Intermediate
Assorted Ram Cichlid (Mikrogeophagus ramirezi)
27–30°C · pH 5.5–7 · 60L
From £5.09Some sizes on sale
Asia Form Ram Cichlid for warm, mature planted aquariums. One unsexed fish per quantity; choose the dispatch-size band above.
Adult size is the maximum length this species reaches at full maturity (scientific sources). The livestock you receive will be younger and smaller — pick a size variant above for the actual shipping size. Product-photo provenance and any image-specific limitations are stated on the listing.
Mikrogeophagus ramirezi
Save when buying multiple fish. Each quantity is one fish; sex and pair formation are not guaranteed unless the selected variant explicitly states them.
Asia Form Ram Cichlid for warm, mature planted aquariums. One unsexed fish per quantity; choose the dispatch-size band above.
Adult size is the maximum length this species reaches at full maturity (scientific sources). The livestock you receive will be younger and smaller — pick a size variant above for the actual shipping size. Product-photo provenance and any image-specific limitations are stated on the listing.
Cichlids are one of the most diverse fish families in the hobby. From tiny apistogrammas to massive oscars, this guide covers the basics of keeping them well.
Maintain these water conditions for optimal health and vibrant colors
“Asia Form” is the supplier’s trade label for this Mikrogeophagus ramirezi product; it is not a wild-distribution claim. The accepted scientific name is Mikrogeophagus ramirezi, while Papiliochromis ramirezi is an older synonym still seen in trade lists and aquarium literature.
This South American dwarf cichlid is known for blue spangling, warm gold facial colour and alert behaviour. It needs consistently warm, clean water and is better suited to an aquarist who can maintain a mature, stable aquarium. Fishkeeper and Tropical Fish Hobbyist both record up to about 7 cm total length, while FishBase records 4.2 cm standard length, a measurement that excludes the tail fin.
Each quantity buys one unsexed fish in the selected dispatch-size band; it is not a guaranteed male/female or bonded pair. Mature fish may show sex-related differences, but those cues vary with age, condition and selected form. Choose two fish as a possible pair only when the aquarium has adequate floor space, cover and a plan to separate incompatible individuals.
The gallery is representative of the listed form; colour intensity, markings and fin shape vary between individual fish. In a planted aquarium, dark substrate, wood and broken sight lines help this small cichlid feel secure and remain visible.
The selectable centimetre bands describe the approximate size dispatched, not the adult size. Plan the aquarium around the mature fish from the start. A newly arrived smaller fish also needs quiet feeding access because faster community fish can take food before it reaches the lower part of the aquarium.
The live selector controls the size band added to the basket. One quantity always means one fish in that selected band. Ordering two fish means two unsexed fish; it does not create a guaranteed pair, and it does not guarantee that one will mature as male and the other as female. Pair formation is behavioural as well as biological, so even correctly sexed adults may not settle together.
The dispatch measurement describes the fish at supply, not the space it will need later. A smaller option can be easier to integrate with similarly sized peaceful fish, but it may also lose food to faster tank mates. A larger option is easier to see and assess on arrival, yet it still needs gradual introduction to an established territory. In every case, plan around the mature species, not the temporary centimetre band.
Before increasing quantity, identify where each fish can feed, shelter and retreat. Two fish need more than two ornaments placed side by side: they need broken sight lines and separate usable areas along the lower aquarium. If repeated chasing prevents one fish from feeding or resting, separate them rather than waiting for a pair bond that may never form.
The Ram Cichlid belongs to the family Cichlidae. The names Apistogramma ramirezi and Papiliochromis ramirezi appear in older literature, but the accepted combination is Mikrogeophagus ramirezi. German Blue, electric blue, gold, long-fin, balloon and other ornamental names refer to forms of the same species rather than different wild species.
The natural origin of Mikrogeophagus ramirezi is the Orinoco basin in Venezuela and Colombia. The species occurs in warm, slow-moving or still waters, including shallow margins over soft substrates.
Roots, aquatic plants, botanicals and fine sediment create cover and feeding surfaces in this type of habitat. Rams are not torrent fish; in the aquarium they benefit from calm areas where they can inspect the substrate and retreat from direct view.
These habitats help explain several key care points. Their need for high warmth reflects tropical lowland conditions, and their sensitivity to poor water quality makes a mature, stable aquarium especially important. In nature they take tiny invertebrates, organic debris and other small benthic foods, which is why a varied omnivorous diet works well in captivity. A naturalistic Ram aquarium can therefore echo the Llanos with calm water, fine substrate and broken cover without pretending a home tank is a complete wild biotope.
