do german blue rams need to be kept in pairs

The rule-of-thumb is at least 10 extra gallons of water for every additional pair. Blue rams require at least 20 US gallons (~ 75 litres, 16.65 Imperial gallons) of very clean and clear wat… Should rams be kept in pairs? They usually sell them for a low price and often have a variety of different types including longfin rams but the rams for sale at Petsmart and other chain stores are usually low-quality fish that has been mass produced in Asia. German blue rams should not be kept in aquariums smaller than 75 L (20 gallons). For German Blue Rams, you are able to keep 1 pair for every 20 gallons (90 liters = 23 US gallons). As mentioned above, a pair of rams should be kept in a 30-gallon tank at the very least, especially if they’re in a community tank. They are very rarely the first to go after the food, so make sure that your rams are getting enough to eat if kept with a large number of tankmates or aggressive feeders. Congo Tetras are schooling fish, and need to be kept in groups of 6 or more of their own kind. German Blue rams do not need to be in groups, but more of pairs. When they arrive in a new aquarium, it is not unusual for them to lose their appetite and become really finicky. When it comes to tank size for German blue rams (not unliked most other cichlid fish species in a captive environment), bigger is always better. The color of the water can be anything from dark tea-color to completely clear. The larger the aquarium size, the easier it will be to keep the water quality high enough. The larger the aquarium size, the easier it will be to keep the water quality high enough. my blue ram is kept in a pH of 7.0. For tetras I have had exceptionally good experiences with cardinal tetras and Red/Blue Colombian tetras. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. Germans do like lower pH at around 6.8. Feeding. See footer. If possible, try to avoid purchasing male and female German blue rams online or from separate retail locations. Asian ram breeders have also developed rams with large, high-bodies and elongated fins. The electric blue ram is an omnivore and needs to be kept on a diet of both meaty and green foods. You can also see seven faint interrupted dark vertical stripes on the flanks of the fish, and one intense stripe that runs vertically downwards across the head through the eye. I recommend at least 20g long for them to thrive; I've seen and kept them in smaller tanks and they tend to look more grey without the space. The problem is that many aquarists combine the ram with unsuitable species, such as aggressive fish that will harass the ram or overly energetic fish that will gulp down all the food before the ram gets a chance to eat. The tank setup should contain densely grown groups of plants separated by open swimming space is ideal. Bigger the tank, better the living environment for the fishes. It is important to include flat stones in the aquarium set up. M. ramireziis a warm water species requiring temperatures between 78 - 85°F (~ 25 - 29°C). German Blue rams are quite docile and can be kept with other dwarf cichlids including apistogtrammas, nannacaras, and mikrogeophagus’. Except during spawning season, blue rams are a peaceful species of fish. A pH level between 6.0 and 7.5 is recommended as well as a hardness factor of 6 to 14 general hardness. The German blue ram is not a suitable fish for newly set up aquariums; wait until the aquarium have been inhabited for quite a while and contains a thriving population of beneficial bacteria. The blue ram cichlid or otherwise commonly known as the butterfly cichlid is another of the beautiful dwarf cichlids often desired by the aquarist. German Blue Ram Care Keeping two pairs together will require a 150 L (40 gallons) aquarium, and so on. The female fish is smaller than the male and have more pink pigmentation on her ventral region. Once they have started breeding, you can, however, expect a new batch once a month or so. Female betta fish, cardinal and/or neon tetras, danios, discus fish, dwarf gouramis, killifish, plecostomous catfish, and silver dollars also make good companions for German blue rams, not to mention cories, guppies, mollies, platies, and kuhli and/or clown loaches. The German blue ram has been given many different common names in English, many of them alluding to the beautiful coloration of this species or to a specific strain. You can keep single pair of German Blue Ram in 20 gallons, but for two pairs you will need at least a 40-gallon fish tank. When you set up the aquarium, it is best to mimic the natural environment of the German blue ram. You really have to just buy a set pair. Common names include the German blue ram and butterfly cichlid. If you want your fish to breed, provide them with flat stones in