What Do German Blue Rams Eat?
- In our aquariums, we need to feed our German Blue Rams a varied diet to give them a fully varied and balanced diet..
- Bug Bites by Fluval.
- Vibra Bites by Hikari.
- TetraMin Tropical Flake.
- Xtreme Krill Flakes. In an ideal world, German Blue Rams want to eat from the bottom of the tank, ideally directly off...
What does the German Blue Ram eat?
The German blue ram is an omnivore and eats a varied diet of both meat and plant. Typically in the wild, rams feed on small insects or invertebrate and plant material floating in the surrounding waters.
What fish can I put with my German Blue Rams?
This species does best with other small fish that don’t want to cause any trouble. Any large or aggressive fish should be avoided at all costs. Here are some good tank mates to get you started: German Blue Rams also get along with all types of freshwater aquarium snails. They’ll leave the little critters alone and go about their business!
How often should I Feed my German Blue Rams?
I aim to feed my German Blue Rams 3 or 4 times a day. I usually give them pellet food in the morning (Vibra Bites is my current go-to) followed by flake food in the afternoon and then live or frozen food in the evening. Sometimes, I will give them more pellets in the evening too.
How do I care for a German Blue Ram?
One of the most important parts of German Blue Ram care is maintaining the water. While this might seem like something that applies to all fish, this species can be especially affected by subpar water conditions. To start, stick with the parameters below. Water temperature: 72°F to 79°F
How often should I feed German blue rams?
How often should I feed my blue rams? Because of their size, it's best to feed rams two to three small meals a day rather than trying to give them one big meal. Their stomachs are tiny, which means they can only digest small amounts of food at a time.
Do German blue rams eat flakes?
Sinking pellets should be provided for the German blue rams and floating flakes for the other fish. Feedings should always be observed to make sure the German blue rams are getting enough food.
How do you take care of blue rams?
German blue rams are active fish that require a 20-gallon tank or larger. The water must be kept between 80°F and 86°F and on the acidic side. To simulate the German blue ram's wild habitat, set up various hiding spots throughout the tank with caves, driftwood, and plants, and keep the lighting dim.
What do electric blue rams eat?
DescriptionCare. The Electric Blue Ram is a tank-bred colour strain of the Ram. ... Feeding. Flake, micropellets, small frozen foods such as bloodworm, white mosquito larvae, vitamin-enriched brineshrimp and daphnia.Breeding. To breed Electric Blue Rams, the aquarium water must be very soft (<5 dH) with a pH <7.0.
Will German blue rams eat shrimp?
Yes, German Blue Rams will eat any shrimp they can fit in their mouths. Adult Red Cherry Shrimp or Amano Shrimp may not be eaten, but babies and juveniles almost certainly will.
Should German blue rams be kept in pairs?
With that said, German blue rams are the happiest when kept in a male-female pair. They're monogamous and mate for life, so keeping a couple of German blue rams together is highly recommended. Alternatively, it's also a good idea to keep single German blue rams in a peaceful community tank.
What does a Ram fish eat?
The Ram Cichlid is an omnivore which basically translates into that they will eat anything and everything you offer them. A staple diet of flake food, pellets, and live foods is the most commonly used diet.
Can you keep 3 German blue rams together?
At least two German blue rams should be kept together in a tank. German blue rams are at their best when living with their mates, so try to keep both males and females. German blue rams are monogamous and mate for life. Buying German blue ram pairs while they're still young is recommended.
How fast do German blue rams grow?
German blue rams can grow to full size within 4–6 months. Like many other cichlids, German blue rams reach maturity fairly quickly, within the first four to six months of their lives. By then, they grow to be around two to three inches long. At that age, they're also ready to spawn with their mate.
Do blue rams eat other fish?
What is this? Rummy Nose Tetras are another slightly uncommon species for aquarists looking for something other than Neons or Serpae Tetras. Like most Tetras they are fine tank mates for German Blue Rams: they are peaceful, schooling, and eager eaters of anything appropriately sized.
What pH do rams like?
5.2 to 6.7Rams are highly sensitive to water quality, and should be kept at a pH of 5.2 to 6.7, with an optimal tank temperature of 80-81 Fahrenheit.
