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Contents
Overview
The ram cichlid, often sold as the German blue ram, is one of the most beautiful and popular dwarf cichlids. It comes from the llanos of Venezuela and Colombia in the Orinoco basin, where it lives in warm, soft, still water over sand and leaf litter.
At about 2 inches (5 cm), it mixes blue, yellow and red with a black flank spot and red eyes. Besides the wild form you will find captive strains like electric blue, gold and balloon rams. People love its colors and the fact that, unlike many cichlids, it is peaceful toward other fish. The trade-off is that it is delicate: it does not forgive a brand-new tank or dirty or cool water.
Care and tank setup
A pair needs at least 16 gallons (60 L) with a generous footprint; 20-29 gallons (75-110 L) is better in a community. The tank must be well established: rams are among the first fish to suffer when nitrates rise or the temperature drops.
- Water: soft, slightly acidic and warm. Captive-bred fish handle a bit more hardness, but stability matters most.
- Decor: fine sand, driftwood, dried leaves, flat stones and plants that create territories and shaded spots.
- Maintenance: small, frequent water changes with no sudden swings.
Great tank mates are small tetras, rasboras and heat-tolerant corydoras such as Corydoras sterbai. Avoid fast, greedy feeders that steal food and other bottom-dwelling cichlids in small tanks. Rams will eat baby shrimp and sometimes small adults. Classic mistakes are adding them to a new tank, keeping them below 79 °F (26 °C) and buying weak fish: watch them eat before you buy.
Feeding
In the wild, rams sift sand for tiny invertebrates. In the aquarium they take small sinking pellets and quality flakes, but you should offer frozen or live food often: brine shrimp, daphnia, bloodworms and cyclops.
They are slow, somewhat shy eaters, so make sure food reaches the bottom and tank mates do not grab it all. Two small meals a day work well.
Breeding
Rams pair up and lay 100 to 300 eggs on a flat stone or in a shallow pit in the sand. Both parents guard the eggs and then the fry, which hatch in two to three days and swim freely after about a week.
Young pairs often eat their first clutches; with patience and very clean, soft water at 82-84 °F (28-29 °C), they usually succeed. Fry eat infusoria first, then baby brine shrimp.
Compatible tank mates
Species from our database that share water parameters, size and temperament with the Ram cichlid. Calculated from the data in each profile.
Betta fish Betta splendens 7 gal (25 L) · 75–82 °F (24–28 °C) 
Ember tetra Hyphessobrycon amandae 11 gal (40 L) · 73–82 °F (23–28 °C) 
Discus Symphysodon aequifasciatus 79 gal (300 L) · 82–88 °F (28–31 °C) 
Dwarf gourami Trichogaster lalius 16 gal (60 L) · 75–82 °F (24–28 °C) 
Rummy-nose tetra Hemigrammus rhodostomus 26 gal (100 L) · 75–82 °F (24–28 °C) 
Cardinal tetra Paracheirodon axelrodi 21 gal (80 L) · 73–84 °F (23–29 °C) 
Eastern rainbowfish (splendid rainbowfish) Melanotaenia splendida 53 gal (200 L) · 72–82 °F (22–28 °C) 
Dwarf neon rainbowfish Melanotaenia praecox 32 gal (120 L) · 75–82 °F (24–28 °C) 
Blue gourami Trichopodus trichopterus 32 gal (120 L) · 72–82 °F (22–28 °C) 
Honey gourami Trichogaster chuna 14 gal (54 L) · 72–82 °F (22–28 °C) 
Pearl gourami Trichopodus leerii 32 gal (120 L) · 75–82 °F (24–28 °C) 
Lambchop rasbora Trigonostigma espei 14 gal (54 L) · 73–82 °F (23–28 °C) Check the compatibility of your whole tank →
What not to keep it with
Popular species you shouldn’t house with the Ram cichlid, and why.
- Common goldfish: incompatible temperatures, one may eat the other due to size
- Panda cory: incompatible temperatures
- Zebra danio: incompatible temperatures
- Angelfish: one may eat the other due to size
- Yellow lab cichlid: incompatible pH
- Clown loach: one may eat the other due to size
- Molly: incompatible pH
- Oranda goldfish: incompatible temperatures
Recommended equipment
What you need to keep the Ram cichlid healthy, checked against Amazon stock.
Frequently asked questions
How many liters does a Ram cichlid need?
At least about 60 liters for a group of at least 2 fish. More space always helps keep the water stable.
What water temperature does the Ram cichlid need?
Between 26 and 30 °C, with a pH of 5.5 to 7.
What fish can live with the Ram cichlid?
Based on water, size and temperament, it fits with species such as Betta fish, Ember tetra, Discus, Dwarf gourami and Rummy-nose tetra. Use our compatibility calculator to check your whole tank.
Can the Ram cichlid be kept with shrimp?
Not recommended: because of its size or instinct, it will eat shrimp.
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