the aquarium. While German blue rams prefer to be kept in male/female pairs, you can keep just one in a smaller 15-gallon tank. They might, for instance, eat a few batches before they become good parents. As such, you wouldn’t require a large tank for them. The eggs are 0.9-1.5 mm in length (0.035-0.059 inches). They should always be kept in a planted tank. Unlike most species of cichlid fish, German blue rams are generally peaceful in nature and get along well with other fish in a community tank environment. Your German blue ram will do much better if you combine it will peaceful species that will leave some food for the rams. The German blue ram lives in the Orinoco River basin, in Los llanos of Venezuela and Colombia. I hope this article has provided you with the information you seek regarding German blue rams. The parents will also eat unfertile eggs to prevent them from turning into breeding grounds for pathogens. Young pairs are known to fight quite a lot and the aquarium must contain plenty of hiding spots to avoid stress and injury. The answer to the question  “how long does a German blue ram live?” largely depends on how good care you provide them with. Keeping rams on their own is not recommended; they feel safer when combined with braver fish (so-called dither fish). They form monogamous relationships and ‘mate for life’ as adults which is why it’s best to purchase them in pairs while still juveniles – so they can bond before reaching sexually maturity. They can be bred in nano aquarium tanks. German Blue Ram Cichlids can be kept solo or with other fish. They’re a type of dwarf cichlid fish and as such, aren’t the hardiest nor ideal for beginner aquarium hobbyists. As you can see, the German blue ram has been moved a lot between various genera. Don’t be surprised if your rams only nibble at the food or embark on a full-blown hunger strike. Typically, they live in habitats with plenty of woody hiding places so the wood found in their habitat leaks tannins which soften the water. It is also common for females to have a plumper body shape and more rounded edging of the tailfin. The species was scientifically described in 1948 by George S. Myers and R. R. Harry, who considered it a part of the genus Apistogramma. Mikrogeophagus ramirezi requires soft, acidic water with a pH between 5 and 6 and temperatures of 80° to 86°F (27° to 30°C). Maintaining this ratio will help minimize the male’s aggression towards the females. This means that they are social fish that make for a great communitytank fish. The Asian bred German blue rams for sale in many chain stores are a lot more sensitive and prone to disease. If your German blue rams become aggressive towards other fish in the aquarium, it is most likely caused by a shortage or suitable hiding places. I recently bought 14 german blue rams, 7 males and 7 females. The best way to buy Rams is to visit craigslist or do a google search for “German blue rams for sale near me” in Google. After a while, most rams will readily accept a wide range of different foods in the aquarium. In Asia, several strains of Mikrogeophagus ramirezi have been developed for the aquarium trade. You must also be sure to have plenty of hiding places in the tank so they can retreat when necessary. Angelfish (another type of South American cichlid) can live peacefully with German blue rams as long as the tank is big enough for each species to have its own area. Water parameters should mimic those of their natural habitat as closely as possible. If they are going to be kept in the 20 long, that it barely enough space for 1 pair of GBRs, so 2 will certainly not be okay together in … German blue rams should be kept in an aquarium that is at least 29 gallons (110 litres), and this will allow for a bonded male and female to be comfortably kept together. Recommended Aquarium Filters and Aquarium Heaters. When its time for breeding, the red patch on the belly of the female will grow bigger and become much brighter than normally. Tank is a Juwel Rio 125. They will be escorted by their mother or father during foraging. Not all fish bred in Asia is low quality but the ram is one fish where you should try to buy locally produced fish. The lifespan of the German blue ram is shorter than that of many other aquarium fish and dwarf cichlids. I couldn't find much information online whether or not they can be kept singly or if they should be in pairs or even groups. Re a type of fish store cichlid and ram are also fairly common so they can when! Tank and the cory and ram are also used shape and more rounded edging of the tailfin seek... Low-Quality rams is that they are stressed, German blue ram cichlid another... Auctions are sold by dedicated breeders who love their fish up together the fins! 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