Blue Ram
Mikrogeophagus ramirezi
The Blue Ram (Mikrogeophagus ramirezi) is a peaceful fish that's rewarding to keep. Give it a tank of at least 70 litres (18 US gallons), water held at 81-86°F, and a pH of 6.5-7.5.
Captive lifespan reflects typical experience in a home aquarium, not maximum recorded age; genetics, sourcing, and care vary.
Natural distribution
Orinoco River savannahs of Venezuela and Colombia.
- South America
Regional colours match the stocking calculator's origin map.
Blue Ram Tank Setup
Give them at least 70 litres (18 US gallons). Cichlids are territorial and produce plenty of waste, so strong filtration and some rocks or wood to break up sight lines both help. Aim for 81-86°F and a pH around 6.5-7.5.
What Do Blue Rams Eat?
They're not fussy eaters - feed a varied diet, rotating good-quality dry, frozen, and gel foods rather than the same thing every day, and match the food size to their mouths.
Blue Ram Tank Mates
The Blue Ram is peaceful, which is the first thing to weigh up when you choose tank mates. Good matches come down to the whole stocking list working together - temperature, tank size, and temperament - not any single label. Before you buy, run your full stocking list through our stocking calculator. It weighs temperament, adult size, and water needs together, which a single species page can't do on its own.
Are Blue Rams Good for Beginners?
Care demand varies by line and setup. Match the care level to how often you actually test and change water.
Blue Ram - frequently asked questions
What size tank do Blue Rams need?
Blue Rams need a tank of at least 70 litres (18 US gallons). A bigger tank is always easier to keep stable, and gives them more room to settle in and behave naturally.
What water parameters do Blue Rams need?
Keep them at 81-86°F with a pH of 6.5-7.5, steady rather than chased to an exact figure. In a cycled tank, ammonia and nitrite should both read 0 ppm, with nitrate kept low through regular water changes.
What do Blue Rams eat?
Blue Rams are omnivores and aren't fussy eaters. Feed a varied mix of good-quality dry, frozen, and gel foods, and match the food size to their mouths. Feed small amounts once or twice a day, and remove anything they don't eat.
Are Blue Rams good for beginners?
It depends on the setup. Match Blue Rams to how often you actually test water and perform maintenance.
Common mistakes with Blue Rams
- Cool tap water - this species needs 81-86°F; cold acclimation suppresses immune response and often triggers disease outbreaks.
Guides that pair with this fish
- Ram cichlids guide - Pairs, heat, and setup discipline.
- Fish dying despite good params - When trace toxins or stocking mismatch hides in tests.
- Tannins in freshwater tanks - Soft acidic aesthetics many dwarf cichlids enjoy.
Building a community? Run the full list through the stocking calculator before you add anything else.
Great tank mates
Chosen from temperament, overlapping temperature/pH bands, plausible minimum tank footprints, and size versus yours in App-aquatic data. Hobby nuance always wins - verify stocking and temperament before purchasing.
Fish to avoid mixing with Blue Rams
These well-known species are commonly sold alongside this fish but are not recommended tank mates - verify before purchasing.
- Plakat BettaPredator - Plakat Betta will eat or injure smaller tank mates
- Common GoldfishGoldfish - prefer cooler, harder water that tropical fish cannot tolerate
