Electric Blue Ram: The Ultimate Care Guide

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Electric Blue Rams are beautiful fish that are a great addition to any freshwater tank. 

However, just like with any other pet, these fish require a certain level of care in order to thrive. 

We will go over everything you need to know about caring for Electric Blue Rams in your aquarium in this care guide. 

Let’s dive in! 

Overview

Color:Vibrant Blue with some orange/yellow coloring
Size:1-2 inches long (2.5-5 centimeters)
Behavior:Mostly Peaceful (slightly aggressive when breeding) 
Lifespan:2-4 Years in Captivity
Diet:Omnivorous 
Tank Size:20-Gallon Minimum (for a pair) 
Tank Set-Up:A mixture of densely planted areas and lots of swimming space
Tankmates:Fish with Similar Size, Temperament, and Water Temperatures
Family:Cichlid
Scientific Name:Mikrogeophagus ramirezi

Appearance

Blue Electric Rams are gorgeous fish and look stunning in almost any tank. 

Their bodies are mostly a vibrant blue color with some yellow-orange coloring around their heads. 

They have large, fiery reddish-orange eyes and some black coloring on the tips of their fins.

The metallic blue on their bodies is extremely bright, which makes them clearly visible in an aquarium. 

And although it can be difficult to determine the sex of these fish, there are a few differences to look out for. 

For instance, female Blue Rams typically have larger, pink bellies (especially during breeding time) while males have slimmer bodies with more elongated dorsal fins. 

These fish are quite small and are very beautiful in any aquarium. 

electric blue ram swimming

Size 

Electric Blue Rams are a smaller species of Cichlid. 

Adults typically grow to about 1-2 inches in length (2.5-5 centimeters). 

Behavior 

Blue Electric Ram fish are mostly peaceful and cluster loosely together if they are placed in groups. 

Males can sometimes become slightly aggressive when attempting to breed and females are very protective of their eggs during the spawning process. 

However, these fish are friendly and will typically leave other tankmates alone. 

These fish are bottom-dwelling fish, so you will commonly find them towards the bottom half of the tank. Because Rams are territorial, avoid keeping them with other fish who naturally stay around the tank floor.

Blue Electric Ram Care 

Blue Electric Ram care is fairly simple.

By following the basic care guidelines below, you will have a fun, brightly colored fish in your aquarium for years to come! 

Tank Size

Electric Blue Rams require a larger tank with lots of room.

The ideal tank size for these fish is at least 20-gallons for a pair and 40 gallons for 3-4 fish. 

Considering they are bottom-dwelling fish, it is also recommended to house them in a long, wide tank so they have room to move about. 

If you are looking to house them in a community tank with other tankmates, it’s recommended to use a 30 or 40-gallon tank to ensure the right water parameters are met. 

Tank Conditions and Equipment 

When setting up your tank, you will want some supplies to help your Blue Rams thrive. 

Here are some items to consider.

Filter

Electric Blue Ram fish require very refined water quality, as they are fairly sensitive to changes in water parameters. 

They are particularly sensitive to waste such as nitrate and ammonia

This means that their tank should include a filter that is strong enough to properly filter out waste build-up such as the Aqueon QuietFlow Power Filter.

Keep in mind that in the wild, Blue Rams live in areas with slow-flowing waters and therefore don’t like to be housed in an aquarium with a strong water flow. 

If you notice that your filter pushes too much water around the tank, consider changing to an air-driven sponge filter. 

Heater 

These fish also require a heater that can keep their water temperature between 78-85℉ (26°-29° C). I recommend using a product that many fish owners are turning to that is something of a game-changer:

Inkbird ITC-306A WiFi Temperature Controller

  • Protects fish from overheated water
  • Dual display window; displays measured and set temperature at same time
  • High and low temperature alarms
  • Heating time can be set from 1-72 hours if needed

It’s difficult to avoid temperature swings that can be harmful to fish, especially when your room experiences high temperatures in summer or the temperature drops in winter.

Unlike regular tank heaters, the Inkbird allows you to keep on top of your water temperature with a number of unique features.

You can pair the aquarium temperature controller with your phone via 2.4GHz Wi-Fi the INKBIRD app will alert you with push notifications if it senses a problem.

