German blue ram Tank Mates
Short answer: the best german blue ram tank mates are Betta fish, Endler's livebearer, Cardinal tetra. German blue rams need 81–86 °F (27–30 °C), pH 4–7 and at least 20 gallons.
German blue ram care at a glance
| Adult size | 2.0 in (5 cm) |
| Minimum tank | 20 US gallons |
| Temperature | 81–86 °F (27–30 °C) |
| pH | 4–7 |
| Temperament | Peaceful |
| Swims in | Bottom |
| Group size | Can be kept singly or in pairs |
| Care level | Moderate |
gallon tank
✅ Compatible tank mates (7)
⚠️ Possible with caution (22)
- Guppy — Very narrow shared temperature range: German blue ram 27–30 °C (81–86 °F) vs Guppy 17–28 °C (63–82 °F).
- Harlequin rasbora — Very narrow shared temperature range: German blue ram 27–30 °C (81–86 °F) vs Harlequin rasbora 21–28 °C (70–82 °F).
- Molly — Very narrow shared temperature range: German blue ram 27–30 °C (81–86 °F) vs Molly 21–28 °C (70–82 °F).
- Angelfish — An adult angelfish (up to 15 cm) may try to eat smaller German blue ram (5 cm), especially at night.
- Amano shrimp — Very narrow shared temperature range: Amano shrimp 18–28 °C (64–82 °F) vs German blue ram 27–30 °C (81–86 °F).
- Chili rasbora — Very narrow shared temperature range: Chili rasbora 20–28 °C (68–82 °F) vs German blue ram 27–30 °C (81–86 °F).
- Ember tetra — Very narrow shared temperature range: Ember tetra 20–28 °C (68–82 °F) vs German blue ram 27–30 °C (81–86 °F).
- Glowlight tetra — Very narrow shared temperature range: German blue ram 27–30 °C (81–86 °F) vs Glowlight tetra 24–28 °C (75–82 °F).
- Serpae tetra — Very narrow shared temperature range: German blue ram 27–30 °C (81–86 °F) vs Serpae tetra 20–28 °C (68–82 °F).
- Swordtail — Very narrow shared temperature range: German blue ram 27–30 °C (81–86 °F) vs Swordtail 16–28 °C (61–82 °F).
- Three spot gourami — An adult three spot gourami (up to 15 cm) may try to eat smaller German blue ram (5 cm), especially at night.
- Sparkling gourami — Very narrow shared temperature range: German blue ram 27–30 °C (81–86 °F) vs Sparkling gourami 22–28 °C (72–82 °F).
- Black neon tetra — Very narrow shared temperature range: Black neon tetra 20–28 °C (68–82 °F) vs German blue ram 27–30 °C (81–86 °F).
- Bloodfin tetra — Very narrow shared temperature range: Bloodfin tetra 18–28 °C (64–82 °F) vs German blue ram 27–30 °C (81–86 °F).
- Dwarf neon rainbowfish — Very narrow shared temperature range: Dwarf neon rainbowfish 23–28 °C (73–82 °F) vs German blue ram 27–30 °C (81–86 °F).
- Forktail blue-eye — Very narrow shared temperature range: Forktail blue-eye 24–28 °C (75–82 °F) vs German blue ram 27–30 °C (81–86 °F).
- Lemon tetra — Very narrow shared temperature range: German blue ram 27–30 °C (81–86 °F) vs Lemon tetra 20–28 °C (68–82 °F).
- Sterbai cory — Very narrow shared temperature range: German blue ram 27–30 °C (81–86 °F) vs Sterbai cory 24–28 °C (75–82 °F).
- X-ray tetra — Very narrow shared temperature range: German blue ram 27–30 °C (81–86 °F) vs X-ray tetra 22–28 °C (72–82 °F).
- Buenos Aires tetra — Very narrow shared temperature range: Buenos Aires tetra 16–28 °C (61–82 °F) vs German blue ram 27–30 °C (81–86 °F).
- Congo tetra — Very narrow shared temperature range: Congo tetra 23–28 °C (73–82 °F) vs German blue ram 27–30 °C (81–86 °F).
- Upside-down catfish — Very narrow shared temperature range: German blue ram 27–30 °C (81–86 °F) vs Upside-down catfish 24–28 °C (75–82 °F).
❌ Not recommended (42)
- Cherry shrimp — German blue ram will hunt and eat cherry shrimp.
- Dwarf gourami — No comfortable shared temperature: Dwarf gourami 22–27 °C (72–81 °F) vs German blue ram 27–30 °C (81–86 °F).
- Bristlenose pleco — No comfortable shared temperature: Bristlenose pleco 21–26 °C (70–79 °F) vs German blue ram 27–30 °C (81–86 °F).
- Fancy goldfish — Coldwater and tropical fish don't mix: German blue ram 27–30 °C (81–86 °F) vs Fancy goldfish 20–23 °C (68–73 °F).
- Neon tetra — No comfortable shared temperature: German blue ram 27–30 °C (81–86 °F) vs Neon tetra 21–25 °C (70–77 °F).
- Platy — No comfortable shared temperature: German blue ram 27–30 °C (81–86 °F) vs Platy 20–26 °C (68–79 °F).
- Tiger barb — No comfortable shared temperature: German blue ram 27–30 °C (81–86 °F) vs Tiger barb 20–26 °C (68–79 °F).
- Oscar — An adult oscar (up to 35 cm) is big enough to eat German blue ram (5 cm).
- Nerite snail — No comfortable shared temperature: German blue ram 27–30 °C (81–86 °F) vs Nerite snail 22–25 °C (72–77 °F).
- Pea puffer — Pea puffer is aggressive and will bully peaceful German blue ram.
