What is a Ram?

[chrisb01]

I'm new to this forum, so I don't know if this question belongs here.

I want to start keeping Rams. I am also new to Dwarf Cichlids.

My question: Are Rams Apistogrammas or Geophagus?

I only have one gold Ram so far.

 

[Hmoobthor]

I'm new to this forum, so I don't know if this question belongs here.

I want to start keeping Rams. I am also new to Dwarf Cichlids.

My question: Are Rams Apistogrammas or Geophagus?

I only have one gold Ram so far.

Geo.

Apisto are in a different family.

 

[Mike Wise]

Rams are neither Apistogramma nor Geophagus. They belong in the genus Mikrogeophagus (or Microgeophagus or even Papiliochromis, depending on the source, but let's not go there). The genus Mikrogeophagus presently is known to contain 2 scientifically described species (M. ramirezi: the Orinoco Ram, and M. altispinossus: the Bolivian Ram) plus 1 undescribed species (M. sp. Zweifleck/Two-patch). Like Apistogramma, Mikrogeophagus is a dwarf geophagine genus.

 

[dwarfpike]

There is also a dwarf jewel cichlid that is often sold as African Butterfly Ram or African Dwarf Ram (at least around here) ... but of course they aren't related to the SA rams at out. But I've seen a couple people that want blue rams end up with them becuase of the common name similiarities, so I thought I'd mention them.