The “Asia Form” wording on this listing is a supplier trade label. It does not change the species’ natural origin in the Orinoco basin. The fish still benefits from a naturalistic layout with fine substrate, warm soft water, plants or botanicals and broken sight lines. It is a South American species, not an African dwarf cichlid, and should not be kept under hard Rift Lake conditions.
Warm soft water, calm flow, fine substrate, wood and shaded planting reflect the habitat and aquarium guidance in the cited sources. This layout gives the fish feeding space, cover and relief from continuous bright exposure.
Practical Fishkeeping gives a 60 × 30 × 30 cm aquarium for this species, a footprint holding about 54 litres before substrate and decor. Use roughly 60 litres with a 60 cm footprint as a baseline for one compatible pair, and choose a larger aquarium for a community or additional territories. Floor area and visual separation matter more than extra height because the fish spends much of its time near the lower part of the aquarium.
Do not use a temporary nano tank simply because the selected dispatch size is small. Keep stocking light in the minimum footprint and avoid another territorial cichlid there. A longer aquarium provides more usable territory, feeding space and escape routes than a tall aquarium of the same volume.
Water stability is central to Ram Cichlid care. Practical Fishkeeping recommends 26-30°C, while Fishkeeper gives 25-30°C and TFH emphasises 27-30°C. A practical aquarium range is 26-30°C; this is supported across the species-specific sources and avoids the cooler end associated with poor long-term results. Choose tank mates that are comfortable at the same temperature.
Published aquarium guidance agrees on soft, acidic to neutral water but differs slightly at the margins. Practical Fishkeeping recommends pH 5-7 and less than 6 dH; Fishkeeper gives pH 5-7 and hardness up to 8 dH; the 2023 aquarium-reproduction paper uses pH 6.5-7.0 and 1-8 dGH. Use pH 5.0-7.0 and 1-8 dGH as a bounded planning range, then favour consistency, mature filtration and low dissolved waste rather than repeatedly altering the water to chase one exact number.
Test the source water as well as the aquarium. A pH number is useful only when read alongside hardness, temperature and recent changes. Water with low carbonate hardness has less buffering, so large corrections can create a faster swing than the fish would experience under a stable, slightly different value. Match replacement water closely for temperature and chemistry and make regular, proportionate changes instead of occasional dramatic ones.
In a mature aquarium, ammonia and nitrite should remain at zero. OATA guidance explains that both are toxic and should be checked whenever fish breathe rapidly, clamp their fins, stop feeding or after filtration has been disturbed. Nitrate trend is also useful: a rising result can reveal that feeding, stocking or maintenance is exceeding the system’s capacity before the fish shows an obvious problem.
Warm water carries less dissolved oxygen than cooler water. Maintain surface movement and reliable filtration without directing a hard jet through the Ram’s territory. During hot weather, after a power interruption or when medication is used under qualified advice, watch respiration closely and increase aeration if oxygenation is in doubt.
| Planning point | Range |
|---|---|
| Minimum footprint | About 60 litres / 60 cm for one compatible pair |
| Temperature | 26-30°C |
| pH | 5.0-7.0 |
| General hardness | 1-8 dGH |
Use gentle but effective filtration. A mature sponge filter works well in breeding tanks, while a compact external or internal filter is suitable for display aquariums if the flow is diffused. Rams dislike being blasted around the tank. Good oxygenation matters, but high current does not. Pair this fish with a reliable aquarium heater and thermometer so the water stays stable in winter and overnight.
Use fine sand or very smooth fine gravel. Practical Fishkeeping describes slow or still natural waters over soft substrates, and both flat stones and planted cover are useful in aquarium layouts. Avoid sharp material that could injure a fish sifting or feeding near the bottom.
A planted layout suits this species because plants, wood and botanicals provide cover without removing open feeding areas. Use robust plants, shaded zones and at least one flat stone or smooth surface if natural spawning behaviour is to be observed. Keep enough open substrate for feeding and allow clear routes between territories.
A Ram Cichlid’s peaceful reputation describes normal community behaviour, not an absence of territory. A compatible pair may defend a flat stone, plant base or patch of substrate when preparing to spawn. Arrange wood, plants and stones so one fish can leave the other’s line of sight without being trapped against the glass.
