? Blue Butterfly Cichlids ?

[chelbel]

Just been to my LFS and I'm confused (doesn't take much )

There were fish marked up as Blue Butterfly cichlids but they looked like German Blue Rams to me, is this another name for them???

They were also maked as peaceful

 

[chelbel]

Would a picture help???

 

[three-fingers]

Yep, just another name for them.

And they are fairly peaceful, great community fish .

As long as the aquarium can account for thier needs.

They prefer a higher temperature, and preferably soft, neutral-acidic water, as well as low nitrates.

They don't need all these things, but they are much less hardy in tanks that are far off these parameters.

 

[Truck]

also sand is beneficial as they are eartheaters and they sift the sand through their gills and pick out food in the process. that one pictured looks very stressed!

 

[three-fingers]

I'd agree sand is beneficial for their behaviour, but I wouldn't worry about it too much, from the behaviour I've observed I'd say their no more earth eaters than any other cichlids, and usually live in densely planted areas in nature so I'd say that's more important .

Sand is great though, stimulates a lot of foraging behaviour in loads of fish species, so a great enrichment for aquarium fish.

 

[chelbel]

also sand is beneficial as they are eartheaters and they sift the sand through their gills and pick out food in the process. that one pictured looks very stressed!

So it is a German Blue Ram?

2 ended up coming home with me (we've kept them before)

I'll post more pictures tomorrow when they have settled a little more, the community tank they are in is very peaceful with Neons and Sterbai's and 1 old Angelfish, I'm sure they will setle right in

The tank has both sand and smooth gravel, just they way I like it

 

[meguro]

They are microgeophagus/papiliochromis ramirezi.

 

[chelbel]

They are microgeophagus/papiliochromis ramirezi.

Thanks I just googled it, I'm no good with their proper names


Here are a few pics I've just taken, they seem to have settled and have fed

Please tell me if you think otherwise

 

[Truck]

definately mikrogeophagus ramirezi



papiliochromis is the old genus

 

[meguro]

Papiliochromis is the genus that gives the link between blue butterfly and blue ram, hence answering the OP's question.

Apistogramma is the old genus.