Ram cichlid

Care at a glance

The ram cichlid is a dwarf cichlid with the colours of a tropical bird and the behaviour of a full-size cichlid in miniature: it patrols, cleans a stone and looks after its brood with remarkable care. For such a small fish it offers an enormous amount to watch.

It is, unfortunately, also delicate. Most farmed fish come from warm Asian breeding facilities and cope badly with what the average community tank offers: water that is too cool, too much nitrate and too much bustle. Give it a mature, warm and calm tank with soft water, hiding places and a sandy bottom. A pair will claim a corner and drive everything out of it while breeding.

Good to know

• Needs a mature, stable tank
• Territorial

Related species

• Flag cichlidMesonauta festivus
• Heckel discusSymphysodon discus
• Discus (common)Symphysodon aequifasciatus
• KribensisPelvicachromis pulcher
• AngelfishPterophyllum scalare
• Tiger barbPuntigrus tetrazona