The livestock that is sold on our online site is not held in store at our Birchwood Aquatic Centre shop. Species sold at the Birchwood Aquatic Centre physical store may differ from ones available to order to your door.
Blue Ram Mikrogeophagus Ramirezi 3cm
Image for illustration purposes only. Exact colours, patterns, and size may vary between individuals.
Delivered alive, guaranteed
Live fish delivery is £20 per order, delivered Thursday, Friday or Saturday, arriving before 1:00pm on the day you choose at checkout. Packed by aquatic specialists and shipped overnight with a dedicated livestock courier, every fish is covered by our Live Arrival Guarantee with automatic refunds. See How Live Fish Delivery Works for full details.
When will my fish arrive?
| Order placed | Delivery day |
|---|---|
| Up to Monday 11:00am | Thursday (that week) |
| Monday after 11:00am – Tuesday 11:00am | Friday (that week) |
| Tuesday after 11:00am – Wednesday 11:00am | Saturday (that week) |
| Wednesday after 11:00am – Sunday (any time) | Thursday (following week) |
Overview
The Blue Ram is the classic form of the Ram Cichlid: a yellow-gold body spangled with electric blue, a black eye bar and a red belly, with a tall black-fronted dorsal fin on males. It comes from warm savannah waters of the Orinoco basin and suits calm, mature, planted tanks with gentle companions.
- Adult Size: Around 5–6 cm (2–2.4 in); males slightly larger with longer fins
- Lifespan: 2–4 years
Origin
- Native to: Orinoco basin llanos, Venezuela and Colombia
- Habitat: Warm, slow, soft-water pools and streams with sandy beds
Feeding
- Diet: Omnivorous, sand-sifting
- Preferred Foods: Bloodworm, brine shrimp, daphnia, grindal worms, sinking micro pellets, quality flake
- Feeding Habits: Small feeds twice daily; sinking foods suit their bottom sifting
Tank Mates
- Best with: Small tetras, pencilfish, Corydoras, Otocinclus, peaceful rasboras
- Avoid: Boisterous, fast-feeding or fin-nipping fish and other cichlids
Aggression & Behaviour
- Temperament: Peaceful and timid
- Territoriality: Pairs defend a small breeding territory
Experience Level
- Difficulty: Intermediate
- Challenges: Sensitive to water quality and sudden changes; poor competitor
Water Parameters
- Water Type: Freshwater, soft and acidic
- Temperature: 26–30°C (79–86°F)
- pH: 5.0–7.0
- Hardness: 1–10 dGH
- Flow: Slow
- Tank Size: Minimum 60 litres per pair; larger for groups or community
Final Notes
Often sold as a beginner cichlid, the Ram really needs a mature, stable tank with warm, soft water and frequent small water changes; boisterous tank mates make it hide and fail to thrive. Subdued lighting, floating plants and fine sand for sifting bring out its confidence. Biparental substrate spawners, pairs guard eggs and fry on flat stones. Given calm conditions it is a jewel of a centrepiece fish.
Please Note
The livestock that is sold on our online site is not held in store at our Birchwood Aquatic Centre shop. Species sold at the Birchwood Aquatic Centre physical store may differ from ones available to order to your door.
Frequently Asked Questions
In insulated boxes designed for live transport, packed by aquatic specialists,
overnight with a licensed live-animal courier, arriving before 1pm.
It is covered by our Live Arrival Guarantee.
Photograph it within 4 hours of delivery, email info@birchwoodaquaticcentre.co.uk with your order number, and the refund is processed automatically. The cover continues for 7 days after arrival.
Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday. You pick your day at checkout; please choose a day someone is home.
Yes. One basket, one checkout; the fish arrive with the specialist courier and the rest of your order ships as normal.
We can deliver to UK mainland only for live fish.
Follow the five-minute acclimatisation steps in our When Your Fish Arrive guide: float the bags, add tank water gradually, net the fish in, lights low, feed tomorrow.