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Ram Cichlid: Facts, Caring, Tank Mates & More

Did you know that the Ram Cichlid is a more peaceful cousin to the aggressive Texas Cichlid? Thought you should know!

The Ram Cichlid exhibits a much smaller size and still retains the iridescent color patterns. These colors come in numerous variations unique to both the male and female species.

Worth noting is that Ram Cichlids are more delicate and require intensive care. With that said, I must put it out there that this fish will give you a hard time if you are a beginner.

All that aside, they can still live peacefully with other mates in the tank. Also, you have to constantly manage the water parameters and introduce decorations where your Ram Cichlid can hide and breed.

Okay, so what are its origin? How do you care for this species? What is their diet? And how do you breed them?

Let’s find all these out below..!

What is a Ram Cichlid?

A Ram Cichlid is an aquarium fish breed that thrives in freshwater. Scientifically, this species is also known as Mikrogeophagus ramirezi.

You’ll find other hobbyists also referring to it as the blue ram, Asian Ram, German Blue Ram, Ramirez’s Dwarf Cichlid, Butterfly Cichlid, Dwarf Butterfly Cichlid, and Ramirezi.

The Ram Cichlid species, like other Cichlids, also shows territorial claims. That is why you must get a sizeable tank to sustain a peaceful stay. This is especially when you’re thinking of bringing a tank mate into the aquarium.

Due to their beautiful color variations, they’ll make an attractive addition to your aquarium. Presently, you will find Ram Cichlids retailing at a cost of around $7 to $8.

Ensure that you pick a lively specimen when going to buy a Ram Cichlid. You’ll know this by how they swim or even how much they feed when you visit your local pet store.

You can also find them in local fish farms or breeders and overseas fish farms.

Origin

The Ram Cichlid first got its name from Manuel Ramirez after its discovery back in 1948. Manuel Ramirez was the first person to collect and import the specimen to the outer world.

It is a species indigenous to the South Americas just like the rest of the other Cichlids. They can be naturally found in Colombia and Venezuela around the Orinoco River.

The region also covers some of the Amazon River waterways known as the Llanos. ‘Llanos’ describes the surrounding savannah grasslands found around the Orinoco.

In the wild, Ram Cichlids thrive in pools, ponds, and other shallow water beds. These waters are mainly characterized by muddy or sandy bottoms with a decent amount of vegetation. This vegetation provides the Cichlids with enough cover and food source.

In their natural habitat, Ram Cichlids feed by filtering through the substrate material to get plants or other small organisms.

The name ‘German Blue Ram’ was first introduced when a German breeder developed the variety into existence. It refers to the blue color variant that emerged from the selective breeding done then.

Description

Right off the bat, you’ll notice that Ram Cichlids are much tinier than other Cichlids. When it comes to size comparisons, it is mostly contrasted against the Bolivian Ram. The two have earned the nickname Cichlid Dwarves due to their puny adult sizes.

The Ram Cichlids can only grow up to lengths of 2 inches, with the largest recording at 2 ½ inches.

They have an oval body shape covered in bright colors complemented with long, pointed fins. In many samples and you might notice that the fins have a tinge of an orange-red color at the tips.

Another thing is that Ram Cichlids have a distinct black line running vertically on their heads. This black line is a curve and cuts from the head, through the eyes, down to the lower side of the fish.

Some specimens may exhibit a black patch on their front dorsal fins and a black spot in the middle in all. And as seen in many varieties, expect to see numerous colored spots covering Ram Cichlids. This is mostly portrayed in their pectoral, anal, dorsal, and tail fins.

On the other hand, their fins also grow sharp rays that can sting. This makes it possible for them to wade off predators from attacking.

The Golden Ram variety is a natural color morph that shows a more yellow head. It’s accompanied by a whitish blue color across the body and orange-red highlights on the fins’ tips.

Now, apart from their regular teeth, Ram Cichlids also have pharyngeal teeth in their throats. [1] This special set of teeth help them crush food into smaller bits that can be easily swallowed and digested.

Lastly, a closer look will help you discover that Ram Cichlids also have a single nostril on either side. It’s opposed to 2 as is mostly seen with other fish species. The nostrils take in water for a duration of time before expelling it back into the water. It is this process that helps the Ram Cichlid to determine smell in the surrounding water.

Profile Summary:

Take a look at this Ram Cichlide profile summary:

Origin: Orinoco River, South America

Care level: Advanced, Expert

Color available: Blue, yellow, and white

Adult size: 2.75 inches

Temperament: Relatively peaceful

Tank size: 20 gallons (minimum)

Diet: Omnivorous

Breeding method: Egg laying

pH requirement: 5.0 – 7.0

Tolerable hardiness: 6 – 13 dGH

Water temperatures: 74 – 82 degrees Fahrenheit

Lifespan: 2 – 4 years

Color and Appearance

The Ram Cichlid breed is entirely unique and has radiant blue accents on its body. These species also have either gold or silver base colorization on their bodies.

Their heads have a more concentrated yellow/golden color with blotches of an iridescent blue hue.

As mentioned earlier, Ram Cichlid heads also have some striking black stripes running from top to bottom. These lines are thick, curved, and cut across the specimens’ eyes.

You will also spot a stunning black spot in the middle of their bodies.

Other than that, their fins exhibit a translucent appearance with a yellow/golden color background. And to add more flair, they have a red to orange colorization on the fins’ tips.

To crown all this, a Ram Cichlid’s entire body comes covered in vibrant patches that are reflective blue.

