Easy to intermediate
Chocolate Cherry Shrimp (Neocaridina davidi)
18–26°C · pH 6.5–8 · 30L
£13.99
A vivid electric-blue, short-bodied Ram pair for warm, mature planted aquariums with low waste, peaceful tank mates and stable soft-to-neutral water.
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. Photos are AI-enhanced, so the animal may show subtle colour or marking differences.
Papiliochromis ramirezi electric blue baloon
Electric Blue Balloon Ram Pair bond and breed in male/female pairs — buying a pair gives them the social structure they need.
A vivid electric-blue, short-bodied Ram pair for warm, mature planted aquariums with low waste, peaceful tank mates and stable soft-to-neutral water.
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. Photos are AI-enhanced, so the animal may show subtle colour or marking differences.
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
The Electric Blue Balloon Ram Pair is a selectively bred ornamental form of Mikrogeophagus ramirezi, combining the intense metallic-blue colour of the Electric Blue Ram with the compact, rounded Balloon body shape. Petra lists this line under the older trade name Papiliochromis ramirezi electric blue baloon; the customer-facing listing uses the accepted Mikrogeophagus ramirezi anchor while keeping the supplier wording in the audit trail.
This is a fish for warm, mature, carefully maintained aquariums. It can be peaceful and charming, but it is not a rough beginner fish for unstable new tanks. Rams reward keepers who provide heat, clean water, gentle flow, calm tank mates and small high-quality foods. When those basics are right, the pair behaviour, colour and curiosity make this one of the most attractive dwarf cichlid choices for a planted display.
Balloon Rams are short-bodied ornamental fish. Their rounded shape is part of the variety, but it also means the keeper should be extra careful with water quality, feeding and tank mate choice. Avoid boisterous fish that outcompete them, and do not keep them in cold or unstable water. The goal is a calm aquarium where the pair can feed properly and settle without constant pressure.
Colour depends on condition. A newly moved Ram may look pale, while a settled fish in warm clean water can show a bright electric-blue sheen, orange facial tones and confident display behaviour. Dark substrate, plants and gentle lighting often show the colour better than bare bright gravel.
A mature planted aquarium of around 60 litres or more can work for a pair if it is stable, but a larger tank gives more room for tank mates and territory. Use fine sand or smooth small substrate, planting, leaf litter or soft decor edges, and open feeding space at the front. Rams stay near the lower and middle levels, so floor area matters more than height.
Keep the flow gentle to moderate and avoid blasting the fish around the tank. A sponge pre-filter or gentle outlet is useful if the pair is kept with small fish. The aquarium should be fully cycled and settled before arrival; these fish do not forgive ammonia, nitrite or repeated parameter swings.
Mikrogeophagus ramirezi is a warm-water dwarf cichlid. Many problems with Rams begin when they are kept too cool or in dirty water. Aim for 27-30 C, very low ammonia and nitrite, and regular maintenance that keeps nitrate under control. Soft to neutral water is preferred; this is not a hard-water African cichlid.
If your tap water is very hard, choose tank mates carefully and keep changes gradual. The fish can adapt to some aquarium-bred conditions, but stability and cleanliness matter every day. Sudden pH shifts, temperature drops and missed water changes are common reasons Rams decline.
Offer small foods that match the mouth size. Quality micro pellets, fine cichlid granules, frozen brine shrimp, daphnia, cyclops, mysis and similar foods are all useful. Feed small portions once or twice daily, making sure both fish get food. Balloon forms should not be overfed; a rounded body does not mean the fish should look swollen.
Variety supports colour and condition, but clean feeding matters as much as the food itself. Remove leftovers and avoid large hard foods that are difficult for the fish to manage.
Good companions are peaceful fish that enjoy warm water and do not nip fins or dominate feeding. Small tetras that tolerate warmer water, pencilfish, peaceful rasboras, small Corydoras only if the temperature suits them, and gentle algae grazers can work. Avoid aggressive cichlids, large barbs, fin nippers, fast greedy feeders and anything that needs cool water.
