If Cichlids have ever been on your mind, but you were too afraid they might be more than a handful, then consider the Bolivian Ram (Mikrogeophagus altispinosus).
Also known in the trade as the Butterfly Ram, Bolivian Butterfly Cichlid, and Ruby Crown Cichlid, this is a fish that is peaceful in a family known for being aggressive and rowdy.
That being said, they are also a great gateway Cichlid for the beginner as long as you are able to master their specific tank conditions.
As their name suggests, their native habitat is Bolivia in the freshwater basins of the Orinoco, but they can also be spotted in the freshwaters of Brazil.
They have vibrant markings, are colorful, and are a genuine crowd-pleaser in the hobby for those why yearn for the Cichlid behavior and personality without the downside of unwanted aggression in the tank.
Playful and friendly, the Bolivian Ram should top the wishlist of any aquarist. Let’s take a look at why they rate so highly and what you’ll need to know to care for them and keep them in tip-top shape.
Bolivian Ram Behavior
Aside from breeding periods, when you can expect any fish species to become a little more aggressive, you should expect your Bolivian Rams to behave like little angels.
They will happily get along with other right-sized tank mates and will show off their charming personalities with ease.
Usually, Cichlids like to root around in the substrate provided, as well as rearrange plant life to their satisfaction. The Bolivian Rams are less interested in these behaviors but will search for food in short sharp bursts of swimming that raise substrate, allowing them to pick off food bits they discover in the process.
They love to actively swim in open water, so ensuring you have enough open swimming areas for these fish is essential.
Some owners report that their Bolivian Rams recognize them, which is always delightful for the person caring for them. A little fish recognition goes a long way to repaying the hobbyist’s efforts to keep their specimens happy and healthy.
These fish also enjoy the odd game of hide and seek, so you can expect them to spend some of their time poking around your decor and plants when they want a little space.
This is a shoaling species and does best in groups of at least 6 – 8, so you’ll need to plan for that space-wise.
Bolivian Ram Lifespan
If you cater to the needs of your Bolivian Rams, you could expect them to live for around 4 – 7 years. The quality of their tank conditions will impact their lifespan, as always, so you can expect a longer life if you meet their requirements meticulously.
We will discuss more on tank requirements a little later in this article.
Bolivian Ram Appearance
Many may wonder how the name ‘ram’ fell into their name. Their spiky, spiny dorsal fin that features prominently at the anterior portion does resemble something not to mess with, much like the horns on a ram.
They usually reach around 3 – 4 inches in length at full maturity.
They are colorful, with many possessing every shade in the spectrum. With large eyes and a parrot-shaped mouth, longer than average rays at the front portion of their dorsal fin for a unique shape, they are beautiful.
A vertical black line runs down their eye, and they have a black spot located on their lateral line. Their body base is whitish-yellow, with deeper yellowy-orange portions near the front of their body and on fins. The fins often appear spotted with yell and have a deeper trim shade. The spiky fore of the dorsal fin is also often black, which heightens the shape.
Females are generally an inch shorter than males and less colorful.
Their sharp fin rays help them evade predators and are incredibly sharp, so care must be taken if you need to handle them.
Bolivian Ram Habitat And Tank Requirements
As always, we want to achieve optimum health for fish we keep in captivity by closely mimicking their natural habitat. Their wild origins are the freshwater basins of Bolivia and Brazil.
These fish are quite hardy and will thrive even in the hands of a beginner.
Let’s look at some specifics that are needed to provide these fish with a great quality of life that best suits them for optimum health.
Tank Conditions
First of all, set yourself up for success by choosing a sandy substrate that won’t scratch these fish who do poke around. Adding in some smooth rocks and pebbles will add interest.
Plenty of vegetation is ideal for these guys, so you’ll want a heavily planted tank that allows for open swimming action.
Wisteria, Java Fern, Vallisneria, Amazon Swords, and Anubias Nana are perfectly poised to provide your Bolivian Rams with the cover and plant life they will enjoy. This will also assist with the oxygenation of your tank too.
Floating plants also work really well to keep lighting conditions low as they are not fond of bright light.
Decor like driftwood and large rocks and caves will keep your Bolivian Rams less stressed for times they want to hide or be on their own. In the wild, there are usually large amounts of roots and branches in the slow-moving waters, so they will enjoy those.
Canister or hang-on-back filtration works best and won’t create too much water disturbance.
Water changes need to be weekly and at least 25 – 35% changed over for optimum water quality.
Water conditions should be noted and maintained as follows:
- a pH of 6.0 – 7.4
- Water hardness between 0 – 10 dKH
- Temperature between 74 – 78ºF (23 – 26ºC)
- Lighting conditions should be low as they don’t experience much direct sunlight in the South American basins.
