Tank mates for German blue rams

We checked German blue rams against all 149 other species in our database for water temperature, pH, size, fin nipping, predation and aggression.

Good tank mates for German blue rams include boesemani rainbowfish and moonlight gourami. Avoid bristlenose pleco, bronze corydoras and cherry shrimp: they need different temperatures: German blue ram 27–30°C (81–86°F), bristlenose pleco 22–26°C (72–79°F).

German blue rams: 27–30°C (81–86°F), pH 5–7, adult size 6 cm (2.4 in), minimum tank 20 gallons (76 L). Full german blue ram care guide.

Check a full stocking plan

Good Compatible tank mates (3)

Shared water conditions and no known conflict. Still add fish slowly and watch them.

Caution Possible, with care (72)

These can work in the right setup, but there is a real risk. Read the reason first.

  • Angelfish · 29+ gal
    • Angelfish is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller German blue rams.
  • Betta fish · 5+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 27–28°C).
  • Common pleco · 150+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 27–28°C).
    • German blue ram defends its patch of the bottom and may chase common plecos, which use the same area.
    • Common pleco defends its patch of the bottom and may chase German blue rams, which use the same area.
  • Dwarf gourami · 15+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 27–28°C).
  • Guppy · 10+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 27–27°C).
  • Nerite snail · 5+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 27–27°C).
  • Tiger barb · 29+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 27–27°C).
    • Tiger barb nips fins and can stress slow, peaceful fish like German blue rams.
  • Amano shrimp · 10+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 27–27°C).
    • German blue ram hunts shrimp. Larger amano shrimp sometimes survive, but expect losses.
  • Assassin snail · 5+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 27–27°C).
  • Bala shark · 230+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 27–28°C).
    • Bala shark may eat German blue rams, especially young or small ones.
  • Blood parrot cichlid · 55+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 27–27°C).
    • Blood parrot cichlid is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller German blue rams.
  • Cardinal tetra · 15+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 27–28°C).
  • Cherry barb · 15+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 27–27°C).
  • Chili rasbora · 10+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 27–27°C).
  • Clown loach · 180+ gal
    • German blue ram defends its patch of the bottom and may chase clown loaches, which use the same area.
    • Clown loach grows much larger than German blue rams and may swallow them as it grows.
  • Dwarf neon rainbowfish · 20+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 27–27°C).
  • Electric blue acara · 40+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 27–27°C).
    • German blue ram defends its patch of the bottom and may chase electric blue acaras, which use the same area.
    • Electric blue acara may eat German blue rams, especially young or small ones.
    • Electric blue acara is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller German blue rams.
    • Electric blue acara defends its patch of the bottom and may chase German blue rams, which use the same area.
  • Ember tetra · 10+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 27–28°C).
  • Firemouth cichlid · 29+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 27–28°C).
    • German blue ram defends its patch of the bottom and may chase firemouth cichlids, which use the same area.
    • Firemouth cichlid is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller German blue rams.
    • Firemouth cichlid defends its patch of the bottom and may chase German blue rams, which use the same area.
  • Ghost shrimp · 10+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 27–27°C).
    • German blue ram hunts shrimp. Larger ghost shrimp sometimes survive, but expect losses.
  • Glowlight tetra · 15+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 27–28°C).
  • Harlequin rasbora · 15+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 27–27°C).
  • Honey gourami · 10+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 27–27°C).
  • Kribensis · 29+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 27–27°C).
    • German blue ram defends its patch of the bottom and may chase kribensis, which use the same area.
    • Kribensis defends its patch of the bottom and may chase German blue rams, which use the same area.
  • Kuhli loach · 20+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 27–27°C).
    • German blue ram defends its patch of the bottom and may chase kuhli loaches, which use the same area.
  • Malaysian trumpet snail · 10+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 27–27°C).
  • Molly · 29+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 27–27°C).
    • Their preferred pH ranges don't quite overlap (5–7 vs 7.5–8.5).
    • One prefers soft water and the other hard water (GH 1–8 vs 15–30 dGH).
  • Pearl gourami · 29+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 27–28°C).
  • Ramshorn snail · 5+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 27–27°C).
  • Rummy-nose tetra · 29+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 27–28°C).
  • Silver dollar · 75+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 27–28°C).
  • Sterbai corydoras · 20+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 27–28°C).
