What Type Of Cichlid Is This?

[rousell]

Hi,

Can somebody please confirm what type of Cichlid this is from the below photo link. I've tried looking and the only one i can find that looks similar is the Butterfly Cichlid. Thanks

http/www.flickr.com/photos/90279086@N06/8201511302/in/photostream

 

[Electric Warrior]

Looks like a blue ram.

 

[fluttermoth]

It's Mikrogeophagus ramirezi, commonly called blue ram, German blue ram and butterfly cichlid.

I have to say, it doesn't look very healthy

They need very clean (no ammonia or nitrite, less than 20ppm nitrate), very warm (28°C/82°F) soft water to do well.

 

[Electric Warrior]

^ Yeah, sorry... I always think of Africans when i hear 'butterfly cichlid.'

 

[rousell]

I've just purchased a 2nd hand tank and several fish were in the deal, this being one of them. Water stats have been perfect although my temperature is between 26-27°C. I've been checking the stats daily since the tank was set up. What doesn't look healthy about it? Do you think I should get it re-homed ASAP?

 

[Electric Warrior]

I have never kept rams, but like a lot of other dwarfs, they can be pretty shy and get stressed quite easily. I am pretty sure yours is a female, and it does look a bit stressed, but that could also be a lot to do with the recent move, etc. What else is in the tank with her, how big is it, etc.? They also need dithers in order to feel comfortable, and they need lots of plants/hiding places, etc.

 

[star4]

Your ram does look pale and a little skinny, the problem with a second hand tank with fish is you dont know how old the fish are, I had a look at the other pics the rainbow cichlids look great as to the other fish. The ram maybe stressed from moving or old, best just keep an eye on him/her see if they are feeding ok

 

[rousell]

The tank is a roma 125 litre and to be honest, with my previous fish and the new ones I inherited its overstocked. I've compensated by using an extra internal filter until I can figure put what to keep and what to re-home. That's why I'm trying to find out what species I've got in the tank so I can check which can live together in a community. The rest, like I mentioned, will be re-homed ASAP.


Black neon tetra x5
Neon tetra x3
Bronze corydoras x5
Pentazona barb x6
Rainbow cichlid x2
Blue gourami x1
Dwarf golden gourami x2
Peppered corydoras x1
Clown loach x2
Clown plec x1
corydoras culli x1
White spot pleco x1
Butterfly cichlid (blue ram)x1
Albino bristlenose plec x1

 

[star4]

Black neon tetra x5 - Keep
Neon tetra x3 - keep but up to 6
Bronze corydoras x5 - keep
Pentazona barb x6 - keep
Rainbow cichlid x2 - If these are a pair you will have to be careful with aggression, if you want to keep re-home the pentazona or neons (all)
Blue gourami x1 - can grow large 125l just about get away with but I would say re-home
Dwarf golden gourami x2 - delicate fish need excellent water
Peppered corydoras x1 - do better in a group but guessing it hangs around with the bronze so could keep
Clown loach x2 - waaaayy to big for a 125l tank as they can potentially reach 10-12"
Clown plec x1 *
corydoras culli x1 - same as pepper cory
White spot pleco x1 *
Butterfly cichlid (blue ram)x1 - re-home
Albino bristlenose plec x1 *

* pic one, I would go for the bristle as they dont get very large, too many plecs for a 125 really. Hope this is of some help

 

[rousell]

Thanks, that gives me something to go on. I'll have a good think about it and then get some re-homed. At the moment i think i'm swaying towards keeping the Cichlids because they are beautiful fish to look at. Would you know how long there life expectancy is? The guy i purchased them off said he'd had them for at least a couple of years. Sorry for all the questions.......

 

[star4]

Rainbows are lovely cheeky cichlids, mine (a rescue) is a bit of a devil, but they normally are quite placid. If memory serves me right usually they live 6-8 years (something like that), they do have some stunning colour

 

[bullit]

Rainbows are lovely cheeky cichlids, mine (a rescue) is a bit of a devil, but they normally are quite placid. If memory serves me right usually they live 6-8 years (something like that), they do have some stunning colour

Is that the one i think it is?

 

[star4]

Hey Bullit , yes flower its your little rainbow, he is now called rambo because he attacked my oscar (when the oscar was smaller) he now bullies my urau lol, love him to bits he is a right cheeky fellow

 

[bullit]

lol. Cool. Yeah he was a git.

 

[star4]

LMAO, I dont think anyone but me would have kept him, he really does not come under the "peaceful" cichlid banner that rainbows are under. It was a shame I had to seperate him from the oscar, they were best buddies, but Rusty grew and I feared one day Rambo would become dinner.