During pairing or spawning, Rams may defend a small area. This is usually mild compared with larger cichlids, but the tank should include plants, wood or decor to break sight lines. In a small tank, avoid adding other bottom-territorial cichlids.
This product is sold as a pair line, and pair behaviour is a major part of the appeal. Rams may display, follow each other, choose a flat stone or leaf, and defend a small patch. Aquarium-bred ornamental strains can vary in parenting quality, so eggs are not guaranteed to hatch or be raised successfully, but the behaviour is still fascinating.
If you want to attempt breeding, keep water very clean and warm, feed varied fine foods, and provide flat surfaces. If you simply want a display pair, focus on calm conditions and compatible tank mates rather than trying to force spawning.
Rams often show their true condition after the first few days, not in the first few minutes after arrival. Keep the lights low at first, avoid chasing the fish around the aquarium, and offer only a small meal once they are settled. Watch breathing rate, posture, fin condition and whether both fish are getting food. A pair that explores slowly, picks at the substrate and returns to the front for food is settling well.
Do not make sudden corrections because a new Ram looks pale. Shipping, bagging and a new social environment can temporarily wash out colour. Stable warm water and calm surroundings are the cure. If the aquarium is mature and the other fish are peaceful, the electric-blue colour normally improves as confidence returns.
Sexing ornamental Balloon Rams can be less obvious than sexing standard wild-type Rams, especially when fish are young. Mature females may show a rounder belly and different body fullness, while males can develop stronger fin extensions, but the electric and balloon traits can blur the usual clues. Treat the pair as a social unit that may or may not breed immediately rather than as a guaranteed breeding project.
If the two fish bond, they may choose a flat stone, broad leaf or open patch and defend it gently. If they squabble, add visual breaks and make sure neither fish is being trapped. A little display is normal; constant chasing in a small bare tank is not.
Warm water speeds metabolism, so water quality must keep up. Test ammonia and nitrite any time appetite drops, breathing changes or fins clamp. Rams are also sensitive to dirty substrate, old filter neglect and low oxygen. Clean, small, regular maintenance is better than rare dramatic resets.
The Balloon body shape means you should avoid overfeeding. A healthy fish should look rounded but not bloated. If the belly becomes uneven, appetite drops, or the fish struggles to hold position, review food size, feeding quantity and water quality before adding medication. Most avoidable Ram problems begin with temperature, waste or stress.
This Shopify product has two supplier size options under the same Electric Blue Balloon Ram parent. Choose the size that matches the current aquarium and existing fish.
Electric Blue Balloon Rams are not the same choice as standard German Blue Rams, Electric Blue Rams or longfin Rams. Standard forms usually have a more natural body shape and may be stronger swimmers. Electric Blue forms are chosen for intense colour, while Balloon forms are chosen for the compact rounded profile. This pair combines both ornamental traits, so it should be kept gently and not treated like a robust larger cichlid.
If your priority is the most natural body shape, choose a standard Ram. If your priority is maximum blue colour in a compact display fish, this line is the better match. Either way, the care foundation is the same: warm water, low waste, peaceful companions and a mature aquarium. The variety changes the look, not the need for careful husbandry.
Choose this pair if your aquarium is already warm, cycled, peaceful and clean. Do not add them to new tanks, cold community tanks, rough cichlid setups or aquariums with boisterous feeders. They are beautiful fish, but they need gentle, consistent husbandry.
Orders are packed for live-fish transport and sent by UK live-animal courier where available. Tropical Fish Co orders are covered by our Live Arrival Guarantee when the delivery instructions are followed, and first-time customers can use WELCOME10 where the current promotion applies.
They are not hard when the tank is warm, mature and clean, but they are sensitive to poor water quality and cold water.
Yes, with peaceful warm-water fish that do not nip fins or outcompete them. Avoid aggressive or very fast feeders.
It is older/supplier trade wording for Ram cichlids. The accepted customer-facing name here is Mikrogeophagus ramirezi.
Plants are not mandatory, but a planted or gently structured aquarium helps the pair feel secure and shows the blue colour well.
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