Keep German Blue Ram Cichlids

Are you considering purchasing a centerpiece fish for your aquarium? Are you looking for a fish that is tropical and eye-catching? The German Blue Ram Cichlid is a species that demands pristine water, but it rewards its owner with interesting behavior and a beautiful view. To keep a Blue Ram, you need to create the proper tank environment. Then, you must practice regular tank maintenance with an understanding as to the unique requirements of a Blue Ram.

Steps

Selecting and Introducing Your Cichlids to the Tank

1. Know your fish. If you are unfamiliar with the details of the breed, do some research online by typing “German Blue Ram Cichlids” into a search engine. You will see a number of aquarium center websites and hobbyist blogs describing the detailed characteristics of Rams. They are an Amazonian fish, so many of the sites might describe how to create an “Amazon” freshwater tank.
   • Blue Rams grow to an adult size of {{safesubst:#invoke:convert|convert}} and have a life expectancy of between 3-4 years. This means that you should consider these fish as an extended commitment of care.
   • The males of the species can be identified by their more pronounced dorsal fine. The females have additional coloring on the ‘false eye’ mid-body. Females are usually also slightly smaller.
2. Purchase your cichlids. Make sure to buy or ‘adopt’ your Blue Rams from a reputable online or brick-and-mortar fish dealer. Choose a store that you have worked with before or that you’ve researched online. If you have friend who also has a tank, ask for their advice regarding good places to purchase.
   • Some fish dealers breed Blue Rams en masse for sale purposes. These fish are heavily treated with hormones, making them less suitable for breeding and lowering their life span. Be wary of ‘cheap’ Blue Rams. The breed was introduced in 2009, so they should still be relatively expensive.
3. Complete a tank "cycle." Before you put your Blue Rams in your tank, you must prepare the water. Blue Rams are especially picky about water parameters. Place your tank under a faucet, or use a small bucket, and fill with room temperature water. Then, get out your water conditioner and squeeze a few drops into the tank. This will make the tap water safe for your Blue Rams.
   • After you've treated the water, let your tank sit for one full day before introducing your Blue Rams.
4. Acclimate your cichlids to your tank. Place your Blue Rams in their plastic bag directly in the water at the top of your aquarium. Let them sit in the bag for 15-30 minutes. When this time is up, open the top of the bag just a bit. Let a little tank water into the bag. Repeat this process every 3-5 minutes for another half-hour. Then, open the bag fully, net your cichlids and place them in the tank.
5. Watch them closely. For the first twenty-four hours especially, keep a close eye on your new additions. Observe how they interact with the other fish. Try to see if they experience any difficulties navigating amongst the plant life. Monitor their physical behaviors and appearance. If one of your cichlids appears listless or sickly, remove it quickly as it may spread infection to the rest of the tank.

Creating the Proper Tank Environment

1. Select the proper tank size. A pair of Blue Rams will do best in a tank that is at least {{safesubst:#invoke:convert|convert}}. If you add other fish or other cichlid pairs, then you’ll need to boost the tank size up to {{safesubst:#invoke:convert|convert}}. The general rule is to allot one gallon of tank water per one inch of full-grown fish.
   • Remember that German Blue Ram Cichlids can grow to be {{safesubst:#invoke:convert|convert}} at maturity.
   • Overcrowding is not a problem to be taken lightly. It can stress your fish out, making them more prone to illness. It can also lead to increased aggressiveness and even starvation.
2. Install the proper heater, hood, and light. Cichlids are accustomed to tropical waters and they require consistent water temps of 76-85 degrees Fahrenheit. A heater can be used to regulate your tank's temperature. An aquarium light improves tank visibility. Many people choose to purchase an aquarium hood that includes a built-in light and heater.
   • Whatever lighting setup you choose, German Blue Ram Cichlids do best with light during the daytime. So, turn on your tank light on in the morning and off when you go to bed. However, if the tank gets a good amount of natural sunlight, you may be able to lower your tank light time to 2-3 hours.
   • Monitor the tank temperature via a stick-on thermometer.
3. Add substrate. This is the base material that covers the floor of your tank. Blue Rams prefer sand or gravel, as they mirror a Ram’s natural habitat. Make sure to rinse your substrate out before adding, otherwise it will make your tank appear murky. Add at least 2 inches of sand or gravel at the bottom of the tank and spread it out evenly.
4. Provide ample and appropriate tank decorations. Blue Rams do best in a complex habitat with a number of good hiding spaces. Be sure to include plants, rocks, caves, and driftwood in your tank. These items will make water changes more of a hassle, but will improve the health of your cichlids in the long term.
   • Place larger plants on the outer perimeter of the tank. Make sure to leave swimming space in between and an open area in the middle of the tank. The Dwarf Amazon Sword and Brazilian Water Ivy are two plants that Blue Rams enjoy.
   • Rocks and caves provide spaces for Blue Rams to escape from other fish. Blue Rams are naturally shy, so you will often see them seek out solitude. They will also hide from the breeding partners.
   • A good selection of driftwood pieces can help regulate the pH level, provide great hiding spaces, and serve as a plant anchor. Make sure to buy your driftwood from a pet store, as this will ensure that is safe for aquarium use. You may notice some water yellowing after adding driftwood, this is perfectly normal and can be remedied via regular water changes.

