{"product_id":"sunshine-gold-balloon-ram-mikrogeophagus-ramirezi","title":"Sunshine Gold Balloon Ram | Mikrogeophagus ramirezi","description":"\u003ch2\u003eDescription\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Sunshine Gold Balloon Ram is a rounded, warm-golden take on the ever-popular Ram Cichlid - a compact, deep-bodied dwarf cichlid bred for its short, stocky \"balloon\" form. Peaceful and full of personality, it suits a warm, soft, planted tank kept by an attentive owner.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eNatural Habitat\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe wild Ram Cichlid comes from the Orinoco basin of Venezuela and Colombia, in warm, soft, acidic blackwater and whitewater floodplains with dense leaf litter and slow current.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eAppearance\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA rounded, compressed \"balloon\" body shape - a selectively bred variation on the naturally more streamlined ram - in a glowing sunshine-gold colour, with the species' characteristic dark eye-stripe and red eyes.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eTemperament and Compatibility\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePeaceful, though pairs become territorial around a chosen spawning site when breeding. A calm dwarf cichlid best suited to a quiet, well-planted community rather than a boisterous tank.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eFeeding\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA small-mouthed micro-predator and omnivore. Offer high-quality micro pellets alongside live or frozen daphnia, brine shrimp and bloodworm for best colour and condition.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eCare Requirements\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNeeds warm, soft, clean water and is notably sensitive to poor water quality, so only add to a fully cycled, mature tank. Worth knowing honestly: the balloon body form carries a shortened, curved spine that can compress internal organs, and balloon rams are generally less robust and shorter-lived than the standard, naturally-shaped form - a welfare trade-off worth weighing up before choosing this variety.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eBreeding\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAn open substrate spawner - pairs lay eggs on a flat rock, piece of slate or broad leaf rather than in a cave, with both parents guarding the eggs and fry. Balloon-form pairs can have more difficulty spawning successfully than standard-bodied rams.\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\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCommon Name\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBalloon Ram Cichlid\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eOrigin\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eOrinoco basin, Venezuela\/Colombia (wild type; balloon form is a captive-bred variant)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMaximum Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e4-5cm\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLifespan\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e1.5-3 years (typically shorter-lived than standard rams due to the balloon body form)\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 to Advanced\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMinimum Tank Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e75 litres\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eRecommended Tank Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e110 litres or more, well planted\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\u003e27-30°C\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003epH Range\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e5.0-7.0\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eGH Range\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e2-10 dGH\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSalinity\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNot applicable\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSuitable For\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eQuiet, warm, soft-water planted community tanks\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\n\u003ch2\u003eSuitable Tank Mates\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSmall, peaceful tetras, corydoras, dwarf shrimp and other calm soft-water community fish.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eAvoid Keeping With\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFast, boisterous or fin-nipping species that could outcompete this slow-moving, rounded-bodied fish for food.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Nick's Aquarium Oceanarium Terrarium","offers":[{"title":"Small (1-5cm)","offer_id":55232826835235,"sku":"AA3567","price":36.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0972\/7236\/5347\/files\/Sunshine_Gold_Balloon_Ram_befb534a-7de0-4d0a-bd37-4473b2428dec.jpg?v=1781699811","url":"https:\/\/nicksaquariumoceanariumterrarium.com.au\/products\/sunshine-gold-balloon-ram-mikrogeophagus-ramirezi","provider":"Nicks Aquarium Oceanarium Terrarium","version":"1.0","type":"link"}