of leaf litter but leaves everyone else alone.

Questions keepers ask

How big does a German blue ram get?

About 6 cm (2.4 in) as an adult.

What temperature does a German blue ram need?

27–30 °C (81–86 °F).

What pH does a German blue ram need?

pH 5–7.

Does a German blue ram need to be kept in a group?

Yes. Keep at least 2.

Is the German blue ram aggressive?

No. It is peaceful with fish that suit the same water.

What does a German blue ram eat?

It eats most foods: flakes, small pellets and frozen foods.

Where does the German blue ram come from?

Llanos savanna streams, Orinoco basin.

What fish can live with a German blue ram?

Good tank mates include Candy stripe (L015), Zebra (L046), Boeseman's rainbowfish, Cardinal tetra, Ember tetra.

All the numbers

Temperature min (°C)27 Estimate
Temperature max (°C)30 Estimate
pH min5 Estimate
pH max7 Estimate
Adult size (cm)6 Estimate
FlowLow Estimate
Habitatstream Estimate
Smallest happy group2 Estimate
TemperamentPeaceful Estimate
DietOmnivore Estimate
Typical price min (CAD)12 Estimate
Typical price max (CAD)25 Estimate

Some values are estimates from typical hobby ranges and haven't been checked against a source yet.

Other Mikrogeophagus