{"product_id":"neon-blue-gold-head-ram-mikrogeophagus-ramirezi","title":"Neon Blue Gold Head Ram | Mikrogeophagus ramirezi","description":"\u003ch2\u003eDescription\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Neon Blue Gold Head Ram is a striking colour form of the German Blue Ram, pairing a warm golden-yellow head and shoulders with an electric-blue body. Like all rams it is a small, intelligent dwarf cichlid of barely 5–7 cm that forms bonded pairs and rewards a patient keeper. It does demand pristine, warm, soft water, so is best considered an intermediate fish.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eNatural Habitat\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRams are native to the warm, slow-moving tributaries, pools and flooded savannah of the Orinoco basin in Venezuela and Colombia. These waters are typically warm, soft and slightly acidic, with sandy beds, leaf litter and gentle flow.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eAppearance\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis strain has been selectively bred so the front of the fish glows gold to yellow while the rear body carries dense metallic blue spangling. Adults stay small at around 5–7 cm, with tall dorsal fins and red-flushed eyes. Males tend to have longer, more pointed dorsal rays, while females often show a pink or rosy belly.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eTemperament and Compatibility\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRams are peaceful and a little shy, spending much of their time in the lower and middle levels. They become territorial only when breeding, when a pair will defend a small patch around their eggs. They are poor competitors for food, so avoid boisterous or fast-feeding tankmates.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eFeeding\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAn omnivorous micropredator. Offer a varied diet of high-quality micro pellets and flake alongside regular live or frozen foods such as brine shrimp, daphnia and bloodworm. Small, frequent feeds suit their modest appetite.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eCare Requirements\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is a warmth-loving, water-quality-sensitive fish. Keep the temperature high (26–30 °C), the water soft and slightly acidic, and carry out frequent partial water changes. A mature, well-planted tank with gentle filtration, sand, driftwood and flat stones for spawning sites suits them best. Their sensitivity to nitrate and unstable conditions makes them an intermediate species.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eBreeding\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRams are open, biparental substrate spawners that lay their eggs on a cleaned flat rock, leaf or in a shallow pit, with both parents guarding and fanning the eggs and fry. They breed readily in soft, warm, clean water, though young pairs sometimes eat their first few clutches before settling into reliable parents.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eSpecies Information\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eScientific Name\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMikrogeophagus ramirezi (formerly Apistogramma \/ Papiliochromis ramirezi)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCommon Name\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNeon Blue Gold Head Ram (German Blue Ram, Butterfly Cichlid)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eOrigin\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eOrinoco basin, Venezuela and Colombia, South America\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMaximum Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAround 5–7 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 only 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\u003e40 litres for a pair\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eRecommended Tank Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e75 litres or larger\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDiet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eOmnivore – micro pellets, flake, live and frozen foods\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\u003e5–12 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-water 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 – won't eat plants, may dig a little when spawning\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eSuitable Tank Mates\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSmall, peaceful tetras such as neons, cardinals and ember tetras, along with rasboras, dwarf corydoras, Otocinclus and other calm dwarf cichlids. Peaceful shrimp can work in mature, well-planted tanks, though tiny shrimplets may be eaten.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eAvoid Keeping With\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLarge or aggressive cichlids, boisterous barbs, known fin-nippers, and any fast, greedy feeders that will outcompete them at feeding time. Avoid cool-water species, as rams need consistently warm water.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Nick's Aquarium Oceanarium Terrarium","offers":[{"title":"Small (1-5cm)","offer_id":55232826442019,"sku":"BA8191","price":29.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0972\/7236\/5347\/files\/neon-blue-gold-head-ram-mikr-43878323814691.webp?v=1790306578","url":"https:\/\/nicksaquariumoceanariumterrarium.com.au\/products\/neon-blue-gold-head-ram-mikrogeophagus-ramirezi","provider":"Nicks AOT","version":"1.0","type":"link"}