How to Care for Ram Cichlids in 2021

To care for a Ram Cichlid, the 3 major aspects you need to consider are the tank size, water conditions, and tank setup as highlighted below:

1. Tank Size

First off, the minimum size of tank you can go for is 10 gallons.

This is only suited for single occupancy of a Ram Cichlid. If you plan to keep more, then you’ll have to get a larger tank. This way, you’ll prevent a Cichlid Fight Night in your tank that may result in fatal injuries.

Always keep in mind that larger tanks provide better water quality. They also give Cichlids more ground to cover as they are bottom dwellers.

2. Water Conditions

With Ram Cichlids, you have to keep the water quality in the aquarium top-notch. This may prove too demanding and involving. It is also one of the reasons why Ram Cichlids are mostly best left to an expert’s care.

These species are pretty sensitive to toxins and organic waste suspended in the water. Therefore, you must have strict water changing schedule to maintain a clean environment for your fish.

And as they are primarily freshwater fish, ensure that you keep the water pH range at 5 to 7. Also, keep the temperatures at 74 to 82 degrees Fahrenheit throughout for the best growth.

Finally, you must control the water current and maintain it at a minimum. To do this, you can make use of a sponge filter to reduce the air rush from the water bubbles.

Note: The key goal here is to give your Ram Cichlid water conditions similar to their natural environment. Always make sure that you’ve cycled your tank with an effective filtration system before introducing your Ram Cichlid.

3. Tank Setup

When it comes to setting up the tank, the main thing you should look out for is naturalism. It means doing your best to replicate the natural habitat in your aquarium.

Over the years, the most successful method has been to introduce a ton of live plants into the tank.

The best plant samples include mosses and java ferns that can survive under high temperatures. These plants are also great as they attach and grow on surfaces like stones or driftwood. This is significantly important because Cichlids regularly dig up the substrate. This will affect plants that fully depend on a stable substrate for growth.

Having plants in the aquarium also gives the fish enough hiding cover in case they want to keep off each other.

And apart from plants, you can also put in flat rocks and driftwoods as extra decorations.

A flat rock in one corner provides an alternative spot for your Ram Cichlid to lay its eggs. The driftwood on the other hand helps to neutralize the water hardiness for your fish.

For the substrate, you can leave it bare or add gravel and a bit of muddy sand.

Tank Mates

Well, I already mentioned that the Ram Cichlid is more peaceful compared to its cousins. For this reason, it means that you can keep the Ram Cichlid in a community tank. It also means that you can introduce another fish species into the aquarium to co-exist with it.

However, this should not lead you to think that you can overlook tank space. A Ram Cichlid is still territorial and will need its space for free movement and breeding. That is why I advise that you get a much larger tank if you intend to keep this fish with a partner or another species.

Ideally, you should aim for tanks whose capacity reads somewhere in the margins of 40 gallons. I believe that will provide enough space to decorate and ensure peaceful coexistence between your species.

Also, take great caution that you do not introduce a fiercer companion. This is because more aggressive neighbors may see your Ram Cichlids as food and devour them. They may also induce a lot of stress on your Cichlids which may result in poor health and early death.

For the most suitable tank mates, you may consider getting Kribensis Cichlid or the Parrot Cichlid species.

Note: To ensure success, only introduce species that share the same set of water parameters as your Cichlids. This will prevent any health problems arising on the new entities and promote a conducive environment for both to thrive in.

Food and Diet

Feeding Ram Cichlids is a breeze. They eat practically anything you throw their way.

For instance, Ram Cichlids eat dry foods like freeze-dried tubifex worms, sinking pellets, and dried bloodworms.

Larger adults also love feasting on freeze-dried brine shrimp, Mysis shrimp, and cyclops.

Feel free to check in with your local fish store for the best feed advice.

How to Tell a Male from a Female Ram Cichlid

A male Ram Cichlid is always bigger than the female and has a much brighter show of colors. They also have larger fins that add to their magnificent build.

On the other end, the females have a pointier head compared to the male’s rounder shape.

The most distinguishing feature is that females have blue iridescent scales inside the black spot in the middle of their bodies. The male Ram Cichlids, however, do not show this characteristic.

Breeding

To breed Ram Cichlids:

  1. Introduce an adult pair into a separate breeding tank (minimum 10 gallons). Ensure that the tank has a nice background and is fully covered. Also, use a sponge at the filter to prevent the fry from getting sucked up.
  2. Add spawning sites in the corners of the tank. You can use flat stones, saucers, or small pots.
  3. Add in java moss or fern plants to give the fish cover.
  4. To bring the adults into the breeding mood, feed them daily with live foods like brine shrimp. The abundance of food in the water makes the adult think that it’s the right time to breed as food will be readily available for the fry.
  5. After successful mating, the eggs hatch in 3 – 5 days.
  6. First-time parents tend to eat the initial 2-3 spawns. To contain this, you can put the eggs in a special container and add methylene blue (a few drops) to curb fungus growth.
  7. Feed your fry with dry foods and live meals like baby brine shrimps to give them healthy growth.

Conclusion

The dwarf Ram Cichlid is both a gorgeous and adorable fish that will add pomp to your aquarium. I personally love their peaceful aura and their radiant, bright colors.

I also love the fact that you can pair them up and they’ll live peacefully with little incident. Also, their feeding is not problematic and you don’t have to go out of your way to nourish them.

However, if the care is anything you should go by, ensure that you’re a professional hobbyist. That way, at least, you can handle the high level of maintenance required.

I hope this guide helps you.

 

Is there anything you’d want to ask or share? Feel free to drop me a line in the Comments Section below!

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