    • German blue ram defends its patch of the bottom and may chase sterbai corydoras, which use the same area.
  • Three spot gourami · 29+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 27–28°C).
  • X-ray tetra · 15+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 27–28°C).
  • Yoyo loach · 75+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 27–27°C).
    • German blue ram defends its patch of the bottom and may chase yoyo loaches, which use the same area.
  • African butterfly fish · 29+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 27–28°C).
  • Agassiz's dwarf cichlid · 20+ gal
    • German blue ram defends its patch of the bottom and may chase Agassiz's dwarf cichlids, which use the same area.
    • Agassiz's dwarf cichlid defends its patch of the bottom and may chase German blue rams, which use the same area.
  • Bamboo shrimp · 20+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 27–28°C).
    • German blue ram hunts shrimp. Larger bamboo shrimp sometimes survive, but expect losses.
  • Black neon tetra · 20+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 27–27°C).
  • Black phantom tetra · 20+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 27–28°C).
  • Bleeding heart tetra · 29+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 27–27°C).
  • Bolivian ram · 29+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 27–27°C).
    • German blue ram defends its patch of the bottom and may chase Bolivian rams, which use the same area.
    • Bolivian ram defends its patch of the bottom and may chase German blue rams, which use the same area.
  • Clown pleco · 20+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 27–28°C).
    • German blue ram defends its patch of the bottom and may chase clown plecos, which use the same area.
  • Cockatoo cichlid · 20+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 27–28°C).
    • German blue ram defends its patch of the bottom and may chase cockatoo cichlids, which use the same area.
    • Cockatoo cichlid defends its patch of the bottom and may chase German blue rams, which use the same area.
  • Congo tetra · 40+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 27–27°C).
  • Diamond tetra · 20+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 27–28°C).
  • Dwarf chain loach · 29+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 27–28°C).
    • German blue ram defends its patch of the bottom and may chase dwarf chain loaches, which use the same area.
  • Emerald green corydoras · 55+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 27–27°C).
    • German blue ram defends its patch of the bottom and may chase emerald green corydoras, which use the same area.
  • Emperor tetra · 20+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 27–27°C).
  • Endler's livebearer · 10+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 27–28°C).
  • Forktail blue-eye · 20+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 27–27°C).
  • Head and tail light tetra · 20+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 27–27°C).
  • Kissing gourami · 75+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 27–28°C).
    • Kissing gourami is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller German blue rams.
  • Lambchop rasbora · 15+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 27–27°C).
  • Lemon tetra · 20+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 27–27°C).
  • Marbled hatchetfish · 20+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 27–28°C).
  • Penguin tetra · 20+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 27–28°C).
  • Rabbit snail · 29+ gal
    • Their preferred pH ranges don't quite overlap (5–7 vs 7.5–8.5).
  • Red rainbowfish · 40+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 27–28°C).
  • Ropefish · 75+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 27–28°C).
    • German blue ram defends its patch of the bottom and may chase ropefish, which use the same area.
    • Ropefish may eat German blue rams, especially young or small ones.
  • Rosy tetra · 20+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 27–28°C).
  • Severum · 55+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 27–28°C).
    • Severum may eat German blue rams, especially young or small ones.
    • Severum is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller German blue rams.
  • Sparkling gourami · 10+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 27–28°C).
  • Thai micro crab · 5+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 27–27°C).
    • German blue ram may attack small crustaceans like Thai micro crabs, especially after they molt.
  • Threadfin rainbowfish · 20+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 27–28°C).
  • Upside-down catfish · 29+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 27–27°C).
  • Vampire shrimp · 20+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 27–28°C).
    • German blue ram hunts shrimp. Larger vampire shrimp sometimes survive, but expect losses.
  • Zebra pleco · 20+ gal
    • German blue ram defends its patch of the bottom and may chase zebra plecos, which use the same area.
    • Zebra pleco defends its patch of the bottom and may chase German blue rams, which use the same area.
  • Dwarf rasbora · 10+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 27–27°C).
  • Green neon tetra · 10+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 27–27°C).
  • Silvertip tetra · 20+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 27–27°C).
  • Thick-lipped gourami · 20+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 27–27°C).

