| Blue Ram, Gold Ram, which is which? This little | | | | Most of the tanks that I have kept Rams of |
| dwarf South American Cichlid has had its name | | | | assorted types have been pretty bare of plants, |
| changed so many times it has every right to be | | | | but with lots of rocks and ornaments that allow |
| confused. But whatever you call it, the Blue Ram, | | | | them hide and claim as territory. They have |
| or the Gold Ram (originally I knew it as | | | | survived and flourished in a rocky environment, |
| Apistogramma ramirezi) is one of the most | | | | and even bred repeatedly on a flat rock or on a |
| intriguing fish you can keep in a passive aquarium | | | | grave impression they have dug. One of their |
| community. The fish has been also been called | | | | many names was Microgeophagus - or little dirt |
| Microgeophagus (little dirt eater) and is listed in my | | | | eater. My observations show this is a good |
| copy of the Baensch Aquarium Atlas as | | | | description for them. They will dig and move the |
| Papilliochromis ramirezi. | | | | gravel and can create hollows in the bottom, |
| Doesn't matter what they call it, at least | | | | some have even spawned there. I would suggest |
| scientifically, I like these fish. They have a very | | | | using relatively small fine gravel for the bottom of |
| gentle personality and are extremely passive, | | | | a ram tank, since they will be moving it around |
| keeping pretty much to themselves when they | | | | anyway, and large gravel will make the effort |
| are added to a community aquarium. In fact this | | | | great. |
| is often a problem, they are so easily intimidated | | | | I was not a fan of keeping live plants when I kept |
| by more active swimming fish that they may | | | | and bred these originally. The fact that they |
| never become as colourful as they can be. Even | | | | move the gravel means that any plants you keep |
| if other fish are not even trying to bother them, | | | | for them must be well anchored. They do enjoy |
| swift movements and rapid fish can simply be too | | | | a planted tank with densely bunched plants that |
| much and the fish will waste away. For this | | | | offer places to hide and disappear within, but like |
| reason I most often will simply give the group a | | | | my previous environments, they do need plenty |
| tank of their own and let the interactions in their | | | | of open bottom swimming area as well. In |
| own community offer the action in the tank. In a | | | | essence the plants provide the same type of |
| species tank like this, I often see much more | | | | protection that a properly rocked aquarium will for |
| interaction between the individuals. It may only be | | | | them. Either way, when planting or rocking the |
| my opinion, but the social characteristics between | | | | aquarium, concentrate near the back and ensure |
| these fish as a group is well worth devoting a | | | | there is a plenty of swimming space is probably |
| small tank just to them. | | | | the best way to set the aquarium. Other fish can |
| In my experience they can be quite delicate and | | | | be included in the habitat, but keep them to lazy |
| prefer softer acid water, some of the books do | | | | swimming fish in the upper regions so there is little |
| note they will tolerate up to neutral (7.0 pH) | | | | interaction between the rams and the other |
| water, but I feel that is a maximum limit, lower | | | | species. |
| pH down to 6.5 are much more preferable. Above | | | | The Gold Ram was the first Cichlid I tried my |
| all, they simply do not tolerate environmental | | | | hand at keeping and breeding. When I first saw |
| changes well. Be very careful when adding any | | | | them introduced a few decades ago to my area, |
| type of chemical, if you must treat the water for | | | | I knew I wanted to see what they were about. |
| softness and acidity, try to do it naturally, possibly | | | | Once I looked into them, the general Cichlid |
| with peat rather than chemical treatments that | | | | species characteristics intrigued me, having had |
| can cause the conditions to rapidly fluctuate. It is | | | | my fill of fish that evidence no parental behaviour, |
| much better to allow the change to be very | | | | either giving birth and abandoning them as they |
| gradual, rather than all of a sudden. and always | | | | drop or simply scattering eggs and ignoring them |
| ensure the water you are replacing during regular | | | | afterwards. it was a refreshing change of pace to |
| aquarium maintenance protocols has been | | | | finally encounter fish that actually cared for their |
| properly treated outside the aquarium to eliminate | | | | eggs until they hatch, protecting the clutch and |
| chlorine and other toxins well before coming in | | | | the area from unwanted intruders. This is the |
| contact with the aquarium. | | | | time when rams become their most aggressive. |
| If you give do give them the conditions they | | | | Sure there are a lot of other Dwarf Cichlids, and |
| require and let them settle in and get | | | | many of them are just as stunning, but I have |
| comfortable, you will watch one of the true | | | | yet to see any fish with the depth and brilliance |
| jewels of the freshwater tropical fish species as it | | | | of colour as a well conditioned Blue Ram in full |
| goes about its business. Too much action by | | | | breeding colours showing off for a receptive |
| other species in the tank and it the entire group | | | | female. These dwarfs do not have as pronounced |
| will become timid and easily spooked, but in the | | | | roles for the parental care as many of their larger |
| right conditions, it is truly a spectacular addition to | | | | cousins display. The roles blur and both do what is |
| the small community aquarium. I have found the | | | | required without as clear cut responsibilities. They |
| blue and gold rams can be mixed pretty easily | | | | can be a problem to keep happy, but when they |
| and that they prefer to be in groups rather than | | | | do breed and the eggs have been laid, it is best |
| simple pairs. The interaction of the group is quite | | | | to remove other occupants and let the eggs |
| social, so having at least five or six in the tank | | | | hatch. Once the babies are fully free swimming, |
| gives them chance to interact with interesting | | | | they can be removed to a grow out tank. |
| results. | | | | |