Electric Blue Balloon Ram

The Ramirezi (Mikrogeophagus ramirezi), or Ram Cichlid, is native to the Orinoco river basin of South America, including the Llanos floodplain of Venezuela.

The Electric Blue colour variant of this fish has been specifically bred for the aquarium, with the "Balloon" type being even further selectively bred.

Balloon Rams have been bred to have a shorter, rounder body that looks almost like a half inflated balloon - hence their name.

Habitat

In the wild, these Dwarf Cichlids are found in slow moving areas of the Orinoco river and its tributaries. It also occurs in the Llano floodplain, which is a seasonally flooded area of grassland in Venezuela.

A comfortable temperature for these fish is between 25°C - 30°C.

Size

Our specimens currently measure approx. 2cm - 3cm

This species' maximum size typically reaches approx. 5cm - 7.5cm

Males and Females of this species can be differentiated as the Male has extended rays on the front of his dorsal fin. As you can see in picture, the specimen shown is a Male.

Females tend to have a rounder belly, but in Balloon variants this is much more difficult to distinguish.

Aquarium

Electric Blue Rams can be fairly challenging to keep, so we recommend only purchasing these if you are an experienced aquarist.

These fish require very soft and acidic water to thrive, with nitrate levels being kept to an absolute minimum. The filter should be efficient but with water flow that isn't overly strong.

Frequent partial water changes are essential to keep the water quality satisfactory for these fish.

Rams need plenty of plants to hide among, with plenty of rocky crevices, wood features, and other hiding places. The substrate should also be on the darker side. All this is to help replicate their natural environment.

The tank should be well established to avoid any surprise changes in water parameters that may upset or be otherwise detrimental to the fish.

pH levels should fall between the 5.5 - 7 range.
Hardness should fall between 4 - 8 dGH

Behaviour

Usually peaceful, these fish can be kept in small groups. They do tend to pair off and if guarding eggs or fry, can display territorial aggression.

Keep with other fish of a similar size and temperament. They are delicate fish and can be stressed easily so don't house them with anything too big or aggressive.

This is a freshwater species - Do not put them in a marine / saltwater aquarium.