Electric Blue Apistogramma – Neon Blue Metallic in the Aquarium

The world of aquarium keeping is full of amazing fish, but some species stand out particularly brightly. Among them is the electric blue apistogramma – a real little gem for a freshwater aquarium.

Imagine a flash of neon blue light that also shimmers with a metallic sheen. That's what this fish looks like. Its appearance is the main reason for its growing popularity. Such a rich color is rarely found among inhabitants of home aquariums.

Despite its exotic appearance, this apistogramma is quite suitable for even aquarists with some experience. It has a fairly calm temperament for a cichlid and does not require huge amounts of water. This allows you to admire its beauty in medium-sized aquariums.

If you are looking for a fish that will become a lively, mobile accent in your underwater world, you should definitely take a closer look at this species. Its presence will enliven any aquarium and invariably attract admiring glances.

The electric blue apistogramma is a bright, small fish with a rich blue color, as if illuminated from within. It is not large, but looks very impressive in an aquarium thanks to the metallic iridescence on its body. This fish is peaceful, suitable for beginners, lives in schools, and enlivens any tank. The main thing is to provide it with shelter and calm neighbors, and then it will feel great, delighting you with its neon glow every day.

Origin, name, habitat

Electric Blue is a selective form of Apistogramma ramirezi (Ramires). This blue beauty was obtained from one (and only one) species—it is not a hybrid or a GLO. The partially blue color of Ramirez (Mikrogeophagus ramirezi) is dominant and persists from generation to generation. Breeders used this trait to obtain the blue shining color of the “new” fish. The result is the Electric Blue, a neon cichlid with a metallic blue color.

Unfortunately, the resulting blue princesses turned out to be in poor health—selective breeding for “beauty” does not always lead to good health. Keeping electric blues requires a lot of attention, additional costs, and special requirements. Keeping regular apistogramma ramirezi is, of course, easier and cheaper.

About terminology and names

In the 1980s and 1990s, Apistogramma ramirezi was sold in Russian markets under the name “butterfly perch.”

Since the 2000s, other names for ramirez have appeared in Russian-speaking countries, such as chromis butterfly and ramirez butterfly. Chromis butterfly is, of course, a bit of a tautology (one of the meanings of the Greek word “chromis” is butterfly).

The correct modern name for this cichlid is Mikrogeophagus ramirezi. And the correct name for the electric blue is Mikrogeophagus ramirezi var. “Electric Blue.” In this case, “var.” means a color variety of the common ramirez that has acquired a shiny blue color.

Habitat and biotope

Of course, it is impossible to find electric blue in the wild. As for wild Ramirezis, these fish inhabit South American rivers. The main rivers are the Amazon and Orinoco (and their tributaries). The presence of Ramirezis in other rivers outside the Amazon and Orinoco has not been confirmed. Possible populations in other rivers in 2023 were considered “possibly introduced” (introduced).

The main habitat of the ramirez is the slow-flowing tributaries of the Orinoco and Amazon rivers. As a rule, these are small, shallow rivers exposed to the sun, flowing through tropical plains (llanos). Ramirez cichlids stick to areas with a depth of no more than 1-2 meters and a water temperature of 24-32 °C. The hydrochemical composition of the water varies, but in general, the water is soft, slightly alkaline or neutral, with a low content of nitrates and nitrites.

Appearance, dimorphism

The electric blue is a common apistogramma. It is a dwarf cichlid of corresponding size. The only difference between the electric blue and the ramirez is the color. The fish is 4-5 cm in size. Sometimes individual specimens grow up to 6 cm, but this is rare.

A characteristic feature of Ramirezis and its variety, Electric Blue, is a long dorsal fin consisting of 14-18 rays (sometimes 19). The shape of the head and body is typical of a small cichlid: the fish is flattened from the sides, the head is pointed towards the nose, and the eyes are large and slightly protruding (usually red).

The rear fin is rounded and… usually described as triangular. The lower fins really resemble the fins of a perch (the kind found in central Russia) — probably hence the name “butterfly perch.”

Color

A mechanical filter must be installed to ensure clear water. Harmful impurities are removed using biofilters or bacteria that oxidize nitrites and ammonia. To prevent water evaporation and maintain salinity, an automatic watering device must be installed in the aquarium. It can be purchased at a pet store or constructed by hand. Carbonate hardness – dkH 8-11. If the indicator falls below 7, the individuals begin to eat the corals.

The following plants can be used for these fish:

Caulerpa

It is customary to use coral chips with a fraction of up to 5 mm as a substrate. Such a layer will maintain normal acidity, increasing the concentration of calcium and beneficial microelements. To provide fish with additional shelter, you can immerse various decorations in the aquarium: driftwood and grottos. The elements are fixed with pins or sealants.

Halimeda

When choosing the contents of the aquarium, you should take care of special algae that absorb calcium and phosphates, creating oxygen. Aquatic vegetation is a natural shelter for blue surgeons.

• equipment and lighting
• hetomorph
• filling the aquarium

In addition, chemical filters are placed in aquariums. Residues of waste products and food must be removed with a siphon, as they contribute to the accumulation of nitrogen-containing substances.

Electric blue cichlids can be kept in pairs, but in nature these fish are schooling fish. A 30-40 liter tank is sufficient for a pair. But for a real school of 6-8 cichlids, it is better to prepare an aquarium with a volume of 150 liters or more. If there are other fish, then 150 liters (school of electric blue cichlids) + the remaining fish. And 25% of the water will have to be changed at least once a week.