The controller uses two probes, in case one stops working. The dual probe aquarium temperature controller will alarm if the temperature difference between 2 probes is bigger than 3°C/5°F, and the INKBIRD app will send a push notification to your phone to alert you.

The 1100w high-power aquarium temperature controller is compatible with most kinds of heaters, so you don’t need to assemble the product yourself, just plug and play.

Substrate

As previously stated, Electric Blue Rams are bottom-dwellers. You will commonly find them near the bottom of the tank foraging through the substrate looking for food. 

Because of this, sand is the best substrate option for their tank. 

You can also use aquatic plant soil substrate as well, however, sand is the best option. 

It’s important to also note that “Cichlid sand” or aragonite sand is not a great option for Blue Rams as it can leak unwanted minerals into the water. 

Stick with an inert sand substrate to keep your Blue Rams happy and healthy! 

Plants and Other Decor

Electric Blue Ram fish prefer a mix of densely grouped plants and wide-open swimming areas.

You will want to choose aquarium plants that can tolerate warmer water temperatures. 

The best plants for an Electric Blue Ram tank include:

  • Java Fern
  • Amazon Swords
  • Sagittaria
  • Anubias
  • Cryptocoryne
  • Vallisneria

Plant these plants along the back, sides, and top of the tank, leaving the bottom, front, and middle of the tank open. These fish enjoy having a top layer of plants that cover the tank as well. 

For other added decor, you will want to include a few caves or dark hidden areas in the tank for your Blue Rams to retreat to if they ever feel threatened. 

Electric Blue Ram Water Parameters 

Electric Blue Ram are tank-raised, freshwater fish that prefer specific water parameters to thrive. 

In general, it is best to keep the water temperature between 78-85℉. The general water hardness should stay between 3-6 dGH and the pH levels should remain between 6.0-7.5 pH. 

It’s also recommended to test the tank water once or twice per week with an aquarium test kit. This will ensure the water parameters are just right for your fish.  

Newly cycled tanks are not suitable for these fish and can be fatal.  It is important to only introduce Blue Rams to a well cycled, matured tank. 

  • Temperature: 78-85℉ (26-29°C)
  • Ammonia: 0 ppm
  • Nitrite: 0 ppm
  • Nitrate: Below 30 ppm
  • pH: 6.0-7.5 pH
  • GH: 3-6 dGH (50-100 ppm)
  • KH: 3-5 dKH (53-89 ppm)

electric blue ram swimming in a tank

Tank Mates 

Finding the right tank mates for Electric Blue Rams can be slightly tricky.

This is because any tankmate that you wish to house with Blue Rams needs to be able to live comfortably in higher water temperatures. 

Considering that Blue Rams thrive in water temperatures between 78-85℉, their tankmates must be able to handle these conditions. 

Electric Blue Ram fish should also be placed in a tank with small, peaceful, non-aggressive fish. 

Avoid housing your Blue Rams with large, aggressive fish, or any other type of Cichlid (including other dwarf Cichlids). 

Here are some of the best options for Electric Blue Ram tank mates: 

  • Tetras (Ember, Neon, Cardinal, etc.)
  • Guppies
  • Swordtail
  • Mollies
  • Platies
  • Dwarf Gourami 
  • Plecos
  • Kuhli Loach (any of the many different types!)
  • Discus
  • Freshwater snails
  • Some species of shrimp  (smaller species like Red Cherry Shrimp may become a snack!)

Can Blue Rams Be Kept Alone? 

Unlike other Cichlid species, Blue Electric Rams are fairly peaceful and do well in a community tank with other fish.

It’s not recommended to keep just one Blue Ram alone in a tank. They do best when housed in a pair. 

A pair of these fish should be kept in a 20-gallon tank minimum. If you decide to add another pair to the tank, make sure to upgrade the aquarium to a 40-gallon tank.

Lifespan 

In captivity, the average Electric Blue Ram lifespan is around 2-4 years depending on how well they are cared for. 

Blue Rams who live in ideal tank conditions and water parameters generally live longer than those who don’t. 

