15+ (Easy to Care) German Blue Ram Tank Mates

You’ve got your German Blue Ram fish.

Now what?

You need to choose your tank mates wisely.

Although German Blue Rams are relatively hardy, they must be kept in a good environment with other compatible fish.

However, some fish species can be deadly for your German Blue Ram.

So before you make any purchases, let’s get into the details of choosing good German Blue Ram tank mates!

What fish can live with German Blue Rams?

Celestial Pearl Danio

The Celestial Pearl Danio is the 1st German Blue Ram Tank Mate I recommend.

They are peaceful fish that can tolerate other peaceful fish of the same size.

It is also a schooling fish and will be much happier if kept in a school of at least 6.

The Celestial Pearl Danio loves to swim around and explore its environment, so it won’t bother you while you’re working or watching TV but will happily hang out with you once it’s had its fill of swimming around the tank.

  • Size: 1-2 inches
  • Temperature: 72–76°F (22–24°C)
  • Favorite Food: baby brine shrimp, micro worms
  • Tank Size: 10 Gallons
  • Temperament: Peaceful

Killifish

Killifish are small, active fish that can be great for beginner aquarists.

These fish will thrive in a tank of at least 10 gallons and can tolerate a wide range of water conditions.

However, killifish tend to be picky eaters and may have trouble adapting to your aquarium if you don’t provide them with the appropriate diet.

This means they may not be the best fit for an all-in-one tank with limited space.

Killifish do well in small tanks because they’re fairly social creatures.

While it’s possible to keep killifish alone or pair them with other non-aggressive species, it’s best to keep multiple individuals together in one tank because they prefer living in groups.

If you’re able to maintain this type of setup long-term (three months or more), then you’ll be rewarded with plenty of personality traits from each fish:

Some will become more outgoing, while others remain shy;

Some males may display territorial behavior toward each other, while others ignore their surroundings altogether;

Some females might produce eggs but not feed much since their offspring are self-sufficient from birth until adulthood, when they must fend for themselves again (within weeks!).

  • Size: 1” to 2”
  • Temperature: between 68° and 75° F.
  • Favorite Food: brine shrimp, mosquito larvae, and bloodworms
  • Tank Size: 20-gallon recommended
  • Temperament: peaceful

Betta Fish

How Long Can a Betta Fish Live Without a Filter?
Betta Fish without a filter

Betta fish comes 3rd in this list of popular German Blue Ram Tank Mates.

Bettas are peaceful, but they do not cohabitate with other Bettas.

They can be kept in groups of one male and multiple females, but each male will fight with any other male Betta fish in the tank.

It is also possible for Bettas to breed with each other and produce offspring (called “fry”), which you may want to avoid if you’re trying to keep only one betta in your aquarium!

Bettas are incompatible with other fish, including corydoras catfish – don't try it!

Size: 3 inches
Temperature: 75-80 degrees Fahrenheit
Favorite Food: Frozen brine shrimp and bloodworms
Tank Size: at least 3 gallons (11 liters)
Temperament: Peaceful with only suitable tank mates

Gold Tetra

The Gold Tetra is a schooling fish, meaning it prefers to live in groups.

It is also a peaceful fish and doesn’t fight with other fish very often.

This makes them an ideal choice for your German Blue Ram Tank Mates.

The Gold Tetra can grow up to 4 inches long but generally stay around 2-3 inches.

They are small enough not to bother your bigger tank mates but large enough to be visible from most angles of the aquarium!

As far as temperaments go, the gold tetra has many qualities that make it a good fit for community tanks:

They are active swimmers and do well with other peaceful community members like German blue rams or plecoes. However, they are also hardy enough to survive in some cases without any other companions!

In addition, since this variety eats both plants/algae and meaty treats such as bloodworms, I’ve found it’s easiest to feed my group once per day rather than trying separate out each mealtime.

Size: 1 1/2 inches (4 cm)
Temperature: 75-82 deg F
Favorite Food: dead organic matter, small fish
Tank Size: 15 gallons
Temperament: peaceful

Rummy Nose Tetra

Rummy nose tetra is the 5th German blue ram tank mate I recommend.

This fish is a schooling fish and can be kept in community tanks and other peaceful fish.

Rummy nose tetra is not aggressive fish, so they get along fine with other tetras and german blue rams.

You can also keep them alone if you want to give your tank an influx of color without fighting or fin-nipping.

Size: 1 – 1.5 inches (2.5 – 3.8 cm)
Temperature: 64° – 82° F (18° – 27.7° C)
Favorite Food: live bloodworms, plant material
Tank Size: at least 20 gallons
Temperament: peaceful

Kuhli Loach

The Kuhli loach is a great choice for a German Blue Ram tank.

They are peaceful and will not bother your German Blue Rams, but they have some unique characteristics that make them ideal tank mates.

The Loach is a bottom feeder and will help keep the tank clean, but it’s not very active and does not disturb your German Blue Rams in any way.

