{"product_id":"blue-black-ram-mikrogeophagus-ramirezi","title":"Blue Black Ram | Mikrogeophagus ramirezi","description":"\u003ch2\u003eDescription\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe Blue Black Ram is a striking line-bred form of the German Blue Ram, a pocket-sized dwarf cichlid washed in deep blue with dark, velvety shading. Peaceful, intelligent and full of personality, rams reward a keeper who can give them warm, soft, spotlessly clean water. They stay small at around 5 cm but are more demanding than their size suggests, so they suit an aquarist ready to keep conditions stable.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003ch2\u003eNatural Habitat\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eMikrogeophagus ramirezi comes from the warm, still and slow-flowing waters of the Orinoco savannahs of Venezuela and Colombia, among leaf litter, roots and dense marginal plants. The water there is very soft, acidic and warm. Fine sand, driftwood, leaf litter, gentle planting and shaded hiding spots recreate its home and help it feel secure.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003ch2\u003eAppearance\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eThis form carries an intense metallic blue over the body with dark, smoky black shading and the ram's characteristic red eye and spiny front dorsal rays. Males are larger with extended dorsal spines, while females are rounder and often show a pink belly. Colour deepens dramatically when a pair is in breeding condition.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003ch2\u003eTemperament and Compatibility\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eA genuinely peaceful dwarf cichlid, the ram becomes territorial only around a chosen spawning site. It suits a calm community of small, gentle fish and is best kept as a bonded pair. Keep it away from boisterous or fast feeders, which will outcompete it and leave it stressed and underfed.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003ch2\u003eFeeding\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eA micro-predator and omnivore, the ram takes small live and frozen foods such as bloodworm, daphnia, brine shrimp and cyclops, along with quality micro pellets and flake. A varied diet with regular live or frozen feeds keeps colour rich and encourages breeding.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003ch2\u003eCare Requirements\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eProvide a minimum of around 40 L for a pair, with 60 L or larger better in a planted community. Keep temperature warm at 26–29 °C, pH 5.0–7.0 and soft water, around GH 0–10. Rams are sensitive to nitrate and unstable conditions, so mature the tank fully before adding them and keep up small, regular water changes. Farmed blue and black lines can be a little more delicate, so stability is everything. Plant safe.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003ch2\u003eBreeding\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eRams are open substrate-spawners that lay their eggs on a cleaned flat stone, leaf or pit, with both parents guarding and fanning the eggs and shepherding the fry. Soft, warm, slightly acidic water and a quiet tank encourage spawning. First-time parents often eat their eggs before settling into good parenting; feed fry infusoria and newly hatched brine shrimp.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003ch2\u003eSpecies Information\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003ctable\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eScientific Name\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMikrogeophagus ramirezi\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCommon Name\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBlue Black Ram (German Blue Ram form)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eOrigin\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eOrinoco basin, Venezuela and Colombia\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMaximum Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAround 5 cm\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLifespan\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e2–3 years\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eTemperament\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePeaceful (territorial when breeding)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDifficulty\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eIntermediate (needs warm, soft, stable water)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMinimum Tank Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e40 L\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eRecommended Tank Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e60 L or larger\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDiet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eOmnivore (micro): small live and frozen foods, micro pellets, flake\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWater Temperature\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e26–29 °C\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003epH Range\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e5.0–7.0\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eGH Range\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSoft, around 0–10 dGH\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSalinity\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNot applicable (freshwater)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSuitable For\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWarm, soft-water planted community aquariums\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eReef Safe\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNot applicable\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePlant Safe\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eYes\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003c\/table\u003e \u003ch2\u003eSuitable Tank Mates\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eSuitable tank mates include cardinal and ember tetras, rummynose tetras, small rasboras, pencilfish, corydoras, otocinclus and other calm, warm, soft-water community fish.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003ch2\u003eAvoid Keeping With\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eAvoid keeping with large or aggressive cichlids, boisterous barbs, fin-nippers, and fast greedy feeders. Avoid cool, hard or unstable water.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Nick's Aquarium Oceanarium Terrarium","offers":[{"title":"Small (1-5cm)","offer_id":55232826212643,"sku":"BA8821","price":45.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0972\/7236\/5347\/files\/Blue_Black_Ram_d0da991a-caae-4358-80c3-12e82d87934e.jpg?v=1781699763","url":"https:\/\/nicksaquariumoceanariumterrarium.com.au\/products\/blue-black-ram-mikrogeophagus-ramirezi","provider":"Nicks Aquarium Oceanarium Terrarium","version":"1.0","type":"link"}