Bolivian ram

Mikrogeophagus altispinosus

FreshwaterFish

Care at a glance

Temperature: 75–82°F; 24–28°C
pH: 6.0–7.5
Adult size: 3.1 in; 8 cm
Minimum tank: 45 gal; 170 L

Temperament: Peaceful
Social behavior: Social
Swim level: Middle
Difficulty: Medium
Breeding: Substrate spawner · Hard
Rarity: Rare
Family: Cichlidae
Origin: Bolivia, Brazil

Overview

The Bolivian ram is a peaceful dwarf cichlid that suits a quiet community tank. It is more forgiving than the common ram, and a step up from the easiest fish.

Did you know

Unlike its cousin the common ram, the Bolivian ram tolerates cooler and harder water. That is one reason it is often recommended as a hardier introduction to dwarf cichlids.

Caring for the Bolivian ram

Keep Bolivian rams as a bonded pair or a small group with space to spread out. At least 45 gal (170 L) lets them set up territories without constant squabbling. A soft sandy floor they can sift suits them, with smooth rocks and driftwood for cover and a few hardy plants. Leave open swimming space in the middle of the tank.

Bolivian rams are adaptable about water, and a pH of 6.0 to 7.5 at 75 to 82°F (24 to 28°C) keeps them comfortable. Offer a varied diet of sinking pellets, frozen bloodworm, brine shrimp and daphnia.

The Bolivian ram stays near the bottom and middle of the tank, sifting sand and picking at food. Keep it with calm, similarly sized tank mates such as tetras, rasboras and peaceful catfish. Boisterous fish will outcompete it at feeding time, so leave them out. It only turns territorial around a chosen flat rock when a pair is spawning.

It is an open substrate spawner that lays its eggs on a cleaned rock or firm surface. Both parents share guard duty and move the fry around pits dug in the sand. Breeding is hard, because pairs may eat their first few clutches before they settle into reliable parents. Stable, clean water is needed to raise the fry.

Good to know

Mikrogeophagus altispinosus is a dwarf member of the cichlid family, Cichlidae. The genus name means small eartheater, after the way it sifts mouthfuls of sand for tiny invertebrates.

In the wild

Bolivian rams come from the warm, gently flowing waters of the upper Madeira basin in Bolivia and Brazil. They live over sand and leaf litter along river margins and in quiet backwaters. The water there is soft to moderately hard and close to neutral.

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Tank mates

The Bolivian ram is a peaceful, social species that keeps to the middle. These picks share a community profile with it, are safe together in both directions, and overlap on water type, temperature and pH.

Check the full mix in the stocking calculator

Common questions

What size tank does a Bolivian ram need?

A Bolivian ram needs at least 45 gal (170 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.

What temperature and pH does a Bolivian ram need?

A Bolivian ram is comfortable at 75–82°F (24–28°C) with a pH of 6.0–7.5.

What does a Bolivian ram eat?

A Bolivian ram eats a varied diet of sinking pellets, frozen bloodworm, brine shrimp and daphnia.

How big does a Bolivian ram get?

An adult Bolivian ram reaches about 3.1 in (8 cm).

How does a Bolivian ram breed?

A Bolivian ram is an open substrate spawner that lays its eggs on a cleaned rock or firm surface. Both parents guard the eggs and fry, but pairs may eat their first few clutches, so breeding is hard.