The Kuhli loach can grow up to 8 inches long, so it needs a decent-sized aquarium to live in!

The minimum size of the aquarium should be at least 24 inches long by 12 inches wide by 14 inches tall (60 cm x 30 cm x 36 cm).

This means you’ll need at least 2 gallons of water per inch of length when setting up this aquarium!

Size: 3 inches
Temperature: 75 – 86°F
Favorite Food: frozen bloodworms, and live blackworms
Tank Size: 15 gallons
Temperament: peaceful

Gold Barb

Gold Barbs are good German Blue Ram tank mates because they are peaceful, active, and hardy fish.

They also have the added benefit of being omnivorous, so they can eat the leftovers that your German Blue Rams don’t finish off.

Gold Barbs are very active fish, which makes them great companions to keep with other species of fish that need lots of swimming space, like the german blue rams.

Since gold barbs are omnivorous (they eat meaty foods like worms or algae wafers), they can be fed whatever food you give your GBRs, giving them some extra nutrition by eating those leftovers!

Gold Barbs come in many different colors, including red and white. You might even see some yellow-gold barbs!

The males usually have brighter coloration than females, but this isn’t always true since females can sometimes show more color than males depending on how much light she gets when she’s young.

Size: around 3 inches
Temperature: 64 – 75° F
Favorite Food: mosquito larvae, brine shrimp
Tank Size: 15 gallons
Temperament: peaceful

Dwarf Gourami

Dwarf Gouramis are the 8th German Blue Rams tank mates I would recommend.

They are non-aggressive fish and will not bother your German Blue Rams.

It is best to keep Dwarf Gouramis in smaller tanks since they don’t grow substantially (1 1/2 – 2 inches).

You can keep more than one dwarf gourami in a tank, but you should be careful not to overcrowd the tank.

Dwarf Gouramis need plenty of hiding places to feel secure while sleeping or resting during the day.

Size: 8.8 centimeters (3.5 in)
Temperature: 72 – 82°F (22 – 27°C)
Favorite Food: blackworms, mosquito larvae
Tank Size: 10-gallon
Temperament: very peaceful

Dwarf Otocinclus

The Dwarf Otocinclus is one of the best fish you can get for your German Blue Ram Tank.

They are small, peaceful, and will not bother other tank mates.

Dwarf otocinclus is a great clean-up crew for cleaning up algae and other debris on the bottom of your tank.

These fish are great for smaller tanks because they are so small that they won’t outgrow the space available in your aquarium.

The dwarf otocinclus has a lifespan of around 2 years in captivity, with proper care and food sources provided by their owners.

This can vary depending on how well you take care of them.

So when getting these little guys, ensure they have lots of places to hide away from predators if they become aggressive toward them due to overstocking issues in your aquarium setup.

Otherwise, they may face harassment by larger fish/sharks, etc…

Size: 2 inches
Temperature: between 72-82°F
Favorite Food: soft green algae
Tank Size: 10 to 20 gallons
Temperament: peaceful

Discus

Worst Beginner Fish #7: The Discus Fish
Worst Beginner Fish #7: The Discus Fish

Although not recommended for beginners, Discus fish are popular among many experienced hobbyists as only they can meet their several special requirements.

they have several requirements that make them quite difficult to deal with.

Discus fish require a large tank (at least 75 gallons per discus), plenty of space and light, and a lot of water volume. Talking about large tanks, do check out my 3 picks for a 125-gallon aquarium.

If you want to bring discus into a tank with your german blue rams, consider that these beautiful creatures need at least 75 gallons per discus—and can get aggressive!

If you’re not sure about taking care of large aquatic animals like this yet, I recommend starting with something small like betta fish instead.

Size: 12.3–15.2 cm (4.8–6.0 in)
Temperature: between 82° and 86° F
Favorite Food: algae, plant matter
Tank Size: 75 gallons or larger
Temperament: semi-aggressive

Cory Catfish

Cory catfish are bottom-dwelling fish that are native to the Amazon basin.

They’re peaceful, non-aggressive fish and suitable to keep with german blue rams.

Cory catfish are also algae eaters, which makes them an ideal tank mate for other freshwater aquarium inhabitants.

Corys don’t require much maintenance and can be kept in various water conditions.

However, they do need regular feeding and high oxygen levels to thrive.

And if you don’t want your cory put down one day, you need to keep them happy!

Size: between 1-4 inches
Temperature: between 72 to 82°F.
Favorite Food: blackworms, frozen bloodworms
Tank Size: 20 gallons or more
Temperament: calm, peaceful and non-aggressive

Cardinal Tetra

Cardinal tetras are one of the most peaceful, small, and colorful fish you can keep in your fish tank with german blue rams.

They’re also effortless to breed and grow quickly, making them a great choice for beginners.

Cardinal tetras are a tropical species that prefer a temperature range between 72°F and 79°F (22°C-26°C).

You should never keep them with larger dwarf cichlids or aggressive catfish species like tiger barbs or blue gouramis because these carnivorous fish may be swallowed whole.

