Blue/Gold Ram (Microgeophagus ramirezi)

Common Name:

Blue/Gold Ram.

Other Name:

German Ram, Ramirez' cichlids, butterfly cichlid.

Scientific Name:

Microgeophagus ramirezi (formerly known as Apistogramma ramirezi and Papiliochromis ramirezi).

Family:

Cichlidae.

Class:

South American Cichlid.

Distribution:

Found in the Rio Orinoco (Venezuela) and areas of Colombia, though larger distribution is possible.

Size:

Up to 3 inches. Females are markedly smaller than males and rarely exceed 2 inches. Large males will average 2.5 inches and slightly larger.

Diet:

Naturally carnivores; will eat most foods offered, though they have a special penchant for worms (blackworms, bloodworms).

Water Temperature:

75-82degrees Fahrenheit (23-28 degrees Centigrade).

pH:

6.0-7.0.

Water Chemistry:

Very soft water (10-120 microsiemens)

Life Span:

1-3 years.

Sexing:

Rams are strongly sexually dichromatic, but are also sexually dimorphic. Mature females will be much smaller than males and exhibit a bright metallic pink color through their abdomen when in breeding season. Males will generally also have an extended first (and sometimes second) dorsal spine.

Breeding:

Rams are a rather difficult fish to breed successfully. They spawn in a manner similar to other cichlids, preferring a flat piece of rock on the bottom of the tank. In absence of something like this, they will often spawn in any area that may be used. I have had my pairs spawn on slate, filter sponges and even the bottom of the aquarium. Both parents will share in the guarding of the eggs. They take turns protecting the eggs and eating when food is offered. Fry are very tiny. Very few of the newly hatched young can accept newly hatched brine shrimp. Very fine foods must be offered, such as infusoria or liquid fry foods. Microworms are the best food for newly hatched fry. For more detailed information, please check out my article on breeding blue rams.

Description:

Rams are a popular aquarium fish for a variety of reasons. Their colours can be absolutely amazing, a perfect blend of iridescent yellow-gold with neon blue in the right lighting. They have the personality of larger aggressive cichlids without the ability or desire to harm most tank mates. Rams are mostly bluff. A ram showing off his colours is simply breathtaking. Their small size and docile personality make them ideal fish for a small tank. They will mix well with most other non-to semi-aggressive cichlids, tetras, corys, etc.
Rams can go by a variety of names in the aquarium trade. In addition to the blue or gold ram, it is known as Ramirez' cichlids and the butterfly cichlid.
There is also a gold version of the ram with little to no blue on them. These fish are also very attractive, but in most cases are not as hardy as the common blue variety.

Requirements:

Water chemistry is very important when dealing with rams. While pH is not of the utmost importance, the water hardness can be the difference between success and disappointment. Water with a very low hardness reading is ideal, though they can be adapted to harder water as well, if done slowly. Most rams seen in pet stores today have been imported from the areas such as Singapore and Asia, and have been bred in very soft water with very frequent water changes. The water they're put into in this country is inevitably almost always harder than where they came from. This distinct difference in water chemistry coupled with the fact that rams do not normally handle shipping well means they very rarely do well in most aquarists' tanks. If you can find a local breeder for rams, your chances of success are much better.
Being cichlids, feeding rams in most cases is a simple matter of giving them food. They will readily take pellets, flakes, frozen foods, live foods, and just about anything you can offer. Rams that are not eating in the store will be obvious, with their sunken-in bellies, and should be avoided.
Water quality is very important when it comes to keeping rams. They are just as touchy as discus when it comes to clean water, and can succumb to poor conditions quickly. Frequent water changes (25% once or twice per week) are preferred.
Rams will do best in a tank with many hiding places for them. A heavily planted tank is ideal, due to the numerous hiding places plants provide as well as the fact that plants will keep the water cleaner than a non-planted tank by using up any excess fish wastes. Nitrates should be kept under 40ppm.

Behaviour:

As stated earlier, rams are not an overly aggressive fish. They do have personality like any cichlids, but lack the capability to inflict any real damage on most tank mates. Instances of rams injuring other fish, though not unheard of, are very rare. A happy male ram will have very little black colouring on his body, instead showing off his blue and gold colouring.

Photo Credit:

Photo 1 supplied courtesy and ^©BrownEyes.
Photo 2 supplied courtesy and ^©Off-ice.
Photo 3 supplied courtesy and ^©AquaticEnterprises.