Tank Size
The minimum tank size for a single Ram is 30 gallons, and for every additional specimen, you should add another 5 – 10 gallons. Considering that they like to school and shoal, and we recommended a group of 6 – 8 in a tank, you’ll need to provide at least 60 gallons for a group of six, although 90 might be more appropriate.
However, this is the minimum, so getting something larger is even better to keep them active, curious, and healthier.
In terms of shape, you’ll want something long and rectangular that will allow them plenty of active swimming areas.
Choosing Tank Mates For Bolivian Rams
When it comes to finding species appropriate for your Bolivian Rams, you have plenty of options.
You’ll want to keep sizes of tank mates relative, nothing too small, or your Rams will try to eat them. Keep the other species peaceful, and you shouldn’t have any problems.
Some excellent tank mate pairings that would work well include:
- Cherry Barbs
- Kuhli Loaches
- Cory Catfish
- Plates
- Guppies
- Rummy Nose Tetras
- Silver Dollar Fish
- Emperor Tetras
- Dwarf Gourami
- Angelfish
- Bristlenose Pleco
- Mollies
- Rasboras
- Swordtails
- Rainbows
- Other Dwarf Cichlids
- Celestial Pearl Danios
- Snails are also compatible to help reduce the algae load in your tank, but avoid shrimp as they will get snapped up.
Avoid anything aggressive that will harass and stress your Bolivian Rams.
Notes On Feeding Bolivian Rams
Bolivian Rams are omnivorous and are happily eating a variety of food sources.
Exceptional quality flaked or pellet foods are ideal as the base of your food supply.
Bloodworms, Brine Shrimp, Tubifex, and Daphnia, are all great supplements for complementary feeding and should be encouraged regularly.
You can expect your Rams to nibble on plants, so keep an eye out for damaged leaf portions and remove them if they start to die off to avoid water fouling.
Try offering blanched vegetables like zucchini or spinach in small chopped pieces, and remove anything that doesn’t get eaten.
Smaller meals 3 or more times per day usually work well for these fish who will hoover up food and have a healthy appetite.
Bolivian Ram Common Health Issues
Most freshwater fish are susceptible to Ich (White Spot Disease), which, as the name implies, is easily distinguished by white spots on the body due to a parasitic infection.
Raising the water temperature and/or quarantining the affected fish can help remedy this disease, as well as purpose-bought medications for this affliction.
You can often avoid parasitic infections by thoroughly quarantining and washing any new decor or before introducing anything new to the tank, living or otherwise.
Normally when these health hazards happen, it’s because the water parameters and quality have dropped.
Health issues can be minimized with a strict water cleaning and change schedule along with regular checking of water parameters with a suitable testing kit.
How To Breed Bolivian Rams
We think Bolivian Rams make a great option for the hobbyist who is looking for a first-time breeding project. They make it pretty easy for you!
Males will designate interest in a female who is ready to spawn by courting her with splayed fins. He will chase away other males and try to keep them for himself.
Once a breeding pair is established, and the female is receptive, they will continue courtship for a number of days establishing and cleaning up areas where they plan on laying the eggs.
Pits will be made around the flat surfaces the pair have chosen, which is where the eventual larvae will be relocated to.
Once the surface is suitably prepared, the female will lay her eggs, and the male will fertilize them. Either keep your breeding pair separate with a divider to have them in a separate tank for the entire process, as this is when the males will aggressively defend their turf.
Up to 300 eggs can be laid in an hour. The female will protect the eggs by hovering over them, and the larvae will hatch in around 48 hours. She will also ‘fan’ the eggs, and the male will help with this action also, which helps oxygenate the eggs thoroughly.
What’s interesting about these fish is that the female will help the larvae exit their egg sacs with her mouth and then transfer them to the aforementioned pits. The larvae will eventually become free-swimming fry in another 5 – 8 days, depending on the tank temperature.
Making larger water changes daily if need be will help reduce the bioload.
Once the fry is free-swimming, they have a devil-may-care attitude to danger and will be highly active! The parent fish are not great at protecting them at this stage, so the use of a divider or a separate fry tank can be useful to avoid losing many of them to other fish who will snap them up.
Are Bolivian Rams A Good Idea For You?
Their popularity sure says they are. With beautiful coloring and patterns on their moderately sized bodies, these are a Cichlid worth investigating if you can handle the tank size to keep the appropriately sized shoal.
Their vibrant personality, swimming actions, and even owner recognition are what often make Bolivian Rams so rewarding.
Hardy, straightforward to care for, and the option to breed them with relative ease make them ideal for the novice hobbyist interested in getting into the Cichlid scene. Their peaceful nature enables you to mix them up in a tank community without much trouble as long as they are size-appropriate.
Take a chance on the energetic and active Bolivian Ram, and you won’t be disappointed!