If you want to keep cardinals with other species, make sure other tank mates are half their size or smaller, so they won’t become dinner!

Size: 1.25 inches (3 cm)
Temperature: 73°F to 81°F (23 to 27°C)
Favorite Food: worms and small crustaceans
Tank Size: at least 20 gallons
Temperament: very peaceful

Mystery Snails

Ivory Mystery Snails
Ivory Mystery Snails

Mystery snails are the 13th choice to keep along with German Blue Ram.

Ivory Mystery Snails: Should You Add Them To Your Home Aquarium?

They’re easy to care for and can live in freshwater and saltwater tanks.

Plus, they’re very active, so they’ll keep your tank moving and circulating.

As long as you have enough food and space (you don’t want mystery snails getting crowded), they also won’t hurt plants or algae growth in your tank!

Size: 2 inches or more
Temperature: 68 – 82 Degrees Fahrenheit
Favorite Food: algae wafers, vegetables such as zucchini, spinach, or cucumber.
Tank Size: at least 20 gallons
Temperament: non-aggressive and docile

Pearl Gourami

Pearl Gourami is a good choice for german blue rams in a community tank.

These fish are omnivores, meaning they eat meaty foods and plants.

They can be fed –

Frozen or live brine shrimp

Tubifex worms.

Bloodworms, Daphnia (water fleas)

Mysis shrimp

Algae wafers,

Lettuce.

Although they don’t require a lot of protein in their diet to stay healthy, they need some fiber to keep their digestive tract moving along correctly.

Some people feed them vegetable matter like zucchini or peas with the skin cut off.

However, if you choose to do this, ensure it’s not something that could harm your tank mates before adding it into the mix!

Size: 12 centimeters (4.7 in)
Tank Size: 30-gallon
Temperature: 77-82°F or 25-28°C
Favorite Food: brine shrimp, mosquito larvae
Temperament: semi-aggressive

X-Ray Tetra

The X-Ray Tetra is a small, peaceful fish that gets along well with your german blue rams.

They should be kept in groups of at least six, but they can also be kept by themselves.

They are schooling fish, so they need to be in a group.

This makes them a good choice for German Blue Ram tanks because you can add more than one and not worry about overcrowding your tank.

Size: 1 3/4 inches (4.5 cm)
Temperature: around 80-84°F.
Favorite Food: Worms, Insects
Tank Size: up to 15 to 20 gallons
Temperament: incredibly peaceful

Amano Shrimp

The Amano shrimp (Caridina multidentata) is ideal for pairing with a German Blue Ram.

They are peaceful and will not bother your Rams even though they are similar in size.

Their natural tendency to scavenge helps clean the tank by eating dead plant matter or uneaten food particles.

It’s also important to note that Amanos get along poorly with other shrimp species, so if you choose this type of shrimp, ensure you have only one in your tank!

They require very little maintenance and can thrive in most community tanks because they’re easygoing creatures that don’t stand out too much.

They spend most of their time hiding among plants or other decorations but will venture out when food is dropped into the water for them to eat or when there is danger nearby, such as another fish bullying them around!

Size: 2 inches or more
Temperature: 64°-80° F
Favorite Food: hair algae, brush algae
Tank Size: at least 5 gallon
Temperament: quite peaceful

Frequently Asked Questions

  1. Can the German Blue Rams live in a community tank? Do they make good community fish?

    German blue rams do well in community tanks. Therefore, keeping them in a big community fish tank is a good idea.

  2. Do blue rams need sand?

    Sand is considered to be the best substrate for german blue rams.

  3. Do German blue rams need caves?

    Yes, german blue rams need small caves to hide from any threat-like situation.

  4. Can you put rams with cichlids?

    Compared to African cichlids, the German blue ram is a relatively small fish. So, placing them with cichlids might not be the right decision.

  5. Do blue rams eat fish flakes?

    Yes, blue rams eat fish flakes.

  6. Are German blue ram territorial?

    An adult german blue ram is territorial towards other blue rams in its tank.

  7. How much do German blue ram cost?

    You can buy german blue ram for around $20.

  8. Can you keep the blue rams alone?

    Yes, you can. But I wouldn’t recommend you do this and keep suitable german blue ram tank mates for their social interaction.

  9. Can German blue rams live with Mollies?

    Yes, german blue rams can live happily with mollies in a fish tank.

  10. How long do German blue rams take to grow?

    German blue rams take 4-6 months to grow. However, they reach sexual maturity prematurely.

  11. Are German blue rams bottom feeders?

    No, german blue rams aren’t bottom feeders.

Conclusion

All in all, there are many different species of fish and shrimp that German Blue Ram owners can enjoy.

Each one brings something unique to the table and will help make your aquarium look visually marvelous and gratifying for you.

It’s important that when choosing tank mates, you consider their size and temperament and any compatibility issues, if possible.

This list should give you the exact idea about suitable german blue ram tank mates.

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