Avoid Bad tank mates (74)

  • Bristlenose pleco: They need different temperatures: German blue ram 27–30°C (81–86°F), bristlenose pleco 22–26°C (72–79°F).
  • Bronze corydoras: They need different temperatures: German blue ram 27–30°C (81–86°F), bronze corydoras 21–26°C (70–79°F).
  • Cherry shrimp: German blue ram eats small shrimp like cherry shrimp.
  • Common goldfish: They need different temperatures: German blue ram 27–30°C (81–86°F), common goldfish 15–22°C (59–72°F).
  • Fancy goldfish: They need different temperatures: German blue ram 27–30°C (81–86°F), fancy goldfish 18–23°C (64–73°F).
  • Neon tetra: They need different temperatures: German blue ram 27–30°C (81–86°F), neon tetra 21–25°C (70–77°F).
  • Oscar: Oscar can eat German blue rams: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Panda corydoras: They need different temperatures: German blue ram 27–30°C (81–86°F), panda corydoras 21–25°C (70–77°F).
  • Zebra danio: They need different temperatures: German blue ram 27–30°C (81–86°F), zebra danio 18–25°C (64–77°F).
  • African dwarf frog: They need different temperatures: German blue ram 27–30°C (81–86°F), african dwarf frog 22–26°C (72–79°F).
  • Black skirt tetra: They need different temperatures: German blue ram 27–30°C (81–86°F), black skirt tetra 22–26°C (72–79°F).
  • Celestial pearl danio: They need different temperatures: German blue ram 27–30°C (81–86°F), celestial pearl danio 20–25°C (68–77°F).
  • Chinese algae eater: They need different temperatures: German blue ram 27–30°C (81–86°F), chinese algae eater 22–26°C (72–79°F). Chinese algae eater is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful German blue rams.
  • Convict cichlid: Convict cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful German blue rams.
  • Denison barb: They need different temperatures: German blue ram 27–30°C (81–86°F), denison barb 20–25°C (68–77°F).
  • Dojo loach: They need different temperatures: German blue ram 27–30°C (81–86°F), dojo loach 18–23°C (64–73°F).
  • Electric yellow cichlid: Electric yellow cichlid is a Lake Malawi cichlid. It needs a Lake Malawi tank: hard, alkaline water (pH 7.5–8.5), plenty of rockwork and other cichlids from the same lake. German blue rams don't belong in that setup.
  • Hillstream loach: They need different temperatures: German blue ram 27–30°C (81–86°F), hillstream loach 20–24°C (68–75°F).
  • Jack Dempsey: Jack Dempsey can eat German blue rams: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown. Jack Dempsey is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful German blue rams.
  • Julii corydoras: They need different temperatures: German blue ram 27–30°C (81–86°F), julii corydoras 22–26°C (72–79°F).
  • Mystery snail: They need different temperatures: German blue ram 27–30°C (81–86°F), mystery snail 21–26°C (70–79°F).
  • Otocinclus: They need different temperatures: German blue ram 27–30°C (81–86°F), otocinclus 21–26°C (70–79°F).
  • Pea puffer: Pea puffer is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful German blue rams. Pea puffer is best kept in a species-only tank.
  • Peacock cichlid: Peacock cichlid is a Lake Malawi cichlid. It needs a Lake Malawi tank: hard, alkaline water (pH 7.5–8.5), plenty of rockwork and other cichlids from the same lake. German blue rams don't belong in that setup.
  • Peppered corydoras: They need different temperatures: German blue ram 27–30°C (81–86°F), peppered corydoras 20–25°C (68–77°F).
  • Pictus catfish: They need different temperatures: German blue ram 27–30°C (81–86°F), pictus catfish 22–25°C (72–77°F).
  • Platy: They need different temperatures: German blue ram 27–30°C (81–86°F), platy 20–26°C (68–79°F).
  • Pygmy corydoras: They need different temperatures: German blue ram 27–30°C (81–86°F), pygmy corydoras 22–26°C (72–79°F).
  • Rainbow shark: They need different temperatures: German blue ram 27–30°C (81–86°F), rainbow shark 22–26°C (72–79°F).
