Auratus
Why am I browsing a fish forum at 2am?
Common name: German Blue Ram
Scientific name: Microgeophagus ramirezi
Family: Cichlidae
Origin: Venezuela
Maximum size: 3 inches
Temperature: 80 degrees
Minimum Tank Size: 10 gallons
Care: This fish is very sensitive to water quality. As long as you keep the water soft and the temperature stable, these are an easy fish to care for. A "community" cichlid that does well with fish such as tetras, gourami, danios, and catfish. Rams also enjoy planted tanks, with smooth rocks for spawning.
Feeding: Doesn't readily accept flakes but with a little coaxing you can get them to accept them. They enjoy bloodworms, brine, daphnia, and other live foods.
Sexing: Females have a pink belly and are wider in the stomach. The dorsal rays are also shorter. Males have longer black dorsal rays and a more of a yellow tint to their chest. Males are sometimes larger than females.
Breeding: Spawn on rocks and leaves. Males and females will clean and prepare the surface before spawning. Spawns usually yeilds between 25-50 eggs. Very caring parents that do not eat their fry. You can observe them "fanning" their eggs with their fins. They are very impressive parents. Eggs hatch in 24-48 hours after spawning and mother and father continue to care for the fry until they are able to eat on their own.
Scientific name: Microgeophagus ramirezi
Family: Cichlidae
Origin: Venezuela
Maximum size: 3 inches
Temperature: 80 degrees
Minimum Tank Size: 10 gallons
Care: This fish is very sensitive to water quality. As long as you keep the water soft and the temperature stable, these are an easy fish to care for. A "community" cichlid that does well with fish such as tetras, gourami, danios, and catfish. Rams also enjoy planted tanks, with smooth rocks for spawning.
Feeding: Doesn't readily accept flakes but with a little coaxing you can get them to accept them. They enjoy bloodworms, brine, daphnia, and other live foods.
Sexing: Females have a pink belly and are wider in the stomach. The dorsal rays are also shorter. Males have longer black dorsal rays and a more of a yellow tint to their chest. Males are sometimes larger than females.
Breeding: Spawn on rocks and leaves. Males and females will clean and prepare the surface before spawning. Spawns usually yeilds between 25-50 eggs. Very caring parents that do not eat their fry. You can observe them "fanning" their eggs with their fins. They are very impressive parents. Eggs hatch in 24-48 hours after spawning and mother and father continue to care for the fry until they are able to eat on their own.
