Electric Blue Ram Cichlid
Mikrogeophagus ramirezi var. "Electric Blue"
- Care level
- Intermediate
- Adult size
- 4–6 cm
- Minimum tank
- 60 litres
- Temperature
- 27–31 °C
Species profile
Dwarf Flag Cichlid
Laetacara curviceps
Common names: Dwarf Flag Cichlid, Curviceps Cichlid
Recognized speciesCichlids
Adult size
Up to 8 cm
Typical adult length 5–8 cm.
Up to 8 cm
Countries of origin
Good fit for your tank?
Good fit for
- Mature planted aquarium setups
- Beginner shrimp keepers
Think carefully if
- The aquarium contains shrimp-eating fish
- The tank is newly cycled
- Water conditions change frequently
A small, generally peaceful Amazonian cichlid suited to planted community aquaria with calm companions.
Appearance and Identification
A compact tan cichlid with blue-green iridescence, a dark mid-body mark, subtle bars, and reddish fin accents.
It is often confused with other Laetacara. Head profile, flank mark, bar pattern, and collection data are useful.
Males may be slightly larger and longer-finned. Females become fuller and show stronger spawning colour.
Tank Requirements
- Suggested filter
- About 160–240 litres an hour
- Suggested heater
- About 75–125 W for this tank
- Minimum tank volume
- 80 litres
- Minimum tank length
- 75 cm
- Minimum group size
- 2
- Recommended group size
- 2
- Activity level
- Moderate
- Flow preference
- Low
- Planting preference
- Moderately planted
- Hiding places
- Yes
- Lid recommended
- Yes
- Jumping risk
- Low
Provide plants, wood, fine sand, leaf litter, flat spawning surfaces, and visual barriers. A compatible pair fits a well-maintained 75 cm aquarium.
Behaviour and Tankmates
Generally peaceful and reserved, becoming territorial only around a spawning site.
Usually kept as a bonded pair or small group in a larger planted tank.
Both parents defend eggs and fry within a modest territory.
Good with peaceful tetras, pencilfish, hatchetfish, and calm catfish. Shrimplets may be eaten.
Water Parameters
Soft to moderately mineralised water is suitable, with slightly acidic conditions preferred for breeding.
Parameter caveat
Avoid aggressive or hyperactive tank mates and maintain stable clean water.
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Manual aquarium siphon and gravel cleaner
A manual siphon for routine aquarium water changes and accessible waste removal. The seller lists a hose approximately 1.6 m long.
Control the flow and keep the intake clear of fish and delicate planting. Clean the areas appropriate for your substrate and layout rather than disturbing the entire planted bed.
Daraz NepalCheck availability on Daraz
Feeding
- Diet types
- Insectivore, Omnivore
- Feeding frequency
- Daily
- Preferred foods
- Live baby brine shrimpUseful for conditioning adults and feeding juveniles; rinse before use.
- Daphnia, cyclops, or mosquito larvaeSmall moving prey encourages natural feeding behaviour.
- Frozen brine shrimp or mysisOffer thawed portions sized for the fish.
- High-quality cichlid micro-pelletUse as part of a varied diet after the fish accepts prepared food.
An omnivorous micropredator accepting small live, frozen, and prepared foods.
Feed small varied meals and ensure the pair is not outcompeted by fast fish.
Breeding
- Breeding type
- Egg Layer, Substrate Spawner
- Breeding difficulty
- Moderate
- Breeding temperature
- 26 °C
- Breeding pH
- 6.5
- Brood or egg count
- Usually 100 to 300 eggs.
- Incubation
- 3 days
- Parental care
- Biparental care
- Baby foods
- Newly hatched brine shrimpPrimary food for free-swimming fry; feed small rinsed portions several times daily.
- MicrowormsUseful supplementary food for small fry near the substrate.
- Fine powdered fry foodUse sparingly and remove uneaten material.
A biparental open substrate spawner. Eggs are placed on stone, wood, or leaves and guarded by both parents.
Habitat and Origin
- Geographic origin
- Amazon Basin, Brazil, South America
- Natural habitat
- Floodplain, Slow River, Vegetated Shoreline
- Aquarium contexts
- Breeding Aquarium, Freshwater Aquarium, Freshwater Community, Planted Aquarium
- Audience level
- Beginner
Classification
- Profile type
- Recognized species
- Genus
- Laetacara
- Family
- Cichlidae
- Species group
- Cichlids, Fish, South American Cichlids
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False Green Terror
Andinoacara rivulatus
- Care level
- Intermediate
- Adult size
- 20–30 cm
- Minimum tank
- 400 litres
- Temperature
- 22–28 °C
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- Care level
- Intermediate
- Adult size
- 12–18 cm
- Minimum tank
- 300 litres
- Temperature
- 24–29 °C
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Pterophyllum scalare
- Care level
- Intermediate
- Adult size
- 12–15 cm
- Minimum tank
- 200 litres
- Temperature
- 24–30 °C