Kelberi Peacock Bass
Cichla kelberi
- Care level
- Specialist
- Adult size
- 35–50 cm
- Minimum tank
- 1200 litres
- Temperature
- 24–30 °C
Species profile
Gold Ram Cichlid
Mikrogeophagus ramirezi var. "Gold"
Common names: Gold Ram Cichlid, Golden Ram
Recognized speciesCichlids
Adult size
Up to 6 cm
Typical adult length 4–6 cm.
Up to 6 cm
Countries of origin
Good fit for your tank?
Good fit for
- Mature planted aquarium setups
- Intermediate shrimp keepers
- Peaceful nano aquariums
Think carefully if
- The aquarium contains shrimp-eating fish
- The tank is newly cycled
- Water conditions change frequently
A yellow-gold captive ram strain whose reduced dark pigment makes careful health and sex assessment important.
Appearance and Identification
A bright yellow to orange ram with blue iridescence and reduced or absent black bars and flank spot.
Gold is a captive colour variety of M. ramirezi. Pale colour should not be mistaken for stress, but clamped fins, rapid breathing, and poor appetite remain warning signs.
Males are usually larger with longer dorsal rays. Females may show a fuller pinkish abdomen, although reduced pigment can make sexing harder.
Tank Requirements
- Suggested filter
- About 120–180 litres an hour
- Suggested heater
- About 50–100 W for this tank
- Minimum tank volume
- 60 litres
- Minimum tank length
- 60 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
Use a mature warm aquarium with fine sand, plants, flat stones, wood, and gentle filtration.
Behaviour and Tankmates
A small lower-level cichlid that is usually peaceful outside breeding but sensitive to poor water quality and social stress.
Keep a compatible pair or a small group in a larger structured aquarium. Forced pairs may fight.
Both parents defend a small spawning territory and may attack bottom-dwelling fish near eggs or fry.
Use peaceful warm-water tank mates that do not dominate food. Shrimplets are prey, and cool-water community fish are unsuitable.
Water Parameters
Stable warm water and very low nitrogen waste are essential. Soft to moderately mineralised water is acceptable.
Parameter caveat
Avoid dyed fish and individuals with malformed bodies or weak swimming. Quarantine new stock.
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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 requiring varied small foods and excellent nutrition.
Feed several small meals daily. Avoid relying on flakes alone and do not keep at low temperature to slow metabolism.
Breeding
- Breeding type
- Egg Layer, Substrate Spawner
- Breeding difficulty
- Moderate
- Breeding temperature
- 29 °C
- Breeding pH
- 6.2
- 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 laid on a flat surface or in a shallow pit and guarded by both parents.
Habitat and Origin
- Geographic origin
- Captive-Developed, Colombia, South America, Venezuela
- Natural habitat
- Floodplain, Freshwater Wetland, Slow River
- Aquarium contexts
- Breeding Aquarium, Freshwater Aquarium, Freshwater Community, Planted Aquarium
- Audience level
- Intermediate
Classification
- Profile type
- Recognized species
- Genus
- Mikrogeophagus
- Family
- Cichlidae
- Species group
- Cichlids, Fish, South American Cichlids
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- Care level
- Beginner
- Adult size
- 8–12 cm
- Minimum tank
- 150 litres
- Temperature
- 23–28 °C
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- Care level
- Intermediate
- Adult size
- 10–15 cm
- Minimum tank
- 250 litres
- Temperature
- 25–29 °C
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- Care level
- Intermediate
- Adult size
- 15–22 cm
- Minimum tank
- 400 litres
- Temperature
- 24–29 °C