Ram cichlid (German blue ram / butterfly cichlid)

Where they come from (and why that matters)

German blue rams come from the Orinoco River basin in Venezuela/Colombia. Think warm, slow-moving water, lots of plants and leaf litter, and soft, acidic conditions.

That backstory explains basically everything about them: they hate chilly water, they get stressed fast in messy tanks, and they act way bolder when they’ve got cover and calm tankmates.

Setting up their tank

Rams aren’t huge, but they’re picky. A 20 gallon long is a great starting point for a pair, and bigger makes your life easier. They appreciate floor space more than height.

• Temp: warm. I keep mine 82–86°F (28–30°C). Below ~80°F they seem more prone to issues.
• pH/Hardness: they’re happiest in softer, slightly acidic water (roughly pH 6.0–7.0). Tank-bred ones can adapt, but don’t push hard, alkaline water if you can help it.
• Filtration: gentle flow. Sponge filters or a baffled HOB work well.
• Substrate: sand is my favorite. They pick at it and look more natural doing it.
• Decor: plants, driftwood, and a couple of caves (coconut, small rock cave, clay pot). Break up lines of sight.

Keep the tank clean, but don’t blast them with current. I aim for consistent weekly water changes and I vacuum lightly—especially if you feed frozen foods (which you probably will).

What to feed them

Rams are the kind of fish that will survive on flakes…but you’ll see the difference when you feed them like little predators. Color pops, behavior gets more confident, and they’ll actually put on decent body weight.

• Staples: quality micro pellets (small enough for their mouths) and a good flake as backup
• Frozen: bloodworms (sparingly), brine shrimp, daphnia, mysis
• Live (if you’re into it): baby brine shrimp, blackworms (watch cleanliness)
• Veg? Not a big focus, but they’ll pick at biofilm and whatever’s in the tank

I feed small amounts 1–2 times a day. If you see sunken bellies, bump up variety and frequency a bit. If you see food piling up on the bottom, you’re overdoing it (or your tankmates are too timid to compete).

Behavior and tankmates

Most of the time rams are peaceful, curious little cichlids that hang around the lower half of the tank. They do have opinions, though—especially as pairs or during spawning. You’ll see posturing, lip-locking, and short chases.

• Good tankmates: small tetras (cardinals, rummynose), pencilfish, rasboras, hatchetfish, peaceful Corydoras (in cooler tanks this gets tricky), Otocinclus, small peaceful plecos
• Use caution: other bottom-dwelling cichlids, busy/boisterous fish (large barbs, many danios), fin-nippers
• Avoid: aggressive cichlids, big gouramis that bully, anything that likes cooler water if you plan to keep rams hot

If you keep more than one ram, give them space and hiding spots. Two males in a small tank usually ends in somebody getting stressed out. A bonded pair is the easiest route.

Breeding tips (if you want to try it)

They’re fun to breed because you get real cichlid behavior without a monster fish rearranging your aquarium. The pair will clean a flat surface (stone, leaf, slate) and lay eggs in neat rows.

• Give them options: a couple flat stones or small pieces of slate, plus caves nearby
• Warm, soft water helps. I’ve had the best luck around 84–86°F with gentle filtration
• Feed heavy on varied frozen/live foods for a couple weeks before you expect spawns
• Dimmer lighting and cover (plants/wood) reduces spooking and egg loss

If you want to raise fry, a separate breeding tank makes it way less chaotic. Once free-swimming, baby brine shrimp is the cheat code. Keep water clean and do small, frequent changes.

Common problems to watch for

Rams can be a little unforgiving compared to tougher community fish. Most issues I’ve seen come from one of three things: low temperature, stress from tankmates/handling, or poor water quality from heavy feeding.

• Stringy white poop / weight loss: often internal parasites or just a fish not eating well—quarantine new rams if you can and watch their bellies closely
• Clamped fins, hiding, darkening: stress (bullying, too much flow, unstable parameters)
• Ich and other parasites: rams seem to catch it quickly when stressed—warm temps help treatments work faster, but follow med directions
• Hole-in-the-head style pits: usually tied to long-term stress/poor water and nutrition; clean water and better diet go a long way
• Sudden losses after purchase: sadly common with weak stock—buy from a source that keeps them warm and looks after them

My best practical advice: quarantine if you can, keep the tank warm and stable, feed a varied diet, and don’t pair them with anything that makes them nervous. Do those things and rams go from “touchy” to one of the most rewarding little cichlids you can keep.