How can you tell if a German blue ram is male or female?
2:555:18How to Identify Male and Female German Blue Rams by PondguruYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipThere you go solid black whereas the female. There is a female. It's got reflective skills insideMoreThere you go solid black whereas the female. There is a female. It's got reflective skills inside the black spot. There you go that's a good one see the reflective skills at the bottom of the spot.
What do you feed blue Ram fry?
During these first few days/weeks, try feeding your Rams meaty, nutrient rich food. Frozen brine shrimp or bloodworms usually do the trick. Live brine shrimp are also a great treat! Once your Rams are eating steadily, slowly introduce them to cichlid flakes or pellets.
How can you tell if a German blue ram is male or female?
2:555:18How to Identify Male and Female German Blue Rams by PondguruYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipThere you go solid black whereas the female. There is a female. It's got reflective skills insideMoreThere you go solid black whereas the female. There is a female. It's got reflective skills inside the black spot. There you go that's a good one see the reflective skills at the bottom of the spot.
Do blue rams eat other fish?
What is this? Rummy Nose Tetras are another slightly uncommon species for aquarists looking for something other than Neons or Serpae Tetras. Like most Tetras they are fine tank mates for German Blue Rams: they are peaceful, schooling, and eager eaters of anything appropriately sized.
How long does it take for German blue rams to grow?
Best results come by having a few rams together from a young age and letting them grow up together, pairing of their own accord. A pH of 5.5 - 6.5 is best for the pair, eggs and fry. German Blue rams can reach maturity at an early age, sometimes between 4 - 6 months.
What are some good companions for German Blue Rams?
They need a peaceful community as they will struggle in an aggressive tank. Good tank companions are Silver Dollars, Dwarf Gouramis, Discus, Plecostomus Catfish, Cardinal and Neon Tetras.
What is the name of the German blue ram?
The German Blue Ram belongs the Cichlid family and is known scientifically as Mikrogeophagus ramirezi . This species is also known under lots of other names mostly referring to its beautiful coloration such as Electric Blue Ram or Butterfly Cichlids.
How long do German ram cichlids live?
They are known as one of the best Cichlids, due to their peaceful nature and beautiful colors. It can live happily in your tank for up to three years if you take good care of them. The German Blue Ram Cichlid is quite common in the aquarium trade and are easily found in pet shops.
Where do ram cichlids live?
The native populations of Ram Cichlids are from South America. They inhabit the extended waterways of the Amazon River, especially the Orinoco River Basin in Venezuela and Colombia. These Rams live in shallow pools and streams with sandy beds and abundant vegetation.
What do you feed a fish?
Once they are acclimated, you can feed your fish 2 to 5 small pinches of food a day. You can feed them brine shrimps, blood worms, earthworms and artemia. Try to add some vegetables and plants to keep a balance diet. You can also try to feed them pellets and flakes, but they should not form the basis of their diet.
Is a German blue ram aggressive?
Cichlids are often thought of as aggressive fish, however German Blue Rams are the opposite. Keep reading to learn how to care for German Blue Rams, from the perfect water conditions to feeding and breeding behaviors. Category. Rating.
Can German blue rams get TB?
In addition to the many common diseases related to poor water management and oxygenation, such as Ich disease, German Blue Rams are particularly susceptible to fish tuberculosis (TB). This can also be passed onto humans. Fish TB is caused by a similar bacteria that causes TB in humans, Mycobacterium marinum.
What is a German blue ram?
Between their iridescent colors and confident personality, German blue ram cichlids are one of the most striking freshwater fish in the aquarium hobby. When you see a healthy ram in breeding condition, almost every hue of the rainbow is displayed. In this article, we interviewed master breeder Dean to share his decades of experience in keeping, ...
How long do German blue rams live?
If given lots of high-quality foods and clean water at the right temperature (see below), they can live up to 4 years.
What do cichlids like to eat?
In our experience, these cichlids are not very picky, so you can feed them just about any dry food from the pet store, like sinking pellets, freeze-dried bloodworms, and freeze-dried tubifex worms. They also love frozen foods, such as brine shrimp, cyclops, bloodworms, and mysis shrimp for larger adults .
