In this post, we will learn a little about the relationship between Angelfish and German Blue rams. We will also discuss their main characteristics and tank requirements.
Angelfish and German Blue rams
We know that the Rams are friendly and docile fish, on the other hand, the temperament of Angelfish is debatable from the territorial point of view. Despite this, the two species manage to coexist calmly and without problems in an aquarium that respects all their tank requirements and needs. Having these two beautiful ornamental fish in an aquarium brings the necessary beauty for any hobbyist.
German Blue Ram
The German Blue Ram (Microgeophagus ramirezi) is a fish that, despite having sexual dimorphism, presents, in its original variant, in both sexes, golden or bluish shiny spots with a yellow-green background colour. Furthermore, such fish have also vertical black stripes that run across their face, going from the eyes to the top of the head, and others in the flank region.
The difference between females and males is that males are slightly larger and have longer fins, while females are smaller and have a pinkish tinge in the ventral region.
The Blue Ram are small fish that reach a maximum of 3 inches in length. Generally, females are a little smaller than males and measure up to 2 inches.
Habitat
The Blue Ram is a South American freshwater fish that originally inhabits the waters of the Llanos, in the Orinoco River Basin. Such animals are abundant in the regions of Venezuela and Colombia and enjoy hiding under floating or submerged aquatic plants.
As for these fish’s tanks, it is important to emphasize that these animals do not like fast-moving water. They usually live where there is a low flow of currents.
Behaviour
Generally, the German Blue Rams, despite being peaceful, are usually quite curious. When in an aquarium, these fish like to explore peripheral tank areas, in addition to having a unique and captivating personality.
Blue Ram fish breed very easily. In just a single spawn, more than 150 eggs are laid. Reproduction occurs as follows: the couple searches for a place to spawn, they clean the environment with their mouths and the female lays eggs, which are then fertilized by the male. Generally, females deposit the eggs on leaves and, therefore, they are very easy to find.
These fish are fertile from the age of 4 months onwards. Male-female pairs should be separated from other fish for breeding, as other fish may eat the eggs.
Compatibility with other fish species
German Blue Rams are great additions for community tanks. They can be mated to non-cichlids and also to peaceful cichlids. They require a peaceful tank to thrive.
Some recommended tank companions are Bolivian rams, silver dollars, dwarf Gouramis, Plecos, and dither fish, such as cardinal tetras or neon tetras.
Furthermore, to avoid fights, it is important to keep the Rams away from aggressive and agile species, such as Betta fish, for example.
Tank requirements
For German Blue Rams to have a longer life expectancy, they must live in a clean and organized environment. Therefore, it is recommended to keep a biweekly water change routine. It is important to scrape off algae from the tank. Also, be aware of parasites that can bother your pet, so keep the environment always aseptic.
Monitoring of water parameters is extremely important. You can periodically test pH, kH, GH (hardness), ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate. For this, some products check automatically these parameters constantly without the hobbyist needing to check them all the time.
Temperatures should remain between 78 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit. Although, the ideal is around 80 degrees Fahrenheit. pH levels should be between 5 and 7. The minimum tank size for German Blue rams is 20-gallon.
It is also recommended to provide enough plants in the German Blue Rams tank, so they can have plenty of hiding places. Additionally to the plants, it is important to have a slow-moving water current and a mixture of sand and gravel as a substrate.
Sexual dimorphism
It is very easy to distinguish the male from the female German Blue Ram. Males, in addition to being slightly larger, have two elongated crests on their heads, while females have less conspicuous crests.
The male predominant colours are blue with shades of yellow and orange with some black spots. Besides, females have a reddish colour near the pelvic region, especially during the breeding season, in addition to having a slightly rounded anal fin.
Angelfish
Angelfish are tropical freshwater fish that occupy South American waters. They have an awesome triangular shape that makes them very popular among aquarists. They are medium-sized fish and can grow up to 6 inches long. Their life expectancy is around 10 years.
