{"product_id":"gold-balloon-ram-mikrogeophagus-ramirezi","title":"Gold Balloon Ram | Mikrogeophagus ramirezi","description":"\u003ch2\u003eDescription\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe Gold Balloon Ram is a sunny golden colour form of the dwarf Ram cichlid, bred into a rounded, short-bodied \"balloon\" shape with glowing colour and bright red eyes. A peaceful, endearing little cichlid reaching around 4 cm, it is full of personality in a warm, soft, planted tank. It is worth being honest that the balloon shape is a selectively bred body deformity, so choose active, well-formed individuals.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eNatural Habitat\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe wild Ram comes from the warm, soft, still waters of the Orinoco river basin savannahs of Venezuela and Colombia — sluggish creeks, pools and flooded grassland with fine substrate, leaf litter and gentle, tannin-tinted flow.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eAppearance\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eA short, deep, rounded golden-yellow body glowing with soft pink and gold tones, set off by red eyes and delicate finnage. The balloon form has a compressed, high-bellied shape compared with the standard Ram. Males show extended dorsal rays and slightly more intense colour.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eTemperament and Compatibility\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003ePeaceful and rather shy, becoming gently territorial only around breeding. It is a poor competitor and should not be kept with fast or boisterous fish. Small, calm dither fish such as tetras help it feel secure and show its colours.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eFeeding\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eAn omnivore and micropredator that browses the substrate. Feed small sinking pellets and granules with frozen or live bloodworm, brine shrimp and daphnia. The rounded balloon body can be prone to digestive trouble, so feed modest amounts and avoid overfeeding.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eCare Requirements\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eBest suited to intermediate keepers. Rams demand warm, soft, acidic and — above all — pristine, stable water, and are very sensitive to nitrate and swings in quality. Provide a mature, well-planted tank with fine substrate, hiding spots and gentle filtration, and keep temperatures warm at 26–29 °C.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eBreeding\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eA substrate-spawning dwarf cichlid that lays eggs on a cleaned flat stone or leaf and forms a devoted biparental pair, both tending the eggs and guarding the fry. Warm, clean, soft water encourages spawning; balloon forms can be less reliable parents than standard Rams.\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\u003eGold Balloon Ram\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eOrigin\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eOrinoco basin, Venezuela \u0026amp; Colombia (domesticated form)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMaximum Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e4 cm\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLifespan\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e2–3 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\u003e80+ litres\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDiet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eOmnivore (micro)\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\u003e1–8 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, soft, planted community 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, warm-water fish such as cardinal and ember tetras, rasboras, pencilfish, Corydoras and peaceful dwarf shrimp (with some risk to shrimplets).\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eAvoid Keeping With\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eBoisterous or fast fish (barbs, larger danios), fin-nippers, cool-water species, and larger or aggressive cichlids that will outcompete or bully this gentle dwarf.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Nick's Aquarium Oceanarium Terrarium","offers":[{"title":"Small (1-5cm)","offer_id":55232824967459,"sku":"AA1400","price":36.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0972\/7236\/5347\/files\/Gold_Balloon_Ram_fe5e6a70-b6ae-49a0-ad65-4c754cd45172.jpg?v=1781699786","url":"https:\/\/nicksaquariumoceanariumterrarium.com.au\/products\/gold-balloon-ram-mikrogeophagus-ramirezi","provider":"Nicks Aquarium Oceanarium Terrarium","version":"1.0","type":"link"}