15 Ram Cichlid Tank Mates


The Ram Cichlid is a colorful and agile fish, which thanks to these properties is also named butterfly ram. In nature, it can be found in the waters of South America, while it became a really popular tank fish because of its non-aggressive, friendly behavior.

However, this species requires calmness and big spaces, so they are not able to live together with every other kind.

Let’s see, the fifteen most known species, which are compatible to be tank mates of Ram Cichlid!

1. Guppies

Their original homelands are Venezuela, Trinidad and Tobago, Guyana and Barbados, but they have been introduced to many places. In their native habitat, they occur in almost any kind of water, from brackish water to soft mountain streams and small ponds.

They are now one of the most common aquarium fish. Their breeding is a special branch of aquarists.

High-quality guppy farming is practiced in the USA, England and Russia, but guppies are now bred to high standards in many parts of the world and international competitions are regularly organized, with judges awarding points for various characteristics such as vitality, size, color, fin shape and deductions for defects.

Guppies can be kept with small salmonids, other pinnipeds and catfish. However, they are not suitable with sailfish, gouramis and sumatran ornamental molluscs, as they will nip and even devour the guppies.

2. Platies

Platy FishWild platies are native to Mexico, Guatemala and Honduras. They are bred on a commercial scale and the specimens available are breeding varieties.

Peaceful and undemanding fish, they are compatible with almost any species. Males are not aggressive towards each other. They are not particularly demanding water-wise either.

Females give birth to a varying number of offspring every 4-6 weeks, and first-time mothers are particularly prone to cannibalism. The young develop rapidly and are well reared on a plate diet.

It readily interbreeds with the Mexican swordtail fish, and hybrid specimens bearing the characteristics of both species can even be found in the trade.

3. Mollies

Molly FishIn nature, they are greyish fish with bluish metallic scales. Depending on their habitat, two varieties are known, the red and yellow dorsal and caudal fin races.

Due to the destructive activity of mosquito larvae, they have also started to be introduced into some artificial lakes.

They are easy to keep, although they require a well-filtered warm aquarium.

Breeding is simple, requiring only high temperatures and lush vegetation. Males sometimes fight for females, to whom they court very intensively. If there are several males in the pool, the females are constantly pregnant and give birth to offspring.

Ideal fish for South American basins. Compared to other species, it is peaceful, but small aquariums are not recommended.

4. Swordtails

Swordtail FishIts native habitat is in Central America, Mexico, Honduras, Guatemala, but like other mammals, this species has been introduced into many warm water springs.

Unlike other species, it is a peaceful fish, although males are territorial and may compete fiercely for females. They should therefore be kept at a ratio of one male for every 3-4 females.

To keep them in an aquarium, a minimum of 15 gallons is required, filled with medium-hard tap water at 71-78 °F and plant clumps in the two corners of the tank.

The aquarium should be covered as it is a very jumping species.

They have a mixed diet and will accept the usual ornamental fish food in captivity. There are also lyre-tailed varieties, which are largely unsuitable for breeding.

An interesting phenomenon is that the female can turn into a male when she is old or sick.

5. Dwarf Gourami

Gourami FishThe dwarf gourami is a freshwater fish species from Asia, originally found in Pakistan, India and Bangladesh. As one of the most popular small gourami species, it is also found in many of the world’s warmer rural water systems.

It is a very popular aquarium fish and is kept and farmed on an industrial scale. It is also one of the fish species that require at least 15 gallons of aquarium space with water at 77-83 °F and pH between 6-8.

6. Bristlenose Pleco

Bristlenose PlecoIt is one of the most popular algae-destroying aquarium fishes. They are easy to keep and breed, rarely get sick and are resistant to most aquarium diseases.

They generally require 73-80°F and pH 6.5-7.2 but tolerate a variety of water qualities and the company of other species well. They are considered an easy species to breed.

7. Cory Catfish

CorydorasSmall fish with sharp, poisonous spines on their backs to help them defend themselves against predators. They are known for their many looks, making them popular with aquarists.

It is a calm, non-aggressive species and therefore easily adapts to other species, but due to its shyness, it is recommended to keep at least 5-6 individuals in groups.

They prefer soft, acidic water and, contrary to popular belief, can be kept in pebble tanks.

Their average life span is very long, up to 20-25 years.

8. Kuhli Loach

Kuhli LoachThey are originally from Indonesia. They have a peaceful and shy behavior, so it is well suited to other smaller pieces.

