{"product_id":"gold-ram-mikrogeophagus-ramirezi","title":"Gold Ram | Mikrogeophagus ramirezi","description":"\u003ch2\u003eDescription\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe Gold Ram swaps the wild blue for warm, sunshine-gold flanks lit by red eyes — a peaceful, glowing dwarf cichlid full of character. Reaching only around 5 cm, it is best kept in a warm, soft, planted tank with calm tankmates. Beautiful but a little delicate, it rewards keepers who can give it stable, pristine water.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eNatural Habitat\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe species comes from the warm, soft, acidic waters of the Orinoco savannahs (llanos) of Venezuela and Colombia. It lives among slow, shallow, densely vegetated streams and pools that are typically very warm and low in minerals.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eAppearance\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eA compact, deep-bodied dwarf cichlid in warm metallic gold, often with faint blue speckling on the fins and a bright red eye. Males develop longer, more pointed dorsal and finnage, while females are rounder and show a pink flush to the belly when in condition.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eTemperament and Compatibility\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003ePeaceful and rather gentle for a cichlid, becoming mildly territorial only when a pair is guarding a spawn. It can be shy, so avoid boisterous or fast tankmates that will outcompete it at feeding time. A calm, warm community suits it best.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eFeeding\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eA micro-predatory omnivore that takes quality micro-pellets and flake along with frozen and live bloodworm, brine shrimp, daphnia and cyclops. Small, frequent feeds of varied foods keep colour rich and the fish in breeding condition.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eCare Requirements\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis is the honest part: rams are sensitive and need warmth and stability. Keep the water genuinely warm at 26–30 °C, soft and slightly acidic, with impeccable water quality, mature filtration and gentle flow. They react badly to nitrate, cold and fluctuating parameters, so they are best added to an established, settled tank.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eBreeding\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eAn open substrate-spawner that also uses flat rocks or broad leaves. A bonded pair cleans a site, lays a clutch of eggs and both parents guard and fan them, shepherding the free-swimming fry around the tank. Warm, soft, clean water greatly improves spawning success.\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 Ram (German Blue Ram, gold form)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eOrigin\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eOrinoco llanos, Venezuela and Colombia\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\u003e2–3 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\u003e75+ 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\u003e26–30 °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\u003e0–8 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\u003eCalm, warm-water fish such as cardinal and rummy nose tetras, pencilfish, small rasboras, corydoras, dwarf gouramis and peaceful catfish.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eAvoid Keeping With\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eBoisterous or fast fish, fin-nippers, larger aggressive cichlids, and cool-water species that cannot tolerate the high temperatures rams require.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Nick's Aquarium Oceanarium Terrarium","offers":[{"title":"Small (1-5cm)","offer_id":55232824869155,"sku":"AA1399","price":24.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0972\/7236\/5347\/files\/gold-ram-mikrogeophagus-rami-43878270861603.webp?v=1790306577","url":"https:\/\/nicksaquariumoceanariumterrarium.com.au\/products\/gold-ram-mikrogeophagus-ramirezi","provider":"Nicks AOT","version":"1.0","type":"link"}