Maintaining the Health of Your Cichlids

1. Find suitable tank mates. Look for species that are categorized as non-aggressive. Tetras, Corys, and even some other types of Cichlids can coexist peacefully with Blue Rams. You will want to closely observe the interactions between various fish species to make sure that all parties are doing okay.
   • Pay special attention to meal times as Blue Rams are leisurely eaters. Other aggressive eaters may consume all of the food, leaving only scraps for the Rams. This can cause starvation if not monitored and corrected.
   • Male Blue Rams can become aggressive with one another if you don’t carefully control population numbers. Try to keep a ratio of one male for every three females. And, remember to up the tank size if you increase the number of fish.
2. Feed them the right foods on the correct schedule. German Blue Ram Cichlids are omnivores, meaning that they eat both meats and vegetables. Feed them twice a day, as much food as they can eat in two minutes. Flakes and pellets work well, as do frozen options such as brine shrimp.
   • Supplement their diet with fresh veggies, such as small pieces of spinach or romaine lettuce. These can be dropped directly in the tank and the leftovers removed with a net, if needed.
   • Be aware that some Blue Rams will not eat well after being transferred to a new environment. Try to encourage eating by offering delicacies such as mosquito larvae.
3. Make your tank suitable for breeding. If you want your Blue Rams to breed, it is best to start with a group of 6-8 juveniles of both sexes. Keep a close eye on the water conditions and provide lots of rocky terrain and let nature take its course.
   • Be aware that your newly mated couples might lose a batch or two. This is nothing to worry about and they will eventually figure out how to successfully breed. They may also eat some the eggs from these initial batches.
   • After you spot the eggs, you can either leave them in their current tank or remove them to a 10-gallon aquarium. If you remove them, make sure to wait 24-hours to ensure fertilization.
4. Test the water regularly. Blue Rams are notoriously picky about water quality. Readings that would be acceptable for most freshwater fish can cause a Blue Ram to become ill. A water testing kit will contain everything that you need to monitor the water parameters. Blue Rams require a pH of between 5.5-7.5.
   • If your pH reading is off, your Blue Rams’ health may gradually decline. If you find this to be the case, remove your fish, clean the tank and adjust the pH level, and add your fish back in following the standard acclimation procedures.
   • Keep an eye on the readings of Ammonia, Nitrates, and Nitrites as well. Blue Rams require that all of the number stay less than .2 mg/L. Otherwise, a Blue Ram can essentially be poisoned by its own feces.
5. Commit to frequent water changes. To keep your tank up to Blue Ram standards, you need to do a 25% water change on a bi-daily or twice-weekly basis. Use this as an opportunity to clean your tank surfaces as well. You can suction out the debris from the rocks, etc.
   • Consider this maintenance schedule when considering move up from a {{safesubst:#invoke:convert|convert}} tank size.
6. Respond to any concerns immediately. Blue Rams are generally quite healthy, but they can succumb to certain diseases and parasites. Ich is a parasite that can prey on Blue Rams. You will notice your fish acting listless if it is affected. Respond quickly with a tailored chemical treatment.

Video

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Tips

• Make sure to keep your Blue Rams in pairs at least. Otherwise, they will grow overly shy and spend their time hiding in caves.
• German Blue Ram Cichlids go by a variety of names including Dwarf Cichlid, Singapore Cichlid, and Butterfly Cichlid.

Warnings

• Be aware that German Blue Ram Cichlids are not a beginner fish. They can be a challenge even for skilled hobbyists.

Things You'll Need

• German Blue Ram Cichlids
• Other compatible freshwater fish
• Aquarium
• Filter
• Lighting
• Heater
• Gravel, Rocks, and Sand
• Decorations: Plants, Caves, and Driftwood
• Water Conditioner
• Net
• Gravel siphon
• Fish food
• Algae pad
• Clean bucket
• Water test kit
• Paper towels or cotton cloth

=Sources and Citations

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See also

• Breed Discus
• Breed Convict Cichlids