The average number of fish is 3-4 per 10 gallons, as they only thrive in groups. No special requirement is needed for them. They prefer water between 77-83°F with a pH of 6-7.

9. Tetras

Neon TetraThey are native to Africa, Central America and South America and are distinguished from other fish by the small adipose fin between their dorsal and caudal fins.

There are many types, the most notable being the neon tetra, which is blue and grey, the emperor tetra, which has a purple tinge, and the rummy-nose, known for its translucent body and garish red head.

All types are calm, shy individuals and thrive in groups.

Thanks to their colorful patterns and adaptability, they have become a popular aquarium jewel. They do not have special water requirements, but they do like denser vegetation.

10. Zebra Danio

Zebra Danio FishThey are known in different colors and with different fins. The back is olive-brown, the sides and belly are yellowish-white. The trunk has four dark steel-blue stripes from the gill cover to the tip of the caudal fin, and the fin under the tail is also striped.

This species originates from the East Indies, so the ideal water is neutral in chemistry, hardness 5-19 dGH, temperature 64-75°F.

It is a peaceful fish and is well tolerated in the aquarium with other species. Keep no less than six fish in your tank as they prefer to live in groups.

Easy to breed, fast-growing, easy to observe and manipulate in the embryonic stage, it is a common model organism for vertebrate research and has taken over the role of rats and mice in many genetics’ laboratories. It is one of the few species that have even been taken into space for experimental purposes.

11. Discus Fish

Discus FishAlso known as the emperor of aquariums because of its stately appearance. It is at home in the Amazon, where it lives in the warm, calm, slow-flowing waters of the scrubby swamps among aquatic plants and branches of vegetation hanging in the water. Its body is rounded, flattened on the sides and disc-shaped. This body shape helps it to hide among long-leaved plants

In aquariums, numerous breeding strains of different colors have been developed. Green, blue, brown and red are the most commonly available commercially, but there are also turquoise and royal blue varieties.

They are delicate to keep and can only be kept for long periods in clean, good-quality water. It requires very soft, slightly acidic water. As it grows to a considerable size, it requires a large aquarium.

It is a predator, eats small invertebrates and requires a varied diet. It does not like a tank that is too bright, so shade it with tall plants floating on the surface.

12. Angelfish

AngelfishAngelfishes live in rivers such as the Amazon and its tributaries. Because the water is rich in algae, the fish’s morphology is designed to enable it to swim in these environments. It is characterized by being thin and elongated, easily moving through vegetation without being caught.

Its many color variations make it a popular aquarium species, thanks to its shape and colorful appearance.

It is a very social fish, so it can be safely associated with other warm-water fish.

13. Rasboras

Harlequin RasborasIt can be a good fish for beginners. It is not very demanding, but it is important to keep an eye on water changes and to ensure that the pool is properly filtered and oxygenated.

It is a hardy, agile group fish, at least six fish should be kept together. It can tolerate water temperatures up to eighteen °C for short periods and can be kept in a garden pond in summer.

Suitable for mixed community pools, it can easily be kept with minnows, salmon, dwarf worms, or even other carp and catfish.

14. Oto Catfish

Otocinclus FishSmall in stature, thin, with a ruffled rump. Its snout is dark, with a band on the side, and its fins are also brownish. The patterns are uniformly dark brown on light body color.

One of the most commonly obtained species.

Requires clean and decomposition-free aquarium water that is rich in oxygen.

Swordfish, at least 4-5 individuals should be kept. They also thrive in tanks with dense vegetation. Be sure to have some kind of tree branch in there that it can chew on to strengthen its intestinal wall.

They are good algae feeders, if they run out of algae they can be fed with boiled vegetables or catfish pellets. Make sure he can always find food for himself.

Mating is not a problem either, as long as you don’t put it with fish that are dangerous to it. It is a good algae supplier for nano aquariums.

15. Black Ghost Knife Fish

Black Ghost Knife FishThe fast-flowing, sandy parts of the Amazon and Rio Paraguay rivers are their natural habitat.

Their bodies are elongated, flattened black on the sides, with two vertical white stripes on the caudal fin and a white stripe running down the back from the head to the middle of the body. The caudal and caudal fins are connected.

These fish bite only among themselves and are not harmful to other fish of similar size. As they are active at night and do not like bright light, it is advisable to plant a lot of floating plants in their tanks to give these shy fish a greater sense of security.

Due to their nocturnal lifestyle, they can navigate in total darkness using the electric organ on their tailbone.


With this information, we can say that Ram Cichlid can be kept with fishes with similar behavior and lifestyle.

Ram Cichlids

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