{"product_id":"electric-blue-ram-mikrogeophagus-ramirezi","title":"Electric Blue Ram | Mikrogeophagus ramirezi","description":"\u003ch2\u003eDescription\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe Electric Blue Ram is a line-bred form of the Ram cichlid that glows almost entirely neon blue from nose to tail. A tiny, characterful dwarf cichlid of around 5 cm, it is peaceful and rewarding, but it demands warm, pristine, soft water and is best left to keepers who can hold conditions stable.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eNatural Habitat\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe wild Ram comes from the warm, slow-moving waters of the Orinoco basin savannahs of Venezuela and Colombia. These are soft, acidic, often tannin-stained waters with sandy beds, leaf litter and gentle flow, warmer than most tropical fish are kept.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eAppearance\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe Electric Blue form replaces the wild fish's patterning with an intense electric-blue sheen over almost the whole body, offset by red eyes and a touch of yellow on the head. It keeps the tall dorsal fin and compact, deep-bodied shape of the Ram. Males tend to be slightly larger with more extended dorsal spines.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eTemperament and Compatibility\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003ePeaceful and rather shy for a cichlid, becoming mildly territorial only around a chosen spawning site. It suits a calm, warm community of small, gentle fish. Line-breeding for colour has left many specimens more delicate than wild Rams, so a settled, low-stress tank matters.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eFeeding\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eA micro-predator and omnivore. Offer a quality micro-pellet or granule staple alongside live and frozen daphnia, brine shrimp, cyclops and bloodworm. Small, frequent feeds suit its modest size and encourage good colour.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eCare Requirements\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis is the demanding part. It needs warm water (typically 26–29 °C), soft and slightly acidic, and above all clean and stable — it is very sensitive to nitrate, ammonia swings and rushed additions to immature tanks. Provide a mature, gently-filtered planted tank with soft sand, some flat stones and cover, and keep on top of water changes.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eBreeding\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eAn open, substrate-spawning dwarf cichlid that forms pairs. The pair clean a flat rock or pit and lay eggs, and both parents guard the eggs and fry — though heavily line-bred blue strains can be poor or inexperienced parents. Warm, soft, clean water is essential to trigger and sustain a spawn.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eSpecies Information\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eScientific Name\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMikrogeophagus ramirezi\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCommon Name\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eElectric Blue Ram\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eOrigin\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eOrinoco basin, Venezuela and Colombia (captive-bred)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMaximum Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e5 cm\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLifespan\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e2–4 years\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eTemperament\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePeaceful (territorial when breeding)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDifficulty\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eIntermediate\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMinimum Tank Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e60 litres\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eRecommended Tank Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e75+ litres\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDiet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eOmnivore (micro-predator)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWater Temperature\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e26–29 °C\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003epH Range\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e5.5–7.0\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eGH Range\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e2–10 dGH (soft)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSalinity\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNot applicable (freshwater)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSuitable For\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWarm, mature, soft-water planted aquariums\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eReef Safe\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNot applicable\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePlant Safe\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eYes\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\u003ch2\u003eSuitable Tank Mates\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eSmall, peaceful, warmth-loving fish — tetras, rasboras, pencilfish, corydoras, small peaceful catfish and dwarf shrimp in a settled tank.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eAvoid Keeping With\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eBoisterous or aggressive fish, larger cichlids, fin-nippers, and cool-water species. Avoid keeping in a newly set-up or unstable tank.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Nick's Aquarium Oceanarium Terrarium","offers":[{"title":"Small (1-5cm)","offer_id":55232825983267,"sku":"BA9049","price":24.99,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0972\/7236\/5347\/files\/Electric_Blue_Ram_e0240c22-a9bf-47f0-99c4-8d7cd7b83906.jpg?v=1781699780","url":"https:\/\/nicksaquariumoceanariumterrarium.com.au\/products\/electric-blue-ram-mikrogeophagus-ramirezi","provider":"Nicks Aquarium Oceanarium Terrarium","version":"1.0","type":"link"}