Electric blue ram
Mikrogeophagus ramirezi
Parameter dashboard
27-30 °C
4-7
4 cm
Care guide
The electric blue ram is a high-colour line of Mikrogeophagus ramirezi, a dwarf cichlid from the Orinoco basin savannas of Venezuela and Colombia. Where wild rams carry patches of blue over a golden body, this strain has been bred for an even wash of bright metallic blue along the flanks. It stays small, only about 4 centimetres, and shows the species' high dorsal fin, red eye, and rounded body. Acclimate carefully and maintain stable, clean water. They are best kept as a single fish or a bonded pair; two males may squabble over territory, so provide cover and be prepared to separate incompatible individuals. As omnivores they sift the substrate and pick at small invertebrates and organic matter, so offer a mix of micro-pellets, frozen bloodworm, daphnia, and brine shrimp. They are sensitive to poor water quality and dissolved waste, which is an important risk during acclimation and long-term care.
This is a warm-water fish: hold the temperature high, around 27 to 30 degrees Celsius, in soft, acidic water for best health, and provide cover, gentle flow and stable parameters. Rams are open substrate spawners with strong parental instincts. A pair cleans a flat stone or shallow pit, both guard and fan the eggs, then herd the wriggling fry around the tank. Pairs may lose or eat a clutch; do not treat repeated successful spawning as guaranteed. Protect water quality, provide suitable spawning surfaces and monitor the pair's interactions.
Provide a base of at least 60 × 30 cm, with cover and stable warm water.
Sources
- fishbase.se — https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Mikrogeophagus-ramirezi.html
- seriouslyfish.com — https://www.seriouslyfish.com/species/mikrogeophagus-ramirezi/
Further reading on identification and aquarium care.
Tankmate compatibility (sample)
Pairwise screening against other species in the database (prioritizing the same family when data is available).
Review first (12)
Caution or avoid from automated rules — confirm before mixing.
| Species | Assessment | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Agassiz's dwarf cichlid Apistogramma agassizii Caution | Caution | close relatives, and one of them is territorial, so both claim the same kind of space Open pair in Compare → |
| Biajaca Nandopsis tetracanthus Caution | Caution | Fish 2x+ larger may eat smaller tankmates · Multiple territorial species in the same swim layer cause stress · Species with non-overlapping pH ranges may not thrive together · close relatives, and one of them is territorial, so both claim the same kind of space Open pair in Compare → |
| Bluegray mbuna Melanochromis johannii Caution | Caution | Fish 2x+ larger may eat smaller tankmates · Species with non-overlapping pH ranges may not thrive together · the two share only a narrow band of temperature, so one of them sits at the edge of its range · close relatives, and one of them is territorial, so both claim the same kind of space Open pair in Compare → |
| Firemouth cichlid Thorichthys meeki Caution | Caution | Fish 2x+ larger may eat smaller tankmates · close relatives, and one of them is territorial, so both claim the same kind of space Open pair in Compare → |
| Hump-head Cyrtocara moorii Caution | Caution | Fish 2x+ larger may eat smaller tankmates · Species with non-overlapping pH ranges may not thrive together · close relatives, and one of them is territorial, so both claim the same kind of space Open pair in Compare → |
| Panda Uaru Uaru fernandezyepezi Caution | Caution | Fish 2x+ larger may eat smaller tankmates · Multiple territorial species in the same swim layer cause stress · close relatives, and one of them is territorial, so both claim the same kind of space Open pair in Compare → |
| Ram cichlid Mikrogeophagus ramirezi Caution | Caution | Multiple territorial species in the same swim layer cause stress · close relatives, and one of them is territorial, so both claim the same kind of space Open pair in Compare → |
| Redstriped eartheater Geophagus surinamensis Caution | Caution | Fish 2x+ larger may eat smaller tankmates · the two share only a narrow band of temperature, so one of them sits at the edge of its range · close relatives, and one of them is territorial, so both claim the same kind of space Open pair in Compare → |
| Threespot eartheater Satanoperca daemon Caution | Caution | Fish 2x+ larger may eat smaller tankmates · the two share only a narrow band of temperature, so one of them sits at the edge of its range · close relatives, and one of them is territorial, so both claim the same kind of space Open pair in Compare → |
| Multies Neolamprologus multifasciatus Avoid | Avoid | Multiple territorial species in the same swim layer cause stress · Species with non-overlapping temperature ranges cannot coexist · Species with non-overlapping pH ranges may not thrive together · the two share only a narrow band of temperature, so one of them sits at the edge of its range · close relatives, and one of them is territorial, so both claim the same kind of space Open pair in Compare → |
| Rainbow krib Pelvicachromis pulcher Avoid | Avoid | Fish 2x+ larger may eat smaller tankmates · Multiple territorial species in the same swim layer cause stress · Species with non-overlapping temperature ranges cannot coexist · the two share only a narrow band of temperature, so one of them sits at the edge of its range · close relatives, and one of them is territorial, so both claim the same kind of space Open pair in Compare → |
| Umbrella cichlid Apistogramma borellii Avoid | Avoid | Species with non-overlapping temperature ranges cannot coexist · the two share only a narrow band of temperature, so one of them sits at the edge of its range · close relatives, and one of them is territorial, so both claim the same kind of space Open pair in Compare → |
Same rule engine as Compare. Not a substitute for observation, tank size, or acclimation.
Related species
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