Species › Cichlids

German blue ram tank mates and minimum tank size

Mikrogeophagus ramirezi

German blue rams grow to 4.2 cm (1.7 in). They are shy and do best with calm tank mates of similar size. They need 27–30 °C (81–86 °F) and pH 5.0–6.0.

Minimum tank

54 L (14 US gal), at least 60 cm (24 in) long

Adult size

4.2 cm (1.7 in)

Temperature

27–30 °C (81–86 °F)

pH

pH 5.0–6.0

Group

no minimum

German blue ram minimum tank size

German blue rams need at least 54 L (14 US gal), in a tank at least 60 cm (24 in) long.

That is the largest minimum among the sources below. The planner also checks the tank length against the adult size of 4.2 cm (1.7 in): a tank shorter than 4 times that is cramped (17 cm (6.6 in)).

German blue ram tank mates

Each of the other 52 species in this reference, judged against German blue rams by the same rules as the compatibility checker. A guide, not a guarantee.

Compatible (2)

• Ember tetra
• Lemon tetra

With care (11)

• Black neon tetraThe only temperature that suits both is 27 °C (81 °F), set by German blue rams and black neon tetras. That leaves no margin.
• Bronze corydorasThe only temperature that suits both is 27 °C (81 °F), set by German blue rams and bronze corydoras. That leaves no margin. The only pH that suits both is pH 6.0, set by bronze corydoras and German blue rams. That leaves no margin.
• Cardinal tetraThe only temperature that suits both is 27 °C (81 °F), set by German blue rams and cardinal tetras. That leaves no margin.
• Cherry barbThe only temperature that suits both is 27 °C (81 °F), set by German blue rams and cherry barbs. That leaves no margin. The only pH that suits both is pH 6.0, set by cherry barbs and German blue rams. That leaves no margin.
• Clown loachClown loaches nip and chase; shy German blue rams are likely targets. German blue rams are shy and lose out at feeding time to boisterous clown loaches.
• DiscusGerman blue rams fight other cichlids, and discus are one of them. German blue rams (4.2 cm) are shy and easily intimidated by much larger discus (14 cm).
• Dwarf gouramiThe only temperature that suits both is 27 °C (81 °F), set by German blue rams and dwarf gouramis. That leaves no margin. The only pH that suits both is pH 6.0, set by dwarf gouramis and German blue rams. That leaves no margin.
• Glowlight tetraThe only pH that suits both is pH 6.0, set by glowlight tetras and German blue rams. That leaves no margin.
• Honey gouramiThe only temperature that suits both is 27 °C (81 °F), set by German blue rams and honey gouramis. That leaves no margin. The only pH that suits both is pH 6.0, set by honey gouramis and German blue rams. That leaves no margin. German blue rams (4.2 cm) are shy and easily intimidated by much larger honey gouramis (14 cm).
• Pearl gouramiThe only pH that suits both is pH 6.0, set by pearl gouramis and German blue rams. That leaves no margin.
• Yoyo loachThe only temperature that suits both is 27–27.5 °C (81–82 °F), set by German blue rams and yoyo loaches. That leaves no margin. The only pH that suits both is pH 6.0, set by yoyo loaches and German blue rams. That leaves no margin. Yoyo loaches nip and chase; shy German blue rams are likely targets. German blue rams are shy and lose out at feeding time to boisterous yoyo loaches.

Not compatible (39)

