Product Details

Super Neon Blue German Longfin Ram – Mikrogeophagus ramirezi

The Super Neon Blue German Longfin Ram is a spectacular captive-bred form of the Ram Cichlid, developed for intense electric-blue colour and extended flowing fins. Correctly listed as Mikrogeophagus ramirezi, this peaceful dwarf cichlid is best suited to warm, mature aquariums with calm tank mates, excellent water quality and soft to moderately soft conditions. It is colourful and elegant, but more delicate than many standard community fish, so stable care is essential.

Key Identification:

Common Name: Super Neon Blue German Longfin Ram
Other Names: Super Neon Blue Ram, Electric Blue Longfin Ram, German Blue Longfin Ram, Neon Blue Ram, Longfin Ram, Ram Cichlid
Scientific Name: Mikrogeophagus ramirezi
Fish Type: Dwarf Cichlid
Water Type: Freshwater

Natural Range & Habitat:

Microgeophagus ramirezi is native to the Orinoco River basin of Venezuela and Colombia, especially the warm llanos floodplain region. Wild-type Rams inhabit warm, slow-moving waters, shallow pools, savannah floodplains and vegetated margins with fine substrate, submerged cover and soft acidic water.

The Super Neon Blue German Longfin Ram is a captive-bred aquarium strain rather than a wild locality form. In the aquarium, it should be kept in a mature, warm setup with fine sand, plants, wood, leaf-litter-style cover, shaded areas and open patches for feeding and display.

Appearance & Adult Size:

This strain has a bright neon-blue to electric-blue body, often with turquoise, powder-blue or metallic highlights across the flanks and fins. The longfin trait gives the dorsal, anal and caudal fins a more flowing appearance than standard Rams. Depending on breeding line, age and sex, fish may also show yellow, gold, orange, red or dark accent markings.

Adults usually reach around 5–6 cm, with males often slightly larger and more extended in the fins. Females may be rounder-bodied, especially when mature, though sexing can be harder in intense colour strains.

Aquarium Suitability:

This strain is best suited to mature planted aquariums, warm peaceful community setups and carefully managed dwarf cichlid displays. It needs stable water, gentle tank mates and a calm environment. It is not as forgiving as hardy livebearers, danios or many farmed tetras.

Super Neon Blue German Longfin Rams are not suitable for brand-new aquariums, cool community tanks, hard alkaline livebearer setups, aggressive cichlid tanks, predator aquariums or aquariums with fin-nipping fish that may damage the long fins.

Recommended Aquarium Size:

A practical minimum is 60 litres for a single fish or compatible pair, with a tank length of at least 60 cm recommended. Larger aquariums of 90 litres or more are preferred for community setups or if keeping more than one pair.

Rams are best kept singly, as a compatible pair, or in carefully planned groups only in larger aquariums with plenty of territories and sight breaks. Do not overcrowd them, as poor water quality and territorial stress can quickly cause problems.

Water Conditions:

Temperature: 27–30°C
pH: 5.5–7.0
Hardness: Soft to moderately soft preferred
Additional Notes: Warm, clean, stable water is essential. This is not a cool-water community fish. Avoid sudden changes in temperature, pH or hardness, and keep nitrate as low as possible through regular water changes. Captive-bred stock may adapt to neutral water, but prolonged hard alkaline conditions are best avoided.

Temperament & Tank Mates:

Aquarium Category: Community Fish

Super Neon Blue German Longfin Rams are peaceful dwarf cichlids, but they can become territorial when paired or breeding. Suitable tank mates include small peaceful tetras that tolerate warm water, pencilfish, small rasboras in compatible temperatures, Otocinclus, small Cory-type catfish that tolerate warmer conditions, peaceful plecs and calm upper-level community fish.

Avoid aggressive cichlids, boisterous barbs, fin-nipping tetras, large predators, cool-water fish, very hard-water specialists and fast feeders that outcompete them. Because of the long fins, extra care should be taken to avoid species known for nipping.

Feeding:

Super Neon Blue German Longfin Rams are omnivores with a strong preference for small meaty foods. Offer quality micro pellets, small cichlid granules and soft sinking foods as the staple diet. Supplement with frozen or live foods such as daphnia, cyclops, brineshrimp, mysis, mosquito larvae and bloodworm.

Feed small portions that are eaten quickly. A varied diet supports colour, body condition and breeding readiness, while avoiding overfeeding helps maintain the clean water this species needs.

Behaviour in the Aquarium:

This strain usually stays close to the lower and middle levels of the aquarium, exploring open sand patches, plant bases and sheltered areas. Rams are intelligent, observant dwarf cichlids and may recognise feeding routines once settled.

Pairs may choose a flat stone, leaf, wood surface or shallow pit as a spawning site. They are open-substrate spawners and may guard eggs and fry, although many captive strains need several attempts before parenting successfully.

Care Notes:

Add Super Neon Blue German Longfin Rams only to a fully cycled, mature aquarium. Provide warm water, soft substrate, shaded areas, gentle flow and excellent water quality. Avoid sharp décor that could damage the extended fins, and avoid strong current that forces the fish to struggle.

This strain’s intense colour and long fins make it highly attractive, but also mean fin condition should be monitored closely. Torn fins, clamped fins, faded colour or loss of appetite can indicate stress, poor water quality or unsuitable tank mates.

Recommended For:

Intermediate

Availability:

Common to occasional / Captive-bred colour and fin 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, neon-blue colour, fin length, body shape, sex, age and markings can occur between individual fish.