Small tetras use a different part of the aquarium and are the clearest companions documented by the species-specific sources, provided they tolerate the same warm, soft water. Bottom-dwelling fish need more caution because they cross the Ram’s feeding and spawning area. Add only what the floor space can support, and use more than one feeding point if another species also eats near the substrate.
Judge the actual fish, not only a compatibility label. Brief displays and short chases can occur around a territory; persistent pursuit, blocked feeding, torn fins or a fish confined to one corner are reasons to intervene. A divider or second mature aquarium is more responsible than assuming all individuals will follow an average temperament description.
Fishkeeper records no special lighting requirement. Use lighting that suits the plants while retaining shaded cover, and avoid leaving the whole lower aquarium brightly exposed with nowhere for the fish to settle.
Add Ram Cichlids only after the aquarium is fully cycled and stable. Confirm that ammonia and nitrite remain at zero and that the filter can process the existing biological load before introducing this comparatively delicate species.
The Ram Cichlid diet is omnivorous, but these fish are best fed like small insect-and-crustacean pickers rather than bulk grazers. In the wild they consume tiny benthic invertebrates and organic particles. In the aquarium, a quality small pellet or granule should form the staple, supported by frozen foods such as bloodworm, brine shrimp, daphnia, and cyclops. Ram Cichlids commonly accept prepared food, but variety supports condition and encourages natural foraging.
Use a suitably small sinking pellet, granule or flake that reaches the fish without creating excess waste. Practical Fishkeeping and Fishkeeper both support prepared foods alongside varied frozen foods. Offer only a small portion that is eaten promptly, and remove leftovers rather than relying on a fixed number of seconds.
A varied feeding plan includes frozen foods several times each week. Brine shrimp and bloodworm are especially useful for conditioning adults and bringing out stronger colour. If you keep a pair in a planted display, varied feeding also encourages more confident foraging behaviour.
For conditioning, add small frozen or live foods to a balanced prepared diet. Practical Fishkeeping lists Daphnia, bloodworm and mosquito larvae, while Fishkeeper also lists brineshrimp. Live food is optional, not a requirement, and all food must be appropriately sized and obtained from a safe source.
| Food role | Examples | Use |
|---|---|---|
| Prepared staple | Small sinking pellet, granule or flake | Small portions that reach the fish without accumulating |
| Frozen rotation | Brineshrimp, Daphnia, bloodworm or mosquito larvae | Rotate with the staple for variety and conditioning |
| Live conditioning food | Appropriately sized foods from a safe source | Optional; useful for conditioning but not required |
Feed adults once or twice daily in small portions; juveniles may need smaller, more frequent meals. Avoid leaving food on the substrate because dissolved waste and unstable water quality are repeatedly identified by specialist sources as major risks for this species.
A settled Ram should notice food, approach it and swallow appropriately sized pieces without repeated spitting or difficulty. Observe both fish separately when keeping a possible pair. One bold fish can appear healthy while a quieter fish loses condition because every sinking item is intercepted first.
Use body condition as a trend rather than judging one meal. A steadily hollowing belly, sudden refusal of familiar food, abnormal waste or a fish that cannot compete requires investigation. Check water quality and social pressure before simply adding richer food. Increasing food while the filter or territory is the real problem can worsen the aquarium quickly.
Rotate compatible prepared and frozen foods for variety, but keep portions small enough that little reaches inaccessible areas. Remove obvious leftovers and clean trapped waste during maintenance. Conditioning food can support breeding adults, yet it does not compensate for unsuitable water, an incompatible pair or an immature aquarium.
Excess food decomposes and increases the load on filtration. Because Ram Cichlids are sensitive to dissolved waste, feed modestly, remove leftovers and test ammonia and nitrite promptly when feeding response or respiration changes.
This fish is one of the most colourful dwarf cichlids commonly available. Adults grow to around 7 cm and have a compact, laterally compressed body with elegant dorsal extension and rounded finnage. Good specimens show electric blue spangling over the flanks, yellow to gold around the head, a dark eye stripe, and subtle pink to reddish tones on the belly and fins. In the right lighting, the scales flash turquoise and cobalt.
Other ornamental forms of Mikrogeophagus ramirezi include German Blue, gold, electric blue, long-fin and balloon lines. Mature males may develop longer fin extensions, while mature females may show a rounder pink abdomen in spawning condition. These cues are less reliable in juveniles and selected forms, so the listed dispatch sizes remain unsexed.
Colour and display depend on genetics, age, condition, diet, water quality, lighting and stress. Warm stable water, varied food and secure cover help a settled fish show normal behaviour. The photographs show representative Ram Cichlids, not the exact individual that will be dispatched.