Where did the ram cichlids come from?
Contrary to the name, ram cichlids originate from the Orinoco River basin in Colombia and Venezuela. The name “German blue” refers to a color variation of the ram cichlid that was selectively bred in Germany and became popularized worldwide in the aquarium trade. What are the different types of ram cichlids?
What color are rams?
In terms of body shape, there are regular, long fin, and balloon rams on the market. The most common color varieties include German blue rams, gold rams, and electric blue rams. A black version of the ram cichlid has been developed recently but is still difficult to find. This gold balloon ram has been selectively bred for its bright yellow color ...
How many gallons of water do rams need?
If you wish to keep two pairs of rams, increase the aquarium size to 40 gall ons so that each set has enough territory. Give the rams several places to hide from each other in case one decides he wants to be the tank boss.
How to keep fish from sucking up in aquarium?
Get a gentle sponge filter (or a small hang-on-back filter with a pre-filter sponge to prevent fry from begin sucked up), as well as an adjustable aquarium heater. In the corners of the tank, place various spawning sites, such as flat river stones or tiny terracotta pots and saucers.
What do German blue rams eat?
Feeding. German blue rams feed on bottom dwelling organisms, and in the home aquarium, they will often be observed sifting through the substrate. They take large mouthfuls of the substrate, searching for anything edible in it, then spit out the unwanted material through their mouths and gills.
What is the best filter for German blue rams?
When choosing a filter, a hang-on-back filter is usually the best choice for an aquarium containing German blue rams. But care should be taken not to over filter the aquarium, as these fish don’t thrive in a strong water current.
How long does it take for a German blue ram to become free?
Until the eggs hatch, the parents will fan water over them. The fry will become free swimming after five days and until then, they will feed on the egg sack. German blue rams are usually poor parents during the first few spawnings and will often eat their fry.
How long do German blue rams live?
The average lifespan for German blue rams should be around three years, but due to poor breeding practices in the far east, the use of hormones to brighten their colors, and possibly due to some them being artificially dyed, they rarely live much longer than 18 months.
Can fry be fed infusoria?
Once the fry are free swimming, they will be escorted by one of their parents to find food in a tight school. The fry can be fed infusoria, microworms, or any of the other commercially available fry foods.
German Blue Ram Basics
The German blue ram species is a member of the Cichlid family. Scientifically it is called Mikrogeophagus ramierezi. Due to its dazzling blue color, it has also been given several other names, such as Butterfly Cichlids, or Electric Blue Ram.
What Do German Blue Rams Look Like?
German Blue Rams are exceptionally pleasing to the eye. If you want to add some color to your tank then you can’t go wrong with this species. Half of the body is an eye-catching combination of yellow and green, the other half is electric blue with white stripes and black lined scale-like shapes across it.
What You Need to Know Before Buying a German Blue Ram
So, after reading the first part of this article you are convinced that you want to buy some German Blue Rams. That’s great, but there are a few more things you need to know before making that decision. Keep reading to find out about…
Tank Conditions For German Blue Rams
German Blue Rams live in the Amazon River, they are most often found in the extended waterways of the Orinoco River Basin in Columbia and Venezuela. They live in shallow streams and pools with slow-flowing waters and plenty of vegetation and sandy beds. The vegetation creates a shady atmosphere for the German Blue Rams.
What to Feed German Blue Rams
The German Blue Ram is an omnivore, and eats a combination of plants and meat. In their natural environment they eat invertebrates, small insects, or they feed on the plants found in the water.
Breeding German Blue Rams
When it’s breeding time, the red patch on the female’s stomach will increase in size and become a lot brighter in color. The male or female will dig out a pit, or they’ll clean a flat stone. The couple will start twirling around each other, or nudging each other.
Feeding Instructions For Blue Ram Fry
Feeding Blue Ram fry is not an easy task, they tend to pick at tiny creatures and algae, so they will survive without special foods. However, their survival rate will be low this way. If you want the fry to survive for as long as possible, you will need to feed them specific foods.
Care Guide
German Blue Ram Cichlids require a tank size of 20 gallons. This would provide them with lots of room to play and roam. Many individuals have stated that this species will thrive in a 10-gallon aquarium.
