German blue ram care: tank size, temperature and tankmates

A colorful dwarf cichlid that needs warm, clean, soft water. German blue rams are beautiful but not a beginner fish.

Quick facts

How to keep them

Keep the tank at 80 to 84°F, change water often, and add them only to a mature tank. Avoid shrimp you want to keep.

Like every fish, they need a cycled tank, a heater set inside their range, and a weekly water change of about 25%. Test for ammonia, nitrite and nitrate before you add them. New to this? Start with how to cycle a fish tank.

Tankmates

Good tankmates

Neon tetra · Cardinal tetra · Ember tetra · Rummynose tetra · Harlequin rasbora · Cherry barb · Platy · Guppy · Endler's livebearer · Molly · Honey gourami · Dwarf gourami · Pearl gourami · Kuhli loach · Bristlenose pleco · Amano shrimp · Mystery snail · Glowlight tetra · Black neon tetra · Lemon tetra · Congo tetra · Chili rasbora · Lambchop rasbora · Dwarf neon rainbowfish · Sparkling gourami · Clown loach · Ramshorn snail · African dwarf frog

Possible, with care

• Black skirt tetra: Fast, nippy fish stress slow, calm fish like these. Pick calmer tankmates if you can.
• Serpae tetra: Only a narrow shared temperature range (78–79°F). A good heater and thermometer are a must. Fast, nippy fish stress slow, calm fish like these. Pick calmer tankmates if you can.
• Tiger barb: Fast, nippy fish stress slow, calm fish like these. Pick calmer tankmates if you can.
• Swordtail: Only a narrow shared temperature range (78–79°F). A good heater and thermometer are a must.
• Betta (male): Both can be territorial. It can work in 20 gallons or more with plenty of plants and caves, but watch them closely.
• Corydoras (bronze or peppered): They only share 78°F. A good heater and thermometer are a must.
• Pygmy corydoras: Only a narrow shared temperature range (78–79°F). A good heater and thermometer are a must.
• Otocinclus: Only a narrow shared temperature range (78–79°F). A good heater and thermometer are a must.
• Angelfish: Both are cichlids and claim territory. Give them 40 gallons or more, with caves and plants to break up the view.
• Cherry shrimp: German blue rams eat baby cherry shrimp. Adults usually survive with plenty of moss to hide in.
• Nerite snail: They only share 78°F. A good heater and thermometer are a must.
• Bolivian ram: Only a narrow shared temperature range (78–79°F). A good heater and thermometer are a must. Both are cichlids and claim territory. Give them 40 gallons or more, with caves and plants to break up the view.
• Cockatoo dwarf cichlid: Both are cichlids and claim territory. Give them 40 gallons or more, with caves and plants to break up the view.
• Kribensis: Both are cichlids and claim territory. Give them 40 gallons or more, with caves and plants to break up the view.
• Siamese algae eater: Only a narrow shared temperature range (78–79°F). A good heater and thermometer are a must.
• Ghost shrimp: Dwarf cichlids hunt small shrimp. Ghost shrimp often end up as food.

Avoid

• Zebra danio: No shared temperature: German blue rams like 78–85°F, zebra danios 65–77°F.
• White cloud mountain minnow: No shared temperature: German blue rams like 78–85°F, white cloud minnows 60–72°F.
• Fancy goldfish: Goldfish need cool water and grow big and messy. Keep them with other goldfish, not tropical fish.
• Common goldfish: Goldfish need cool water and grow big and messy. Keep them with other goldfish, not tropical fish.
• Gold barb: No shared temperature: German blue rams like 78–85°F, gold barbs 64–75°F.
• Rosy barb: No shared temperature: German blue rams like 78–85°F, rosy barbs 64–74°F.
• Hillstream loach: No shared temperature: German blue rams like 78–85°F, hillstream loaches 68–75°F.

Not sure about a mix? See the tankmate answers or the stocking ideas by tank size.

Tankmate questions: Can bettas live with German blue rams? · Can angelfish live with German blue rams? · Can German blue rams live with corydoras?

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