Product Details

Electric Blue Ram – Mikrogeophagus ramirezi

The Electric Blue Ram is a vivid captive-bred form of the popular Ram Cichlid, prized for its intense metallic blue colour, compact size and peaceful dwarf cichlid behaviour. Also sold as the Electric Blue German Ram, Blue Ram, Ram Cichlid or Electric Blue Butterfly Cichlid, this fish is best suited to a mature, warm, peaceful aquarium with soft water, gentle tank mates and excellent stability. It is beautiful and relatively calm for a cichlid, but it is more delicate than many beginner community fish.

Key Identification:

Common Name: Electric Blue Ram
Other Names: Electric Blue German Ram, Blue Ram, Ram Cichlid, Butterfly Cichlid, Electric Blue Butterfly Cichlid
Scientific Name: Mikrogeophagus ramirezi
Older / Trade Name: Microgeophagus ramirezi, Papiliochromis ramirezi, Apistogramma ramirezi
Strain / Form: Captive-bred Electric Blue colour strain
Fish Type: Dwarf Cichlid
Water Type: Freshwater

Natural Range & Habitat:

Mikrogeophagus ramirezi is native to South America, especially the Orinoco River basin in the llanos of Venezuela and Colombia. Wild Rams are found in warm, slow-moving waters, flooded savannah areas, shallow pools and vegetated margins where the water is usually soft, acidic and often low in dissolved minerals.

The Electric Blue Ram is a captive-bred ornamental form, so its intense blue colour has been developed through selective breeding. Its care should still be based on the needs of the wild species, with warm, stable water, gentle flow, soft substrate, plant cover and peaceful surroundings.

Appearance & Adult Size:

Electric Blue Rams have a compact, laterally compressed body with rounded fins, expressive eyes and a bright metallic blue sheen across the body and fins. Depending on the individual fish, colour may range from pale electric blue to deep turquoise-blue, often with subtle yellow, pink or silver tones around the head and belly.

Adults usually reach around 5–7 cm. Males may develop slightly longer fin extensions and a more pointed dorsal fin, while females are often rounder-bodied and may show a pinkish belly when mature, although sexing Electric Blue strains can be less obvious than in wild-type Rams.

Aquarium Suitability:

This species is best suited to mature planted aquariums, peaceful soft-water community tanks and dedicated dwarf cichlid displays. It appreciates sand or smooth fine substrate, shaded areas, driftwood, plants, caves and open patches for feeding and displaying.

Electric Blue Rams are not suitable for rough community tanks, aggressive fish or immature aquariums. They need warm, clean, stable water and are much less forgiving of poor conditions than hardier livebearers or many common tetras.

Recommended Aquarium Size:

A practical minimum is 60–80 litres for a pair, with a tank length of at least 60 cm recommended. For a group or community setup, 100 litres or more is preferred.

Electric Blue Rams are often best kept as a settled pair. Small groups can work in larger, well-decorated aquariums, but pairs may become territorial, especially when breeding.

Water Conditions:

Temperature: 26–30°C
pH: 5.5–7.0
Hardness: Soft to moderately hard
Additional Notes: Warm, stable water is essential. Electric Blue Rams do best in mature aquariums with low nitrate, gentle flow and soft to neutral conditions. Avoid cool tanks, unstable new aquariums, hard alkaline extremes and sudden parameter changes.

Temperament & Tank Mates:

Aquarium Category: Community Fish

Electric Blue Rams are peaceful dwarf cichlids, but they can become territorial when pairing or breeding. Suitable tank mates include small peaceful tetras, pencilfish, rasboras, dwarf cory-type catfish that tolerate warmer water, Otocinclus, peaceful small catfish and calm community fish that will not outcompete or bully them.

Avoid aggressive cichlids, fin-nippers, boisterous barbs, large predators, cold-water fish and fast, rough tank mates. Do not keep them with fish that require cooler water, as Rams need consistently warm conditions. Very small shrimp may be eaten, especially if they are newly moulted or young.

Feeding:

Electric Blue Rams are omnivorous micropredators. Offer quality micro pellets, small cichlid granules and fine slow-sinking foods as the staple diet.

Supplement regularly with frozen or live foods such as daphnia, cyclops, brineshrimp, bloodworm, mosquito larvae and finely chopped mysis. A varied diet helps support colour, condition and breeding behaviour. Feed small amounts that are eaten quickly, as this species can be sensitive to declining water quality.

Behaviour in the Aquarium:

This is a lower to midwater dwarf cichlid that spends much of its time exploring the front and middle areas of the aquarium. Rams often sift through fine substrate, inspect plants and wood, and claim small territories around caves, stones or open patches.

Pairs may clean a flat stone, leaf or shallow pit before spawning. Both parents may guard eggs and fry, although captive-bred strains can be inconsistent parents and may eat early spawns. Territorial behaviour usually increases during breeding but is normally limited in a well-sized aquarium.

Care Notes:

Electric Blue Rams should only be added to mature, fully cycled aquariums with stable water quality. They are sensitive to poor water conditions, low temperatures and sudden changes, so careful acclimation and regular maintenance are important.

Keep them warm, avoid aggressive tank mates and provide cover as well as open feeding areas. Captive-bred Electric Blue Rams can vary in strength and colour quality, so choose healthy, active fish with clear eyes, good body shape and steady feeding response.

Recommended For:

Intermediate

Availability:

Common to occasional / Captive-bred ornamental strain

Image Disclaimer:

All images are a visual representation of the fish you will receive, made to be as accurate as possible. Natural variation in size, colour, pattern, fin shape, body tone and markings can occur between individual fish.