Ramirezi German Blue

Microgeophagus ramirezi is a freshwater fish species endemic to the Orinoco River basin in the savannas of Venezuela and Colombia, in South America.

This species is a member of the family Cichlidae, subfamily Geophaginae.

External aspects: The standard specimen (of the original variety) has a yellowish-green background color studded with bright blue spots that extend along the dorsal, anal, and caudal fins. This variety also has several discontinuous vertical stripes in a very pale black, and a stripe on the top of the head that passes through the eyes. This is the strongest black stripe, followed by a second stripe on the flanks – this appearing more as a dark black spot in aquarium-bred varieties. The species is sexually distinguishable, with females being smaller in size, having pink pigmentation in the ventral region and smaller rays on the front of the dorsal fin; the female's anal fin does not extend beyond the caudal fin. Males reach about 7 cm.

Distribution and habitat : Unlike its relatives in the genus Apistogramma, the natural habitat of the ramirezi is in the warm (25.5-29.5 ºC) and acidic (pH 5) waters of the streams in the Llanos region of Venezuela and Colombia. In general, the waters in which they have been found have a low flow, contain little dissolved mineral, and are clear although quite darkened by tannin. The species is typically found only in locations protected by aquatic plant cover or submerged vegetation.

Adult size: Upon reaching sexual maturity, the species forms monogamous pairs before breeding. It is known to lay its 1.5 mm eggs on flat stones or directly in small depressions dug in the gravel. Like many cichlids, both the male and female ramirezi care for the fry, protecting the eggs and defending the territory. Generally, 150 to 300 eggs are produced, but cases have been reported where this number reached 500. Ramirezi have been observed fanning water over their eggs, which hatch in 40 hours at 29 °C. The fry are unable to swim freely until the fifth day, when they are escorted by the male or female in a dense school to feed.

In aquariums:

The ramirezi cichlid is a popular cichlid for tropical aquariums, although it is not necessarily the easiest to keep – especially when sharing the aquarium with more aggressive or very active species. The species is shy and does best when kept with calm species, such as the neon tetra or cardinal tetra. The species readily exhibits reproductive behavior in water with a pH of 5.0-6.5, although softer water encourages more regular breeding.

It is preferable to keep this species in larger aquariums because it is intolerant to common aquarium pollutants such as nitrate. The environment should be decorated to mimic its natural habitat, with aquatic plants in various locations, separated by open water features. The species exhibits cannibalism towards its offspring if its reproduction is disturbed.

Breeding them is not difficult, provided the fish is comfortable enough in the aquarium. The ritual is similar to that of other cichlids: the pair looks for a spawning site and, after cleaning it well with their mouths, the female deposits the eggs, which are immediately fertilized by the male. The parents care for the eggs and, after hatching, for the fry.