Ram Cichlids are relatively peaceful but become territorial around spawning sites. Fishkeeper recommends a peaceful community with plants and caves; Practical Fishkeeping supports small tank mates such as tetras when their water requirements match. A compatible pair still needs its own lower-level territory and feeding access.
Small, peaceful tetras that tolerate 26-30°C and soft water are the clearest documented community companions. Assess any bottom-dwelling fish more cautiously because it shares feeding and territory space with the Ram. Do not add a species merely because it is labelled “community”; temperature, water chemistry, adult size and behaviour must all overlap.
Avoid fin nippers, aggressive or bullying fish, cool-water species and fish that require hard alkaline water. Also avoid adding another territorial dwarf cichlid to the minimum footprint. In a larger aquarium, build separate sight-broken territories and watch feeding and spawning behaviour closely.
In the minimum 60 cm footprint, plan around one compatible pair and avoid another cichlid territory. A larger planted community may combine the pair with a modest shoal of small warm-tolerant tetras. Multiple Ram pairs require substantially more floor space and visual separation than a single pair.
No cited source establishes this form as reliably shrimp-safe. Small shrimp or shrimplets may be treated as food by an opportunistic cichlid, so keep them separately when shrimp survival is the priority. Do not present any invertebrate combination as guaranteed.
| Companion type | Assessment | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Small warm-tolerant tetras | Often suitable | Documented community companions when water requirements match |
| Bottom-dwelling fish | Use caution | May compete for floor space, shelter and food |
| Aggressive or cool-water fish | Avoid | Bullying or incompatible temperature creates preventable stress |
Suitable tank mates must match the Ram’s warm, soft-water needs as well as its temperament. A peaceful species can still be unsuitable if it prefers cooler or harder conditions. Check the complete overlap and observe whether every fish can feed and retreat without repeated chasing.
Quarantine new fish in a separate, mature and heated aquarium before introducing them to the display. Use observation and qualified aquatic-health advice to decide when a fish is feeding normally and ready to move; a fixed number of days is not a substitute for assessment.
The breeding difficulty is moderate. They are substrate spawners that form pairs and lay eggs on flat stones, broad leaves, or smooth decor. Good breeding results depend on very clean water, stable warmth, and a compatible pair. Many hobbyists are drawn to this species because the pair's spawning behaviour is fascinating to watch: cleaning a site, displaying, quivering, and guarding eggs together.
For a dedicated breeding setup, the 2023 aquarium-reproduction paper describes approximately 40-50 litres with plants, Java moss and flat dark stones; Practical Fishkeeping reports successful use of a 60 × 25 × 25 cm tank with a sponge filter and flat spawning surfaces. Keep the water in the species’ warm range, soft and stable, and minimise disturbance. These are documented examples rather than a guarantee that an unbonded pair will spawn.
Before spawning, colours may intensify and a compatible pair may clean a stone or leaf repeatedly. The female deposits eggs and the male fertilises them; both parents may guard and fan the clutch. Some pairs eat a spawn, particularly when disturbed, so breeding success is never guaranteed.
Fishkeeper records hatching after roughly 48-72 hours, with fry becoming free-swimming several days later. Parents may move newly hatched larvae to another sheltered place. Parental care varies between pairs, and disturbance can cause a clutch to be abandoned or eaten.
Once the fry are free-swimming, offer tiny first foods such as infusoria or microworms, then appropriately sized Artemia as they grow. Maintain warm, clean water with careful small water changes and avoid sudden shifts in temperature or chemistry.
Fishkeeper reports that eggs may hatch after 48-72 hours and fry become free-swimming several days later. Practical Fishkeeping and the 2023 paper also describe flat-surface spawning, parental care and tiny first foods. Keep the breeding aquarium quiet and clean; avoid unsourced chemical treatment of eggs without qualified advice.
Comparisons matter because Ram colour forms, Apistogramma species and kribensis have different temperature, water and social requirements even though retailers may group them as dwarf cichlids. The Asia Form Ram Cichlid suits an aquarist who wants a warm-water, pair-focused and highly colourful centrepiece for a carefully planned peaceful display.
| Feature | Asia Form Ram Cichlid | German Blue Ram |
|---|---|---|
| Max Size | 7 cm | 7 cm |
| Care Level | Moderate | Moderate |
| Temperature | 26-30°C | 26-30°C |
| Sale unit | One fish per quantity | Check the individual listing |
| Planning fit | Peaceful planted community | Classic ram enthusiasts |
In practice, choosing between an Asia-form Ram and a German Blue Ram usually comes down to supplier line and appearance rather than species-level care. Both are trade forms of Mikrogeophagus ramirezi, so tank conditions are broadly the same.
