German Blue Ram Species Overview
The German Blue Ram is a vibrantly colored dwarf member of the Cichlid family of fish and originates from the freshwater basin flats of the Orinoco River in found Colombia and Venezuela.
These flats have a huge diversity of fish and experience flooding that makes the overall area swell to a huge size enabling large populations and lush vegetation.
They acquired the unusual moniker of ‘rams’ because the first collector and importer of these colorful fish for aquariums was named Manuel Ramirez, not because they are aggressive or have horns!
They are known under a variety of names like the Electric Blue Ram, Golden Ram (one with low blue pigmentation), and Butterfly Cichlid.
They are relatively peaceful fish that, while happy to get along with suitable tankmates, may not be best suited to starter hobbyists as they need quite strict water conditions to merit successful keeping. We’ll talk more about that later.
German Blue Ram Behavior
What makes the German Blue Ram quite an interesting character is that they are peaceful despite being a Cichlid! This is what makes them popular for aquarists looking to have a member of this family without causing havoc to the community.
These fish love a lot of plant life and nooks to hide in, so substantial vegetation is essential for happy German Blue Rams.
They will swim all over the tank, getting into everything, yet they are quite private fish who do not like particularly bright lighting, so getting enough plant life and hiding places to keep them happy is key. If other fish bully them away from hiding spots, they can become quite stressed.
Mating time is when things can get a little more aggressive in the tank. Keeping a male-female pair keeps them happy, but multiple pairs can mean the males become territorial.
You should also bear in mind that breeding pairs will also become aggressive if they are protecting their fry and even when males are protecting their eggs.
German Blue Ram Lifespan
You should expect healthy and well-raised German Blue Ram to live for approximately 3 years. There are occasional exceptions where they may survive even longer, but this is a good age to aim for as a hobbyist.
Some keepers think they are ‘difficult’ in a community and die off easily, but this is not because of any inherent characteristic. They are sensitive to water conditions, and this will have the biggest impact on their lifespan.
With excellent water monitoring and maintenance, they should become firm favorites and provide a lively burst of color very pleasing to your mix.
German Blue Ram Appearance
A typical German Blue Ram is vibrant and has an array of colors to behold. They are a dwarf Cichlid, so they are of a smaller size and typically grow to 2 or 2.5 inches but can be larger in the wild.
They have a yellowish-green forebody that fades to white and blue with some translucent vertical black stripes on the rear half of the body. A large prominent black spot (part of a stripe) is usually somewhere near the middle up in the upper section.
A noticeable feature is that there is a black vertical line that runs down the head and through the eye uninterrupted, so the eye is a mixture of red and black.
Fins are orangey-red and spotted with blue and contain spiny rays that deter predators.
Females are slightly smaller than males with a pinkish-orange belly, as well as a slightly softer, rounder abdomen.
This is a lot of color going on for your tank, which is why they’re so popular for enthusiasts. If you think you can handle the next section, which is their unyielding tank requirements, then they may well be a fish on your list.
German Blue Ram Habitat And Tank Requirements
In the wild, German Blue Ram are freshwater fish. Their normal habitat is slow or moderate flowing river conditions. Streams or shallow pools with a wealth of vegetation are preferred for these tropical residents.
Sandy bases and darker lighting conditions are what suit them best.
To replicate these natural habitat conditions as successfully as possible, let’s take a look at what you will need for optimal health and life expectancy.
Tank Conditions
Of all the factors you need to consider when having German Blue Rams, the biggest one is knowing you can meet their exacting tank and water specifications. Failure to do this will likely result in a short-lived experience.
A very important point is that they require an established, well-cycled tank before they are introduced. Some experts recommend a minimum of six months to establish a good population of beneficial tank bacteria. Starting them off in a newly set up aquarium should therefore be discouraged for your best chance for success.
Lots of live plants are a must, as well as caves or suitable hiding areas. You still need enough tank to ensure lots of free open swimming, which is why they need larger tank sizes to start with.
Sandy or finer gravel types of substrate work well, and if you plan on breeding them, adding some flat rocks in an area or two will become useful.
Water conditions should be noted and maintained as follows:
- a pH of 5 is ideal
- Water hardness between 6-14 dGH
- Temperature between 78-85 ºF (25.5 – 29.5C)
- Moderate or low lighting
- Slower currents
Tank Size
If you opt for one Ram, it needs 37 L (10 gallons), but as we mentioned earlier, they work best in pairs.
Each pair of German Blue Ram needs 75 L (20 gallons), and you need to multiply by that amount per successive pair. The larger the tank, the better for these guys. Larger tanks are more successful for these fish as they provide a better sink for keeping organic waste levels down.
Larger tanks are also less susceptible to water disturbances which they find stressful as they prefer slow-moving currents.
