Large Electric Blue Ram (1.75-2”)

Scientific Name
Mikrogeophagus ramirezi (Electric Blue Variant)

Size & Lifespan

• Maximum Size: 2–3 inches (5–7.5 cm)

• Lifespan: Typically 2-3 years with good care

Aquarium Size, Water Changes & Care

• Recommended Aquarium Size: Minimum 10 gallons for a pair; 20-30 gallons+ is reccomended if keeping multiple pairs.

• Temperature: 78–85 °F (26–29 °C), up to 86 °F when breeding.

• pH: Slightly acidic to neutral, 5.5–7.0.

• Filtration: Gentle filtration, avoiding strong currents.

• Water Changes: 20-30% weekly or biweekly to maintain stable water quality.

• Aquascaping: Fine sand substrate, flat stones or slates for spawning, driftwood, live plants, and leaf litter for cover.

Tankmates

• Compatible Species: Peaceful, small, slow-moving fish such as neon tetras, cardinal tetras, rummy-nose tetras, rasboras, guppies, platies, corydoras catfish, otocinclus catfish, and kuhli loaches.

• Avoid: Large, aggressive, or very active fish, including larger cichlids.

• Behavior: Peaceful and social, but territorial during breeding.

Diet

• Type: Omnivorous.

• Staple Foods: High-quality cichlid flakes or small pellets.

• Supplementary Foods: Live or frozen brine shrimp, bloodworms, daphnia, mosquito larvae, and mysis shrimp.

• Feeding Frequency: Small portions 1-2 times daily

Natural Environment (Wild Ram) The Electric Blue is a selective bred color variant

• Native to the Orinoco River basin in Colombia and Venezuela.

• Found in slow-moving, soft, acidic blackwater and clearwater streams with dense vegetation and sandy or muddy bottoms, often covered in leaf litter.

Breeding

• Pairing: Form monogamous pairs. Electric Blue varieties sometimes show weaker parental instincts than wild types.

• Breeding Tank Setup: 10–20 gallons with flat stones or sandy substrate, soft acidic water (pH 5.5–6.5), and slightly warmer temperatures (82–86 °F).

• Spawning: Female lays adhesive eggs (often 150–300) on flat surfaces. Eggs hatch in about 4 days.

• Fry Care: Fry become free-swimming after about a week. Feed baby brine shrimp, microworms, or finely crushed flakes. Parents may provide some care, but often fry need human assistance for survival.