Feeding

Blue Rams are omnivores, which means they eat both plants and other animals. 

They require proper feeding and a balanced diet in order for them to thrive. 

These fish can be picky eaters at times, especially after being shipped, transported, or introduced to a new tank.  

However, in order to receive a balanced diet, it’s best to feed them a variety of different foods including pellets, flakes, live food, frozen foods, and freeze-dried foods. 

The base of their diet can be high-quality flakes or pellets such as the Omega One Freshwater Flakes

For a treat, they highly enjoy live, freeze-dried, or frozen foods like Daphnia, brine shrimp, bloodworms, zooplankton, and Mysis shrimp. 

When given together, all of these foods will ensure your Electric Blue Ram receives proper nutrition and will help to keep its color bright and vibrant. 

Keep in mind that these fish are fairly small. Large pieces of food should be broken up or ground into smaller pieces before feeding them. 

This will help them to properly eat and digest their food. 

It is also important to not overfeed these fish, as this could lead to several different health issues. Overall, it’s best to feed your Blue Rams 2-4 smaller meals throughout the day.

Sexing Electric Blue Rams 

Sexing Blue Rams can sometimes be tricky until they are fully grown adults. 

Here is how to determine the sex of your Blue Rams: 

Females 

  • Smaller in length
  • Sometimes less vibrant
  • Pointed head
  • Shorter pectoral fins
  • Larger, pinker bellies

Males

  • Slightly larger in length
  • Rounded head
  • Long pectoral fins

Breeding

The Electric Blue Ram breeding process isn’t difficult if you provide them with proper care. 

You will want to start by determining the sex of your fish to make sure you have one male and one female. 

Place the pair on their own in a separate tank. They tend to become aggressive towards other tankmates after they spawn. 

These fish prefer to lay their eggs on flat surfaces, so make sure to provide them with several flat stones or breeding slates in their tank. 

They would also appreciate a bundle of Java moss that they can use to cover their fry before they hatch. You should also add a sandy substrate for the bottom of their tank as some prefer to dig during the breeding process to hide their fry.

To start the spawning process, make sure the water is soft and acidic with a pH between 5.5-6.5 pH and slowly increase the water temperature to 84℉ (29 C) over the course of a few days. 

Do not raise the temperature all at once, as this can shock your fish. 

While prepping for breeding, feed both the male and female high protein foods such as frozen or freeze-dried blood worms and brine shrimp. 

If the breeding conditions are just right, the female will lay around 200 eggs onto the flat stone or in a pit in the substrate while the male swoops in to fertilize them. 

The eggs will hatch within the next 3 days. After the eggs hatch, the new babies will become free-swimming after about 5 days and will be able to eat foods like baby brine shrimp or other powdered fry foods. 

From the time the eggs hatch until the fish are free swimming, the parents will constantly protect and monitor the babies to keep them safe.

Are Electric Blue Rams Hardy Fish? 

Electric Blue Rams are not typically considered a “beginner-friendly” fish, however, they can be kept for a few years if given the proper care.

These fish are sensitive to any changes in water conditions and waste like nitrate and ammonia. They also become easily stressed if they are ever moved to a different tank or if they are placed in a newly cycled tank. 

Their level of care is known to be intermediate to advanced. 

These fish are not necessarily considered to be “hardy fish”. But if they are provided a proper diet, ideal water conditions, and the right decor for their tank, they can thrive for a few years in captivity. 

Read more: How long does it take for water conditioner to work?

The Bottom Line

If you are searching for a lovable, vibrant new fish to care for, the Electric Blue Ram may be a great option. 

This fish is more for intermediate to advanced aquarists and requires ideal conditions to thrive. 

They need to be placed in a well-matured tank with a proper filtration system to ensure their tank remains clean and free of waste. 

These fish also prefer a tank with densely planted areas and caves for hiding, but also plenty of spaces to swim freely. 

Blue Rams don’t mind other tankmates, as long as they are small, peaceful, and nonaggressive. 

Although these beautiful little fish require some extra care and maintenance, they are well worth keeping and are a great pop of color in a planted tank. 

Hopefully this Electric Blue Ram care guide inspired you to consider these fish for your next tank! 

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