Ram Cichlid (Electric Blue Morph)

The electric blue ram is a captive-bred colour variant of Mikrogeophagus ramirezi in which selective breeding has intensified and expanded the blue iridescent scaling to cover most of the body, creating a striking, all-over electric-blue effect. Despite its dramatic appearance, it retains the compact body form, peaceful temperament, and cave-spawning behaviour of the wild species. Colour intensity depends heavily on warm water temperature, water quality, and diet quality — dull colouration is almost always a sign of suboptimal conditions. Like all M. ramirezi forms, it is sensitive to cold temperatures and elevated nitrates. Provide warm, very clean, slightly soft water, a fine substrate, shelter spots, and a varied protein-rich diet. Best kept in pairs or small groups in planted aquaria.

Water: Soft; pH 5.5–7.0, temperature 27–30 °C, nitrates below 20 ppm. Tank: 60 L+; plants, fine substrate, hiding spots. Feeding: High-quality micro pellets, frozen daphnia, artemia, cyclops, bloodworm. Breeding: Cave spawner; biparental; pristine water improves fry survival. Compatibility: Peaceful; small tetras, pencilfish, and Corydoras are ideal.