Lifespan
A typical healthy Blue Ram can live for 3 to 4 years on average. This presupposes you’re giving them great care and a suitable environment. These are one of the easiest cichlids to keep alive for as long as possible. Their size, disposition, and basic care requirements are all well within their capabilities.
Appearance
A typical healthy Blue Ram can live for 3 to 4 years on average. This presupposes you’re giving them great care and a suitable environment. These are one of the easiest cichlids to keep alive for as long as possible. Their size, disposition, and basic care requirements are all well within their capabilities.
Size
When fully developed, a Blue Ram measures roughly 2 to 3 inches in length. A variety of factors influence their size, but the 2 most important are how they were produced and what they ate as children.
Behavior & Temperament
These fish are laid-back and want to mind their own business. This makes them ideal for group tanks, as you can keep them with a large number of other people. These fish are frequently seen lurking amid the plants or digging through the substrate.
Breeding
In a tank, spawning blue rams is rather simple. They’ll cheerfully spawn every few weeks if you offer them the correct conditions. Just be prepared to accommodate hundreds of fry as they mature.
Gender Differences: Male vs. Female
It’s quite easy to identify the difference between a male and female blue ram once they’ve reached maturity. Females are often stockier, smaller, and less colourful than their male counterparts. They have a pointed head as opposed to the rounded head of the male. Their pectoral fins are significantly shorter than those of males.
Species Summary
Appearance
Average Size
- The average size of a German Blue Ram is around 2 to 3 inches in lengthwhen fully grown. Theis size can be impacted by a number of factors, but the main two are how they were bred and their diet when growing up. Author Note:This is quite small for a cichlid, making them a very approachable species if you don’t have a lot of room. Many beginners are nervous about the pro…
German Blue Ram Care
- German Blue Ram care is nothing to be intimidated by. These fish are low maintenance and easy to keep due to their hardy nature and peaceful temperament. But that still means you should pay attention to their basic needs. There has been a fair amount of misinformation being passed around on forums when it comes to this species, so it’s important to understand their baseline r…
Food & Diet
- Feeding German Blue Rams is not very challenging. These fish are omnivores and are not very picky! It’s a good idea to use some kind of pellet or flake food as the base of their diet. Any products from a high-quality seller will do fine. In addition to this, you’ll want to give them some protein-rich foods as well. Brine shrimp, tubifex, and bloodw...
Behavior & Temperament
- One of the great things about German Blue Rams is their peaceful nature. These fish are very mellow and just want to do their own thing. This makes them great for community tanks since there’s a long list of potential tank mates you can keep them with (more on that in the next section). You’ll often see these fish hiding out among the plants, or digging through the substrat…
Tank Mates
- The list of potential German Blue Ram tank mates is quite long thanks to the peaceful nature of this fish. They’ll get along with pretty much anyone! The general rule to follow when thinking about tank mates is size and temperament. This species does best with other small fish that don’t want to cause any trouble. Any large or aggressive fish should be avoided at all costs. Here are some …
German Blue Ram Breeding
- Breeding German Blue Rams is very simple. There are a number of advantages this species has when it comes to being bred in captivity. If you want to maximize your chances, get some juveniles and let them become a mating pair. This isn’t 100% necessary, but it makes things a whole lot easier. These fish will become sexually mature at a very young age as well. After abou…
Closing Thoughts
- We hope this guide ion German Blue Ram care has shown you what a wonderful fish this species can be. When other aquarists flock to the more popular freshwater creatures, they’re missing out on all the amazing things this fish has to offer! We plan on keeping these fish for quite a while. Once you get used to them, the thought of a species that’s less colorful (and not as easy to care …
German Blue Ram Facts & Overview
Appearance & Behavior
German Blue Ram Care & Tank Requirements
Tank Mates
Diet and Feeding
- German blue rams are omnivores. In the wild, these fish’s diet consists of plant material, insects, and small invertebrates. Replicate the German blue ram’s wild diet in captivity with pellets, flakes, and the occasional leafy vegetable. Live and frozen foods help bring out the fish’s coloration. Suitable live and frozen foods include brine shrimp,...
Breeding
Should You Get A German Blue Ram For Your Aquarium?