Choosing Tank Mates For German Blue Rams
It’s really important to take stock of what is best for the species you choose to care for as an aquarist when considering tank mates.
Consider species that require similar water conditions to ensure that the chemistry is compatible once you know which tank mates you’re interested in.
German Blue Rams can be slow on the uptake of food, so it’s important to observe them feeding to make sure there are no bullies in the community that may otherwise render them malnourished.
Interestingly, these fish generally prefer the companionship of another species and do not tend to fare well on their own as a species in a tank with only other Rams for company. They can be quite cowardly on their own, and a passive’ dither fish’ will help them.
Some excellent fish tank mate pairings would include but are not limited to:
- Bolivian Rams
- Cardinal Tetras
- Neon Tetras
- Pearl or Dwarf Gouramis (in sensible numbers)
- Silver Dollars
- Discus
- Plecostomus Catfish
- Kuhli Loaches
- Clown Loaches
- Guppies
- Mollies
- Platies
A few species to avoid? Tiger Barbs and the appropriately named aggressive Cichlid, the Green Terror.
German Blue Ram Health Issues
The largest health issue for German Blue Rams is their sensitivity to nitrate levels which requires weekly water changes by aiming to change 10-20% each time.
In addition, the freshwater being added needs to be at temperature and treated. If you don’t think you can maintain a rigorous schedule as well as regular testing for pH, then you are better off sticking to other ‘beginner species.’
They do also have some inherent disease tendencies, which we will discuss next.
Fish Tuberculosis (TB)
German Blue Ram are prone to fish tuberculosis. This disease is caused by a type of bacteria that is very similar to the strain which infects humans, and it is possible to be passed on to humans.
It is important to monitor your fish and keep notes so you can register changes in appearance and condition so that symptoms can be spotted quickly.
Symptoms of fish TB include: losing weight and becoming thin, pop eyes, dropsy, ulcers on the head or body, and nodule formations. If something doesn’t look right, you can take photos or videos of your Ram for the vet to take a look at.
If any of these are indicated, you should wear gloves when dealing with your tank, and if diagnosed, a vet can prescribe antibiotics.
The entire tank and equipment would need to be sterilized, as well as the substrate fully replaced.
Ich Disease
This disease is characterized by small blister-like lesions that usually present as white and appear on the skin or fins.
It is caused by a parasite and can be treated if properly diagnosed, and the parasite is not affecting their gills.
Other Issues
Like any other aquatic organism, German Blue Ram are susceptible to other parasitic infections, bacterial infections or flatworms, and skin flukes.
They are fish that can get easily stressed, but if you work hard to give them the things they need to succeed, you will be rewarded with happy, healthy, vibrant Rams who swim merrily in your tank.
Breeding German Blue Ram
If you decide to breed German Blue Rams, they naturally pair off on their own and mate for life. They are both involved in the upbringing of the fry, and it can be an interesting experience for the keeper.
Ideally, you will need to move them to a breeding tank that is slightly warmer than their usual tank but within the recommended parameters, so at the higher end of the scale.
Smooth rocks or leaves should be available on top of the substrate as the female will normally use them to place her eggs. Lower lighting that is consistent is also good to prevent stress as fluctuating light levels will often confuse them.
A stressed German Blue Ram is not an ideal parent fish! High stress levels are the main reason for mating pairs to eat their fry.
When the female spawns, her eggs adhere to the flat surfaces, she chooses. Once the male fertilizes them, the fry can be expected to hatch within 40 hours. Both males and females should be allowed to stay in the tank because of their co-parenting behaviors and guarding of the eggs.
About five days after hatching, the fry become free swimming and will stick together in a dense school. They are usually with one parent when they learn to find food and can be quite a boisterous group of fry, who can often be seen ‘arguing’ with one another like a rowdy bunch of teenagers!
Another interesting point to note is that the parents may separate the fry and care for them in their own little school. Each parent has their own charge of fry.
If you do find that your breeding pair are new to the parenting business, they may eat quite a few fry the first few times spawning. While fish are instinctive, it may take them a few times to get the hang of it.
What is quite normal, however, is for both parents to consume unhatched eggs. This protects the tank environment from bacteria flourishing and parasite proliferation, and this is a very good thing!
Juveniles begin to show some of their colorings at around 2-3 months old, reaching full coloration by 5 or 6 months. They reach breeding maturity from anywhere between 4-6 months, so don’t let the colors fool you!
Conclusion
Ultimately, the German Blue Ram is a wonderful and amicable little Cichlid who makes an excellent and colorful tank member for larger aquariums looking for a splash of color.
If you want a touch of the Amazon in your tank, these are a winner, provided you can handle the water conditions in a steady manner and carefully monitor as such.