- Celestial pearl danio — No comfortable shared temperature: Celestial pearl danio 20–26 °C (68–79 °F) vs German blue ram 27–30 °C (81–86 °F).
- Mystery snail — No comfortable shared temperature: German blue ram 27–30 °C (81–86 °F) vs Mystery snail 21–26 °C (70–79 °F).
- Otocinclus — No comfortable shared temperature: German blue ram 27–30 °C (81–86 °F) vs Otocinclus 21–26 °C (70–79 °F).
- Panda cory — No comfortable shared temperature: German blue ram 27–30 °C (81–86 °F) vs Panda cory 22–25 °C (72–77 °F).
- Black skirt tetra — No comfortable shared temperature: Black skirt tetra 20–26 °C (68–79 °F) vs German blue ram 27–30 °C (81–86 °F).
- Bronze cory — No comfortable shared temperature: Bronze cory 21–27 °C (70–81 °F) vs German blue ram 27–30 °C (81–86 °F).
- Cherry barb — No comfortable shared temperature: Cherry barb 20–27 °C (68–81 °F) vs German blue ram 27–30 °C (81–86 °F).
- Honey gourami — No comfortable shared temperature: German blue ram 27–30 °C (81–86 °F) vs Honey gourami 22–27 °C (72–81 °F).
- Kuhli loach — No comfortable shared temperature: German blue ram 27–30 °C (81–86 °F) vs Kuhli loach 21–26 °C (70–79 °F).
- Rummy nose tetra — No comfortable shared temperature: German blue ram 27–30 °C (81–86 °F) vs Rummy nose tetra 23–26 °C (73–79 °F).
- White cloud mountain minnow — Coldwater and tropical fish don't mix: German blue ram 27–30 °C (81–86 °F) vs White cloud mountain minnow 14–22 °C (57–72 °F).
- Zebra danio — No comfortable shared temperature: German blue ram 27–30 °C (81–86 °F) vs Zebra danio 18–25 °C (64–77 °F).
- Kribensis — No comfortable shared temperature: German blue ram 27–30 °C (81–86 °F) vs Kribensis 24–27 °C (75–81 °F).
- Electric yellow cichlid — Electric yellow cichlid is a Lake Malawi cichlid: it needs hard, alkaline water and an African-cichlid community, and is too boisterous for German blue ram.
- Rainbow shark — No comfortable shared temperature: German blue ram 27–30 °C (81–86 °F) vs Rainbow shark 20–26 °C (68–79 °F).
- Red tail shark — No comfortable shared temperature: German blue ram 27–30 °C (81–86 °F) vs Red tail shark 20–26 °C (68–79 °F).
- Siamese algae eater — No comfortable shared temperature: German blue ram 27–30 °C (81–86 °F) vs Siamese algae eater 20–26 °C (68–79 °F).
- Common pleco — Both are territorial and use the same part of the tank, so constant fights are likely.
- Pygmy cory — No comfortable shared temperature: German blue ram 27–30 °C (81–86 °F) vs Pygmy cory 22–26 °C (72–79 °F).
- Cockatoo dwarf cichlid — Both are territorial and use the same part of the tank, so constant fights are likely.
- Glass catfish — No comfortable shared temperature: German blue ram 27–30 °C (81–86 °F) vs Glass catfish 20–26 °C (68–79 °F).
- Paradise fish — No comfortable shared temperature: German blue ram 27–30 °C (81–86 °F) vs Paradise fish 10–22 °C (50–72 °F).
- Peppered cory — No comfortable shared temperature: German blue ram 27–30 °C (81–86 °F) vs Peppered cory 20–24 °C (68–75 °F).
- Convict cichlid — Convict cichlid is aggressive and will bully peaceful German blue ram.
- Gold barb — No comfortable shared temperature: German blue ram 27–30 °C (81–86 °F) vs Gold barb 16–24 °C (61–75 °F).
- Odessa barb — No comfortable shared temperature: German blue ram 27–30 °C (81–86 °F) vs Odessa barb 16–25 °C (61–77 °F).
- Rosy barb — No comfortable shared temperature: German blue ram 27–30 °C (81–86 °F) vs Rosy barb 16–24 °C (61–75 °F).
- Firemouth cichlid — Both are territorial and use the same part of the tank, so constant fights are likely.
- Bolivian ram — Both are territorial and use the same part of the tank, so constant fights are likely.
- Chinese algae eater — No comfortable shared temperature: Chinese algae eater 22–26 °C (72–79 °F) vs German blue ram 27–30 °C (81–86 °F).
- Jack Dempsey — An adult Jack Dempsey (up to 25 cm) is big enough to eat German blue ram (5 cm).
- Bala shark — An adult bala shark (up to 35 cm) is big enough to eat German blue ram (5 cm).
How many German blue rams per tank?
20 gal 29 gal 40 gal 55 gal 75 gal — see what else fits with our stocking calculator.
FAQ
What fish can live with German blue rams?
Good matches include Betta fish, Endler's livebearer, Cardinal tetra. They share a temperature range with German blue rams (81–86 °F (27–30 °C)), are a similar temperament, and are not big enough to eat each other or nip fins.
What fish should not live with German blue rams?
Avoid Cherry shrimp, Dwarf gourami, Bristlenose pleco, Fancy goldfish, Neon tetra, Platy.
What size tank do German blue rams need?
We recommend at least 20 US gallons for one german blue ram, more if you add tank mates.
Can German blue rams live alone?
Yes. German blue rams do not need a group, though they can be kept with compatible tank mates.
Note: Compatibility depends on individual temperament, tank size, decor and how fish are introduced. Our verdicts use conservative rules applied to published care data (see methodology). They are guidance, not a guarantee. Quarantine new fish and watch for chasing, torn fins or hiding.