Care Level: Moderate

Temperament: Peaceful

Live Plant Safe: Yes

General Description: The German Black Ram, also known as the Dark Knight Ram, is a selectively bred color form of the German Blue Ram (Mikrogeophagus ramirezi). Both male and female German black rams will have very dark bodies at maturity, with only their fins showing some typical coloration as seen in regular German blue rams. Sexing male from female can be quite difficult compared to their wild counterpart, but male German black 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. Even though German black 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 black ram, or a male – female pair, is recommended per aquarium. An adult German black ram can reach a size of approximately 3″.

Diet Requirements: German black 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 black rams. German black 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 black 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 black ram acting more aggressively toward tank mates. German black rams thrive especially well in dense live planted aquariums. Given their temperament, German black 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: Small: 3/4” to 1”, Medium: 1-1/4” to 1-1/2”

Note: Your item may not look identical to the image provided due to variation within species. Purchase sizes are approximate.