Care guide
Overview
The German Black Ram is a selectively bred, melanistic line of Mikrogeophagus ramirezi — the same species as the German Blue Ram, bred for extra-dark pigmentation. The best specimens are nearly black with iridescent blue speckling, like a galaxy on a fish. A stunning dwarf cichlid, and a slightly more demanding one than the Blue.
Natural Habitat
The wild form is native to the warm, soft, slow-moving waters of the Orinoco basin savannahs of Venezuela and Colombia, among leaf litter, roots, and dense marginal vegetation. The Black is a domestic line bred from that stock.
Tank Setup
A 20-gallon (~75 L) long or larger with fine sand, heavy plant cover, and a flat stone or two for spawning. Black Rams dislike bright, open tanks even more than Blues — use floating plants to dim the light and add driftwood with leaf litter. Gentle filtration and a stable heater (ideally redundant) are essential.
Diet
An omnivore that leans carnivorous. Rotate baby brine shrimp, daphnia, cyclops, frozen bloodworm, mysis, and a quality micro-pellet. Newly arrived Blacks can be pickier than Blues; bloodworm and brine shrimp usually get them eating. Two small meals a day with one fast day a week.
Temperament & Tankmates
Peaceful but best with quiet companions: Cardinal, Rummynose, and Ember Tetras, pencilfish, hatchetfish, Corydoras, and Otocinclus. Avoid nippy or boisterous fish and cooler-water species. Same-sex Blacks can squabble intensely, so buy four to six juveniles and let a pair form.
Approximate Shipping Size
German Black Rams ship at approximately 1–1.25 inch (2.5–3 cm). Adult size is approximately 2–3 inch (5–7.5 cm). All orders are covered by our Live Arrival Guarantee.
