Ram cichlid
Mikrogeophagus ramirezi
A brilliantly coloured dwarf cichlid from the Orinoco llanos that needs warm, very clean water and calm tank mates.
Key facts
- Body length
- 1.6 in without fins
- Minimum tank
- 17 gallons
- Group
- 2+
- Temperament
- Peaceful
- Care level
- 3 / 5
- Lifespan
- Not well documented
- Diet
- Micro pellets, frozen bloodworm and brine shrimp
- Origin
- Orinoco basin llanos, Colombia and Venezuela
- Hardier than35%
- Bigger than21%
- Calmer than68%
Water: their range vs yours
Ram cichlid tank mates
- Neon tetraGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Harlequin rasboraGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Fancy guppyGets along in shared water.Good mates
- OtocinclusGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Cherry shrimpGets along in shared water.Good mates
- BettaGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Tiger barbGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Amano shrimpGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Black neon tetraGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Black widow tetraGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Blood parrot cichlidGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Bristlenose plecoGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Panda corydorasRams need water too warm for pandas.Risky
- Chinese algae eaterTwo territorial bottom-dwellers: need ≥ 8550 cm² of floor, tank has 5612 cm².Risky
- DemasoniDemasoni (aggressive) will bully the peaceful Ram cichlid.Risky
- Golden mbunaGolden mbuna (aggressive) will bully the peaceful Ram cichlid.Risky
- KribensisBoth guard the bottom when breeding.Risky
- Peacock cichlidTwo territorial bottom-dwellers: need ≥ 9000 cm² of floor, tank has 5612 cm².Risky
- AngelfishAngelfish can eat Ram cichlid: prey body depth 1.6 cm ≤ mouth 2.3 cm.Avoid
- Blue dolphin cichlidBlue dolphin cichlid can eat Ram cichlid: prey body depth 1.6 cm ≤ mouth 6.3 cm.Avoid
- Convict cichlidConvict cichlid can eat Ram cichlid: prey body depth 1.6 cm ≤ mouth 3.8 cm.Avoid
- Firemouth cichlidFiremouth cichlid can eat Ram cichlid: prey body depth 1.6 cm ≤ mouth 3.0 cm.Avoid
- GoldfishGoldfish can eat Ram cichlid: prey body depth 1.6 cm ≤ mouth 3.0 cm.Avoid
- Iridescent sharkIridescent shark can eat Ram cichlid: prey body depth 1.6 cm ≤ mouth 32.5 cm.Avoid
How we check
The numbers the tank model uses for ram cichlids: water as ideal and tolerated ranges, bioload from adult mass, space, flow and how they act on other species.
- Standard length
- 4 cm (SL)
- Adult mass
- 1.92 g
- Bioload at 25 °C
- 1.70 BU
- Min. water
- 54 L net
- Min. footprint
- 60 × 30 cm per pair
- Group
- 2+ (best 2)
- Swims in
- bottom, middle
- Flow
- low
- Body / fins
- deep bodied, normal fins
- Diet type
- omnivore meat
- Fin nipper
- none
- Sensitive to
- nitrate
Care notes
Rams come from the warm, soft waters of the Orinoco llanos, and electric blue, gold and balloon forms are sold. A breeding pair guards a patch of bottom a couple of feet across.
Keep a pair in a mature 15 gallon tank or larger at 81–86°F over sand. They are poor competitors for food, commercial strains tend to be short-lived, and they do not belong with aggressive cichlids.
Questions
What size tank does a ram cichlid need?
At least 17 gallons (54 litres of water after decor). Adults reach about 1.6 inches without fins.
How many ram cichlids should be kept together?
Keep at least 2, ideally 2 or more: fewer feel exposed and hide or turn nippy.
What water do ram cichlids need?
81–86 °F, pH 4–7 and 1–10 dGH. Ram cichlids come from Orinoco basin llanos, Colombia and Venezuela.
How long do ram cichlids live?
Not well documented with good care.
What fish can live with ram cichlids?
Good tank mates include Neon tetra, Harlequin rasbora, Fancy guppy, Otocinclus and Cherry shrimp. Each is checked both ways for size, fin nipping, temperament, territory and shared water.