Habitat
Originally from the Amazon River basin, the Angelfish inhabits warmer tropical slow-moving water bodies.
Behaviour
Angelfish are mostly pacific fish. However, some circumstances can provoke some Angelfish aggressive performances, such as territory establishment and breeding periods.
They are very common additions to community tanks, as they are, in general, peaceful fish and have an amazing look.
Compatibility with other fish species
In general, Angelfish are non-aggressive fish. It is recommended to choose tankmates very carefully.
Some nice tank mates for Angelfish are:
– Larger Tetras;
– Larger Rasboras;
– Peaceful Gouramis
– Peaceful Barbs;
– Rainbowfish;
– Corydoras catfish
Tank requirements
Although Angelfish are not schooling fish, they prefer being kept with some conspecifics. They feel safer when in a small group. One Angelfish requires a minimum of 15 gallons of space. However, consider having enough space for at least 4 Angelfish in your tank.
The heater and thermostat are also very important. They are tropical fish and thus require warmer water temperatures stable. Temperatures should remain between 73 and 82 degrees Fahrenheit. pH levels should range between 6.5 and 8.
Does the Angelfish and Blue German ram combination work?
Yes, German Blue rams and Angelfish get along very well and make great tankmates. Their tank specificities and water requirements are very similar. Both species are peaceful cichlids and are found in similar environmental conditions in nature.
One important thing to keep in mind about your tanks is to provide plenty of space and hiding spots. Thus, you can guarantee these species will get along.
Conclusion
In this post, we learnt a little about the relationship between Angelfish and German Blue rams. We also discussed their main characteristics and tank requirements.
If you have any thoughts or doubts, feel free to drop us in a comment below!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): Angelfish and German Blue Rams
What does German Blue Ram eat?
The German Blue Rams are omnivores. Thus, their diet can be extremely varied, from brine shrimp to fleas, larvae, and small crustaceans. They also accept industrialized pellets and flakes.
How to know if the German Blue Ram is male or female?
German Blue Rams show a clear sexual dimorphism. The male is larger, more colourful, and has a larger ventral fin and thin anal, dorsal and caudal fin tips. The female has a yellowish colour, rounded fin tips, plump belly, and is smaller than the male.
What fish can live with the German Blue Rams?
Some of the German Blue Rams tank mates are:
– Silver dollars;
– Dwarf Gouramis;
– Plecos;
– Cardinal and Neon tetras;
– Loaches.
Is German Blue Ram aggressive?
No German Blue Rams are usually very peaceful and docile fish. However, if they begin to show some aggressive behaviours it could be a sign that there are issues with the water quality.
Will German Blue Rams eat Neon tetras?
No, Neon tetras make great tank mates to German Blue Rams. They are both very peaceful and will barely cross each other’s way.
Can Angelfish go with the German Blue Rams?
Yes, German Blue rams and Angelfish get along very well and make great tankmates. Their tank specificities and water requirements are very similar. Both species are cichlids and are found in similar environmental conditions in nature.
References
Robert. 2019. German Blue Ram Care Guide & Species Profile. https://www.fishkeepingworld.com/german-blue-ram/
Jason. 2017. 15 Great Angelfish Tank Mates (Complete Compatibility Guide). https://www.buildyouraquarium.com/angelfish-tank-mates/
Robert. 2019. Angelfish Care & Species Guide. https://www.fishkeepingworld.com/freshwater-angelfish/
Robins, C.R., R.M. Bailey, C.E. Bond, J.R. Brooker, E.A. Lachner, R.N. Lea and W.B. Scott, 1991. World fishes important to North Americans. Exclusive of species from the continental waters of the United States and Canada. Am. Fish. Soc. Spec. Publ. (21):243 p.
Kullander, S.O., 2003. Cichlidae (Cichlids). p. 605-654. In R.E. Reis, S.O. Kullander and C.J. Ferraris, Jr. (eds.) Checklist of the Freshwater Fishes of South and Central America. Porto Alegre: EDIPUCRS, Brasil.