  • Red zebra cichlid: Red zebra cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful German blue rams. Red zebra cichlid is a Lake Malawi cichlid. It needs a Lake Malawi tank: hard, alkaline water (pH 7.5–8.5), plenty of rockwork and other cichlids from the same lake. German blue rams don't belong in that setup.
  • Red-tail shark: They need different temperatures: German blue ram 27–30°C (81–86°F), red-tail shark 22–26°C (72–79°F).
  • Rosy barb: They need different temperatures: German blue ram 27–30°C (81–86°F), rosy barb 18–24°C (64–75°F).
  • Senegal bichir: Senegal bichir can eat German blue rams: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Siamese algae eater: They need different temperatures: German blue ram 27–30°C (81–86°F), siamese algae eater 22–26°C (72–79°F).
  • White cloud mountain minnow: They need different temperatures: German blue ram 27–30°C (81–86°F), white cloud mountain minnow 16–22°C (61–72°F).
  • Black ghost knifefish: Black ghost knifefish can eat German blue rams: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Bloodfin tetra: They need different temperatures: German blue ram 27–30°C (81–86°F), bloodfin tetra 20–26°C (68–79°F).
  • Buenos Aires tetra: They need different temperatures: German blue ram 27–30°C (81–86°F), buenos Aires tetra 18–25°C (64–77°F).
  • Bumblebee catfish: They need different temperatures: German blue ram 27–30°C (81–86°F), bumblebee catfish 22–26°C (72–79°F).
  • Clown killifish: They need different temperatures: German blue ram 27–30°C (81–86°F), clown killifish 22–26°C (72–79°F).
  • Crystal red shrimp: They need different temperatures: German blue ram 27–30°C (81–86°F), crystal red shrimp 20–24°C (68–75°F). German blue ram eats small shrimp like crystal red shrimp.
  • Demasoni cichlid: Demasoni cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful German blue rams. Demasoni cichlid is a Lake Malawi cichlid. It needs a Lake Malawi tank: hard, alkaline water (pH 7.5–8.5), plenty of rockwork and other cichlids from the same lake. German blue rams don't belong in that setup.
  • Dwarf orange crayfish: They need different temperatures: German blue ram 27–30°C (81–86°F), dwarf orange crayfish 18–24°C (64–75°F).
  • Frontosa: They need very different water: pH 5–7 vs 8–9. Frontosa can eat German blue rams: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown. Frontosa is a Lake Tanganyika cichlid. It needs a Lake Tanganyika tank: hard, alkaline water (pH 8–9), plenty of rockwork and other cichlids from the same lake. German blue rams don't belong in that setup.
  • Gardneri killifish: They need different temperatures: German blue ram 27–30°C (81–86°F), gardneri killifish 21–25°C (70–77°F).
  • Giant danio: They need different temperatures: German blue ram 27–30°C (81–86°F), giant danio 21–25°C (70–77°F).
  • Glass catfish: They need different temperatures: German blue ram 27–30°C (81–86°F), glass catfish 23–26°C (73–79°F).
  • Gold barb: They need different temperatures: German blue ram 27–30°C (81–86°F), gold barb 18–24°C (64–75°F).
  • Golden wonder killifish: They need different temperatures: German blue ram 27–30°C (81–86°F), golden wonder killifish 22–26°C (72–79°F).
  • Green terror: They need different temperatures: German blue ram 27–30°C (81–86°F), green terror 20–24°C (68–75°F). Green terror can eat German blue rams: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown. Green terror is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful German blue rams.
  • Jewel cichlid: Jewel cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful German blue rams.
  • Kubotai rasbora: They need different temperatures: German blue ram 27–30°C (81–86°F), kubotai rasbora 22–26°C (72–79°F).
  • Odessa barb: They need different temperatures: German blue ram 27–30°C (81–86°F), odessa barb 20–25°C (68–77°F).
  • Panda garra: They need different temperatures: German blue ram 27–30°C (81–86°F), panda garra 22–25°C (72–77°F).