It should be noted that apistogrammas and electric tetras in particular are heat-loving fish. Temperatures below 25 °C reduce the lifespan of apistogrammas by almost half.

In addition, the electric blue is a selectively bred morph. The health and survival rate of these fish are reduced due to selective breeding. And apistogrammas (even wild ones) are not the most resilient fish in an aquarium environment.

It is strongly recommended to observe the following water parameters:

• acidity: 6-7.5 pH (preferably below 7.0),

Nitrate and nitrite content should be kept to a minimum. The maximum nitrate level for apistogramma is 20-25 mg/l. Even this level is high, but it is definitely the maximum allowed.

Equipment and substrate

The type of substrate is not very important—for example, coarse sand and small rounded pebbles. Other similar options will be just as good. You can choose aquatic plants according to your taste and color preferences—it is important for apistogramma that there are plants and that there are many of them for “hide and seek,” but they don't care what kind of greenery it is.

You will have to work hard with aquarium equipment. Cheap filters and compressors are unlikely to cope with the care of dwarf cichlids:

1. Powerful compressor required (24/7 or thereabouts)
2. External filter is necessary (with filtration depending on the contents of the community or species aquarium).
3. Thermostat (with the function of maintaining a constant water temperature of at least 25°C),
4. Lighting, in general, it can be anything (about 9-11 hours a day).

Feeding

The ideal menu for electric blue cichlids is dry commercial food with the addition of natural food. From dry foods, standard foods for cichlids (recently, special feeds for dwarf cichlids have appeared).

From natural foods, we can recommend traditional live or frozen foods:

Reproduction and breeding

A separate aquarium is not required. Reproduction is possible in a community or species aquarium. However, the survival rate of the offspring in this case will be significantly lower. This is due not only to other fish species eating the eggs, but also to the cichlids themselves taking less care of the eggs and fry.

No specific conditions are required for a separate spawning tank. The water parameters are the same. The main condition is the consistency of the water itself and more frequent water changes (with settled water, of course) — 20% per day or at least once every two days.

No special lighting options are required. It is better to take pairs from the main aquarium — only they need to be transferred to the spawning tank. The volume of the spawning tank is 20-30 liters for a pair. And — imitation of conditions in a regular or species aquarium.

— Alexander Tkachuk marine biologist, expert in aquarium and terrarium keeping

Spawning

Apistogramma electricus will almost certainly spawn on their own. However, in order to lay (deposit) their eggs in a spawning tank or communal aquarium, the fish need flat stones or broad-leaved plants to place their eggs on. Cichlids will, of course, cope with the situation and reproduce, but the offspring may be few in number.

Apistogramma lays 100-200 eggs. The incubation period is 3-4 days. In the spawning tank, the fish must stay close by and guard the eggs (in a community or species aquarium, this does not always happen).

After the larvae hatch, the male often drags them to the bottom. He guards the already developed fry for another 2-3 weeks. After the larvae turn into fry (after the yolk sac disappears), standard food should be introduced (infusoria, mashed yolk, and gradually adding dry food for fry).

It is best to transfer the fish to a community or species aquarium after 3-4 months.

Subspecies and varieties

Electric Blue has no subspecies or varieties. Mikrogeophagus ramirezi var. “Electric Blue” is a color morph of the common Mikrogeophagus ramirezi.

There are many other varieties and morphs of ramirezis, but they are not related to the electric blue.

Compatibility and coexistence

Electric Blue is a calm and adequate small cichlid. It does not bother anyone or chase them around the corners.

It gets along well with fish of similar size:

Alexey Podolsky

Kazan, 4 years of experience in aquascaping

Angelfish and discus fish are questionable. There are different opinions on keeping these fish together with electric eels, but it is better not to risk it. And large aggressive species, of course, are not suitable neighbors for apistogramma. Shrimp, on the contrary, will be attacked by electric eels.

— Alexey Podolsky Kazan, 4 years of experience in aquascaping

More care tips:

Advice for owners

• Apistogramma (and any dwarf cichlids) often get hexamitiasis, also known as spironucleosis. It's best to immediately remove the sick cichlid and treat it separately. But you'll need to treat the whole aquarium with metronidazole. And raising the water temperature to 35°C usually has no effect on cichlids — it's a waste of time.
• Many aquarists write that electric catfish do not touch shrimp. But a much larger number of fish lovers complain about apistogramma eating shrimp. If you don't want to take any chances, don't put shrimp in with electric catfish.
• If you are not planning to use a separate spawning tank for breeding electric blue cichlids, place several flat stones on the bottom in the areas where cichlids are most often found. It is almost certain that the eggs will end up on these stones.

Video review of Apistogramma Electric Blue

The electric blue apistogramma is truly a small aquarium wonder. Its incredible blue color with a metallic sheen instantly catches the eye and becomes the center of attention in any underwater landscape. This fish is the choice for those who appreciate not only the character of aquarium inhabitants, but also their stunning appearance.

Keeping such a beauty is not too difficult, but it is important to remember its needs. Clean, stable water, calm neighbors, and the right food are the key to ensuring that the fish will feel great and delight you with its bright colors. It is not for beginners, but also not for gurus — rather, it is for attentive and caring aquarists.

If you dream of adding sparkle, flashes of rich color, and a little magic to your aquarium, the electric blue is an excellent candidate. Watching its smooth movements and the play of light on its scales is a real pleasure that is well worth the effort.