The biggest issue with Ram Cichlid health is sensitivity. These fish often struggle not because they are weak by nature, but because they are kept too cool, too hard, or in immature tanks. Healthy rams are alert, feed eagerly, hold fins open, and show clear colour with no persistent dark stress bars.
Early warning signs include persistent hiding, loss of appetite, clamped fins, rapid breathing or abnormal colour. These signs are not a diagnosis. First verify temperature, oxygenation, ammonia, nitrite, nitrate and recent changes, then seek qualified aquatic-health advice rather than choosing medication from symptoms alone.
Prevention centres on mature filtration, stable warmth, frequent appropriate water changes, low dissolved waste, compatible stocking and varied food. Fishkeeper specifically warns that elevated nitrate and phosphate are damaging, while TFH identifies cool water and accumulated waste as common reasons for failure.
Do not medicate a Ram Cichlid or a mixed aquarium without identifying the likely problem and checking the product instructions for every species present. When diagnosis is uncertain, ask an aquatic veterinarian or experienced fish-health professional.
Ram Cichlids are observant fish that often become responsive at feeding time. They spend much of the day near the lower half of the aquarium, inspecting the substrate, hovering around cover and making short patrols through their territory. Individual lifespan varies with stock, environment and care, so this listing does not promise a fixed number of years.
When settled, they are not shy in the same way some Apistogramma can be. A pair often remains visible in open areas if the tank includes enough cover. During courtship, body posture changes, colours intensify, and both fish may become more defensive around a chosen spawning site. This visibility and social behaviour make them appealing small cichlids, but they are suitable only when the keeper understands their water-quality needs and can maintain the required warmth.
Natural behaviour is easiest to observe in a warm, mature, well-structured aquarium with sand and visual barriers. In bare tanks, they often look nervous and washed out. In a proper setup, they become confident, elegant, and highly engaging fish.
Use the live size selector for the fish and price currently available. Each quantity is one fish, not a guaranteed pair, and the selected variant gives the dispatch-size band. Rams are sensitive to chilling and abrupt changes, so preparation and prompt acclimation matter as much as the choice of colour form.
Live-fish orders are packed for UK transit in oxygenated bags with insulation and seasonal heat support when conditions require it. Follow the arrival instructions, check the fish on delivery and introduce it gradually to a mature aquarium whose temperature and chemistry are already stable. The current delivery service and eligible postcode are confirmed at checkout rather than promised as a permanent date in this care guide.
The listing is covered by Tropical Fish Co's current Live Arrival Guarantee. Report an arrival concern on the same day and follow the evidence steps in the guarantee policy. This promise covers arrival condition; it does not replace the need for a cycled aquarium, compatible tank mates and species-appropriate warm water after delivery.
Confirm the delivery window at checkout and make sure someone can receive the parcel. The current delivery policy states that live fish travel in oxygenated bags inside an insulated box, with weather-dependent heat support, and that the confirmed date and tracking are sent separately. Those live details take precedence over any permanent product-page wording.
Have the mature heated aquarium ready before the parcel arrives. Inspect the sealed bag promptly, follow the current acclimation instructions and keep lighting and disturbance low while the fish settles. Do not purchase first and plan temperature, hardness or tank mates after dispatch; this species is least forgiving when arrival stress is combined with an immature or incompatible aquarium.
If a fish arrives dead, dying or clearly compromised, contact Tropical Fish Co on the same day. The current guarantee asks for a short continuous unboxing video showing the sealed parcel being opened and the affected fish still in its bag. Approved claims are resolved by replacement or refund under the published policy; the guarantee covers arrival condition, not later problems caused by aquarium conditions.
The accepted name, synonym history, wild distribution and scientific size record used here are separated from practical aquarium recommendations. Wild measurements do not describe the size of every aquarium-kept adult, and a species' recorded environmental range is not permission to expose an aquarium fish to unstable conditions. Practical tank guidance therefore adds a margin for territory, water stability and feeding access.
For another selected form of the same species, compare the Blue Brilliant Ram Cichlid or Balloon Ram Cichlid. The South American dwarf cichlid collection is the appropriate place to compare different species and care requirements.
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