  • Paradise fish: They need different temperatures: German blue ram 27–30°C (81–86°F), paradise fish 16–24°C (61–75°F).
  • Peacock gudgeon: They need different temperatures: German blue ram 27–30°C (81–86°F), peacock gudgeon 22–26°C (72–79°F).
  • Rosy loach: They need different temperatures: German blue ram 27–30°C (81–86°F), rosy loach 22–26°C (72–79°F).
  • Rubber lip pleco: They need different temperatures: German blue ram 27–30°C (81–86°F), rubber lip pleco 21–25°C (70–77°F).
  • Scarlet badis: They need different temperatures: German blue ram 27–30°C (81–86°F), scarlet badis 22–26°C (72–79°F).
  • Scissortail rasbora: They need different temperatures: German blue ram 27–30°C (81–86°F), scissortail rasbora 22–25°C (72–77°F).
  • Serpae tetra: They need different temperatures: German blue ram 27–30°C (81–86°F), serpae tetra 22–26°C (72–79°F).
  • Shell dweller cichlid: Shell dweller cichlid is a Lake Tanganyika cichlid. It needs a Lake Tanganyika tank: hard, alkaline water (pH 7.5–9), plenty of rockwork and other cichlids from the same lake. German blue rams don't belong in that setup.
  • Swordtail: They need different temperatures: German blue ram 27–30°C (81–86°F), swordtail 22–26°C (72–79°F).
  • Tinfoil barb: They need different temperatures: German blue ram 27–30°C (81–86°F), tinfoil barb 22–26°C (72–79°F). Tinfoil barb can eat German blue rams: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Turquoise rainbowfish: They need different temperatures: German blue ram 27–30°C (81–86°F), turquoise rainbowfish 22–25°C (72–77°F).
  • Zebra loach: They need different temperatures: German blue ram 27–30°C (81–86°F), zebra loach 23–26°C (73–79°F).
  • Black ruby barb: They need different temperatures: German blue ram 27–30°C (81–86°F), black ruby barb 22–26°C (72–79°F).
  • Checkerboard barb: They need different temperatures: German blue ram 27–30°C (81–86°F), checkerboard barb 20–25°C (68–77°F).
  • Flame tetra: They need different temperatures: German blue ram 27–30°C (81–86°F), flame tetra 22–26°C (72–79°F).
  • Glowlight danio: They need different temperatures: German blue ram 27–30°C (81–86°F), glowlight danio 20–24°C (68–75°F).
  • Keyhole cichlid: They need different temperatures: German blue ram 27–30°C (81–86°F), keyhole cichlid 22–26°C (72–79°F).
  • Least killifish: They need different temperatures: German blue ram 27–30°C (81–86°F), least killifish 20–26°C (68–79°F).
  • Pearl danio: They need different temperatures: German blue ram 27–30°C (81–86°F), pearl danio 20–25°C (68–77°F).
  • Variatus platy: They need different temperatures: German blue ram 27–30°C (81–86°F), variatus platy 18–25°C (64–77°F).

Frequently asked questions

What fish can live with German blue rams?

Good tank mates for German blue rams include boesemani rainbowfish and moonlight gourami. They need similar water and won't fight with or eat German blue rams.

Can German blue rams live with angelfish?

Sometimes, with care. Angelfish is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller German blue rams.

Can German blue rams live with bettas?

Sometimes, with care. Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 27–28°C).

Can German blue rams live with bristlenose plecos?

No. They need different temperatures: German blue ram 27–30°C (81–86°F), bristlenose pleco 22–26°C (72–79°F). German blue ram defends its patch of the bottom and may chase bristlenose plecos, which use the same area.

Can German blue rams live with bronze corydoras?

No. They need different temperatures: German blue ram 27–30°C (81–86°F), bronze corydoras 21–26°C (70–79°F). German blue ram defends its patch of the bottom and may chase bronze corydoras, which use the same area.

How we decide: we compare each pair's comfortable temperature, pH and hardness ranges, adult sizes, mouth size (who can eat whom), fin nipping, aggression and territory. Read the full method. Data last reviewed 2026-10-13.