• AngelfishAngelfish need pH 6.8–7.4; German blue rams need pH 5.0–6.0. No pH suits both. German blue rams fight other cichlids, and angelfish are one of them. Angelfish grow to 15 cm and eat animals they can swallow; German blue rams grow to 4.2 cm. German blue rams (4.2 cm) are shy and easily intimidated by much larger angelfish (15 cm).
• BettaBettas need pH 6.8–7.5; German blue rams need pH 5.0–6.0. No pH suits both. Bettas are usually best kept alone. Some accept calm tank mates such as German blue rams, many do not.
• Black skirt tetraGerman blue rams need 27–30 °C (81–86 °F); black skirt tetras need 20–26 °C (68–79 °F). No temperature suits both. The only pH that suits both is pH 6.0, set by black skirt tetras and German blue rams. That leaves no margin.
• Boeseman's rainbowfishBoeseman's rainbowfish need pH 7.0–8.0; German blue rams need pH 5.0–6.0. No pH suits both. German blue rams are shy and lose out at feeding time to boisterous Boeseman's rainbowfish.
• Bristlenose plecoGerman blue rams need 27–30 °C (81–86 °F); bristlenose plecos need 23–26 °C (73–79 °F). No temperature suits both. Bristlenose plecos need pH 6.5–7.5; German blue rams need pH 5.0–6.0. No pH suits both.
• Celestial pearl danioGerman blue rams need 27–30 °C (81–86 °F); celestial pearl danios need 20–26 °C (68–79 °F). No temperature suits both. Celestial pearl danios need pH 6.5–7.5; German blue rams need pH 5.0–6.0. No pH suits both.
• Cherry shrimpCherry shrimp need pH 6.5–8.5; German blue rams need pH 5.0–6.0. No pH suits both. German blue rams (4.2 cm) usually leave adult cherry shrimp (4 cm) alone but eat the young.
• Chili rasboraChili rasboras need pH 6.5–7.0; German blue rams need pH 5.0–6.0. No pH suits both.
• Cockatoo dwarf cichlidGerman blue rams need 27–30 °C (81–86 °F); cockatoo dwarf cichlids need 24–25 °C (75–77 °F). No temperature suits both. The only pH that suits both is pH 6.0, set by cockatoo dwarf cichlids and German blue rams. That leaves no margin. German blue rams fight other cichlids, and cockatoo dwarf cichlids are one of them. Cockatoo dwarf cichlids fight other cichlids, and German blue rams are one of them.
• Common plecoGerman blue rams need 27–30 °C (81–86 °F); common plecos need 23.3–26.7 °C (74–80 °F). No temperature suits both. Common plecos need pH 7.0–7.5; German blue rams need pH 5.0–6.0. No pH suits both.
• Congo tetraGerman blue rams need 27–30 °C (81–86 °F); Congo tetras need 23–26 °C (73–79 °F). No temperature suits both. The only pH that suits both is pH 6.0, set by Congo tetras and German blue rams. That leaves no margin.
• Convict cichlidConvict cichlids need pH 7.0–8.0; German blue rams need pH 5.0–6.0. No pH suits both. Convict cichlids are aggressive and best kept in a tank of their own; they attack fish several times their size, so German blue rams would be harassed. German blue rams fight other cichlids, and convict cichlids are one of them. Convict cichlids grow to 15 cm and eat animals they can swallow; German blue rams grow to 4.2 cm. German blue rams (4.2 cm) are shy and easily intimidated by much larger convict cichlids (15 cm).
• Endler's livebearerEndler's livebearers need pH 7.0–8.5; German blue rams need pH 5.0–6.0. No pH suits both.
• Glass catfishGerman blue rams need 27–30 °C (81–86 °F); glass catfish need 20–26 °C (68–79 °F). No temperature suits both.
• GoldfishGerman blue rams need 27–30 °C (81–86 °F); goldfish need 15.6–21.1 °C (60–70 °F). No temperature suits both. Goldfish need pH 7.0–8.0; German blue rams need pH 5.0–6.0. No pH suits both. German blue rams are shy and lose out at feeding time to boisterous goldfish.
• GuppyGuppies need pH 7.0–8.0; German blue rams need pH 5.0–6.0. No pH suits both.
• Harlequin rasboraGerman blue rams need 27–30 °C (81–86 °F); harlequin rasboras need 22–25 °C (72–77 °F). No temperature suits both.
• KribensisGerman blue rams need 27–30 °C (81–86 °F); kribensis need 24–25 °C (75–77 °F). No temperature suits both. German blue rams fight other cichlids, and kribensis are one of them. Kribensis fight other cichlids, and German blue rams are one of them.
• Kuhli loachGerman blue rams need 27–30 °C (81–86 °F); kuhli loaches need 24–26 °C (75–79 °F). No temperature suits both.
• MollyMollies need pH 7.5–8.2; German blue rams need pH 5.0–6.0. No pH suits both.
• Mystery snailGerman blue rams need 27–30 °C (81–86 °F); mystery snails need 21–26 °C (70–79 °F). No temperature suits both. Mystery snails need pH 7.2 or higher; German blue rams need pH 5.0–6.0. No pH suits both.
