Care Level: Moderate
Temperament: Peaceful
Live Plant Safe: Yes
General Description: The German Gold Ram, also known as the Xanthistic Ram, is a selectively bred color form of the German Blue Ram (Mikrogeophagus ramirezi). Xanthism is caused by an excess of yellow pigment, or a loss of darker pigments (melanins), that allows the yellow coloration to be dominant. Both male and female German gold rams are brightly colored, with an overall gold body and hues of pink-orange and pearly-white. Sexing male from female can be quite difficult compared to their wild counterpart, but male German gold rams will have a more pronounced and taller second ray of the dorsal fin and both dorsal and anal fins will have a more pointed edge. Clutch success is reduced significantly in German gold rams compared to the wild German blue ram. Even though German gold rams are cichlids, they are very peaceful (with the exception of territoriality during spawning) and are popular choices for planted and community aquariums. Either one German gold ram, or a male – female pair, is recommended per aquarium. An adult German gold ram can reach a size of approximately 3″.
Diet Requirements: German gold rams are omnivores. A diet made up of various high quality vegetable based and protein based flake foods, sinking pellet foods and frozen foods such as bloodworms, spirulina brine shrimp, daphnia or other mixed freshwater preparations are ideal. Variety is the spice of life in order to maintain color, immune function and longevity of your fish.
Care Requirements: An extremely established minimum 20 to 30 gallon aquarium is ideal for a pair of German gold rams. German gold rams can be successfully kept in smaller aquariums, but this should only be attempted by the dedicated aquarist who can handle the difficulty of maintaining superb water parameters in less water volume. German gold rams are much more sensitive than the wild German blue type. Weekly water changes are encouraged to keep water parameters up to standard (Nitrates < 15 ppm); they are intolerable of nitrite or ammonia spikes. The aquarium should be aquascaped generously with rocks and other furnishings to create many hiding spaces. Few hiding spaces could result in your German gold ram acting more aggressively toward tank mates. German gold rams thrive especially well in dense live planted aquariums. Given their temperament, German gold rams rarely conflict with tank mates and are best kept with peaceful species, such as tetras, danios and rasboras. Other semi-aggressive bottom dwelling species and dwarf cichlids, such as apistogrammas, should be avoided. Recommended water conditions, 78-82° F, KH 5-12, pH 5.0-7.0.
Purchase Size:Â Small: 3/4” to 1”
Note: Your item may not look identical to the image provided due to variation within species. Purchase sizes are approximate.
