Electric Blue Ram
Mikrogeophagus ramirezi (var.)
The Electric Blue Ram (Mikrogeophagus ramirezi (var.)) is a peaceful fish that's a good step up once you have a little experience. Give it a tank of at least 60 litres (16 US gallons), water held at 81-86°F, and a pH of 5.5-7.
Captive lifespan reflects typical experience in a home aquarium, not maximum recorded age; genetics, sourcing, and care vary.
Natural distribution
South America (tank-bred variant)
- South America
Regional colours match the stocking calculator's origin map.
Electric Blue Ram Tank Setup
Give them at least 60 litres (16 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 5.5-7.
What Do Electric Blue Rams Eat?
They have small mouths, so stick to small foods: crushed flake, fine granules, and now and then a treat of frozen or live foods such as daphnia or baby brine shrimp. Anything too large simply gets ignored.
Electric Blue Ram Tank Mates
Requires higher temperatures than most community fish (27-30C) - incompatible with cool-water species. More sensitive than standard Blue Ram due to selective breeding; requires pristine water quality and established tank. Keep nitrates very low. Soft acidic water strongly preferred. The Electric 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 Electric Blue Rams Good for Beginners?
Doable once you test water regularly and catch problems before fish look sick. If this is your first tank, pick something more forgiving and come back later.
Electric Blue Ram - frequently asked questions
What size tank do Electric Blue Rams need?
Electric Blue Rams need a tank of at least 60 litres (16 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 Electric Blue Rams need?
Keep them at 81-86°F with a pH of 5.5-7, 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 Electric Blue Rams eat?
Electric Blue Rams have small mouths, so they need small foods. Crushed flake and fine granules form the staple, with the occasional treat of frozen or live foods such as daphnia or baby brine shrimp. Feed small amounts once or twice a day, and remove anything they don't eat.
Are Electric Blue Rams good for beginners?
Electric Blue Rams are best for keepers with a little experience. They are manageable once you test water regularly and catch problems early; a complete beginner may prefer something more forgiving first.
Common mistakes with Electric 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 - Pair bonding and territory pacing.
- Fish dying despite good params - Invisible failure modes worth ruling out.
- Water too hard for fish - When remineralizing matters for dwarf cichlids.
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 Electric 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