• Neon tetraGerman blue rams need 27–30 °C (81–86 °F); neon tetras need 21–25 °C (70–77 °F). No temperature suits both.
• Nerite snailGerman blue rams need 27–30 °C (81–86 °F); nerite snails need 22–26 °C (72–79 °F). No temperature suits both. Nerite snails need pH 7.0 or higher; German blue rams need pH 5.0–6.0. No pH suits both.
• OscarGerman blue rams need 27–30 °C (81–86 °F); oscars need 22–25 °C (72–77 °F). No temperature suits both. Oscars grow to 46 cm and eat animals they can swallow; German blue rams grow to 4.2 cm. The only pH that suits both is pH 6.0, set by oscars and German blue rams. That leaves no margin. German blue rams fight other cichlids, and oscars are one of them. German blue rams (4.2 cm) are shy and easily intimidated by much larger oscars (46 cm).
• OtocinclusGerman blue rams need 27–30 °C (81–86 °F); otocinclus need 21–26 °C (70–79 °F). No temperature suits both. The only pH that suits both is pH 6.0, set by otocinclus and German blue rams. That leaves no margin.
• Panda corydorasGerman blue rams need 27–30 °C (81–86 °F); panda corydoras need 22–25 °C (72–77 °F). No temperature suits both. The only pH that suits both is pH 6.0, set by panda corydoras and German blue rams. That leaves no margin.
• Paradise fishGerman blue rams need 27–30 °C (81–86 °F); paradise fish need 16–22 °C (61–72 °F). No temperature suits both. The only pH that suits both is pH 6.0, set by paradise fish and German blue rams. That leaves no margin.
• Peppered corydorasGerman blue rams need 27–30 °C (81–86 °F); peppered corydoras need 22–23 °C (72–73 °F). No temperature suits both. The only pH that suits both is pH 6.0, set by peppered corydoras and German blue rams. That leaves no margin.
• PlatyGerman blue rams need 27–30 °C (81–86 °F); platies need 20–25 °C (68–77 °F). No temperature suits both. Platies need pH 7.0–8.0; German blue rams need pH 5.0–6.0. No pH suits both.
• Pygmy corydorasGerman blue rams need 27–30 °C (81–86 °F); pygmy corydoras need 22–26 °C (72–79 °F). No temperature suits both. Pygmy corydoras need pH 6.4–7.4; German blue rams need pH 5.0–6.0. No pH suits both.
• Red tail sharkGerman blue rams need 27–30 °C (81–86 °F); red tail sharks need 22–26 °C (72–79 °F). No temperature suits both. Red tail sharks need pH 6.5–7.5; German blue rams need pH 5.0–6.0. No pH suits both. German blue rams (4.2 cm) are shy and easily intimidated by much larger red tail sharks (13 cm).
• Rosy barbGerman blue rams need 27–30 °C (81–86 °F); rosy barbs need 18–22 °C (64–72 °F). No temperature suits both. The only pH that suits both is pH 6.0, set by rosy barbs and German blue rams. That leaves no margin. German blue rams (4.2 cm) are shy and easily intimidated by much larger rosy barbs (14 cm).
• Rummy-nose tetraGerman blue rams need 27–30 °C (81–86 °F); rummy-nose tetras need 23–26 °C (73–79 °F). No temperature suits both.
• Serpae tetraGerman blue rams need 27–30 °C (81–86 °F); serpae tetras need 22–26 °C (72–79 °F). No temperature suits both. Serpae tetras nip and chase; shy German blue rams are likely targets.
• Siamese algae eaterGerman blue rams need 27–30 °C (81–86 °F); Siamese algae eaters need 24–26 °C (75–79 °F). No temperature suits both. Siamese algae eaters need pH 6.5–8.0; German blue rams need pH 5.0–6.0. No pH suits both.
• SwordtailSwordtails need pH 7.0–8.0; German blue rams need pH 5.0–6.0. No pH suits both. German blue rams (4.2 cm) are shy and easily intimidated by much larger swordtails (14 cm).
• Tiger barbGerman blue rams need 27–30 °C (81–86 °F); tiger barbs need 20–26 °C (68–79 °F). No temperature suits both. The only pH that suits both is pH 6.0, set by tiger barbs and German blue rams. That leaves no margin. Tiger barbs nip and chase; shy German blue rams are likely targets. German blue rams are shy and lose out at feeding time to boisterous tiger barbs.
• White cloud mountain minnowGerman blue rams need 27–30 °C (81–86 °F); white cloud mountain minnows need 18–22 °C (64–72 °F). No temperature suits both. The only pH that suits both is pH 6.0, set by white cloud mountain minnows and German blue rams. That leaves no margin.
• Zebra danioGerman blue rams need 27–30 °C (81–86 °F); zebra danios need 18–24 °C (64–75 °F). No temperature suits both. The only pH that suits both is pH 6.0, set by zebra danios and German blue rams. That leaves no margin.

Sources

Where sources differ, the value shown is computed as the most cautious one.

Behaviour notes are from Seriously Fish, read 2026-10-26.

Check against another species Plan a tank