The fish dwells in river tributaries, backwaters and lakes with sandy and muddy bottom; usually it prefers shallow and slow waters with lots of snags and luxuriant vegetation. Frozen foods work too. Technically it can be kept in a community tank, especially if you don’t have experience in keeping of any cichlid species. The fish areal is quite wide and it includes North and North-East Bolivia as well as Brazilian state Mato Grosso.The fish dwells in river tributaries, backwaters and lakes with sandy and muddy bottom; usually it prefers shallow and slow waters with lots of snags and luxuriant vegetation. Under the advice of my LFS, I brought home a ram which proceeded to eat 3 shrimp within 5 minutes of being in the tank. They provide some shelter while also giving your fish a reprieve from light. Though, they inhabit fresh bodies of water throughout Brazil. Maintaining great water quality and giving your fish a healthy habitat will decrease the chances of them getting sick significantly. The eggs lie quite tightly both firmly stuck to the stone and to each other. In the wild inhabits Amazon river headstream and Guaporé and Mamoré river basins. Once the juveniles start to swim, you can put the adult species back into the community tank and put a portion of fresh brine shrimp nauplii, Vinegar eels etc. Bolivian Ram, community tropical fish. Throughout the day, you’ll see your fish swimming around the open spaces and exploring hiding spots. They’ll dart through the water for a bit, stop, then dart again. However, through the years he’s had experience of keeping almost all types of freshwater fish and shrimps. Tank Size . These fish species require lots of shelters. The fish is omnivorous and undemanding. The maximal size is up to 8 cm (3.1 in); but usually the males are about 6 cm (5.4 in) long, the females are a bit smaller – about 5—5,5 cm (2 in). There are many different types of aquarium catfish out there. This one is rather hardy and standard tank maintaining procedures will be enough for this fish to live there successfully. They have an elongated oval body. Their natural habitat consists of mostly sandy bottoms with a scattering of clean flat ro… Plus, males often have elongated filaments on their dorsal fins. The Bolivian Ram (Mikrogeophagus altispinosus) is known under many common names: Butterfly Ram, Bolivian Butterfly Cichlid and Ruby Cichlid. In the wild Bolivian ram inhabits Amazon river headstream and Guaporé and Mamoré river basins. Separating the fish from others will prevent aggressive behavior and increase the survival rate for fry. Young species have no sexual dimorphism. We are unable to guarantee the size, colour, sex or age of the fishes you are purchasing. Diet: Bolivian Rams mainly stay in the bottom region of the aquarium, so sinking Cichlid pellets are often fed to them. The main thing is that the tank mates are no threat to rams and they don’t compete with it for the shelters and near-bottom area. They can also chow down on some plant material. Failing to meet those needs can lead to a host of health issues in the future. We have eggs! It crosses their eyes, which also have a black stripe. The water should have a low level of light and broad-leaved plants together with some well-cleaned slate inserted at an angle upon which the female will lay her adhesive eggs. 7.6-10.2cm (3-4 ") sg. Some aquarists like to increase the water temperature to about 86 degrees for a bit to see if the fish heal. Once your substrate is prepared, introduce live plants of varying sizes. Between their stunning beauty and peculiar mannerisms, you won’t have trouble passing time looking at your tank. Bolivian Rams are very peaceful fish. This tank picture looks better than 99.61% of tank pictures in this category. The commonly recommended Bolivian Ram tank size is around 20 gallons for a small group of these fish. Males of the species tend to be larger measuring up to 6 inches long while females can be as small as 2 inches long. Author Note: The most effective way to deal with freshwater diseases is to prevent your fish from getting them in the first place. Usually, that aggressive behavior is only towards fish that get too close to the breeding area. The juveniles bear heavily excessive amount of nitrogen containing compounds, that’s why it is necessary to equip the tank with powerful filter and renew the water more often. Bolivian Ram Basics. These fish are omnivores and will pretty much eat anything that you give them. But if it is present, the fish feel more confident and comfortable, faster get used to a new tank and start breeding. Country: Canada. Horizontal gray stripes begin from the spots on the body sides and they end near the tale; their number may vary within 7-10 stripes. On the other hand, female specimens usually don’t reach 3 inches at all. You can replicate the same environment in your aquarium. It is possible that you are having issue in the 5 gallon as smaller tanks are really harder to balance ..Mistakes can compound and become exaggerated in smaller tanks .. First of all the couple starts to clean a place for their future clutch. Often almost all eggs appear to be not fertilized or the parents eat all the eggs without with no apparent cause or sometimes they even eat the larvae as well. She is peaceful and has an interesting bright color and body shape. Despite its modest size, Bolivian Rams are fish with high intelligence. But that doesn’t mean you should go into ownership without the proper info. Not only that, but we think they’re one of the most entertaining species to spectate. The typical Bolivian Ram size is around 3 inches in length when fully grown.Males can get slightly larger and reach sizes of about 3.5 inches. All Bolivian Rams have rayed fins. Aside from that, these fish will get along with any other peaceful species. Common Name: Bolivian Ram . Spawning tank should contain 3-4 lush bushes of small leaved tank plants, a round flat stone and small grained bottom substrate. Flakes also work, but it may be a while before your ram learns to come up the surface to get them. Keep the meals small. Sergey is a founder and author of Meethepet.com. They will put them in their mouths to transport them to other areas of the tank. The two fish will then guard the area. It’s on the acidic side and doesn’t have a flow that’s too powerful. Tank Setup. I've read mixed reviews on keeping different SA Cichlids in the same tank...especially my size tank. Fish prefers soft and slightly acidic water. These fish love to swim and will fair better with plenty of room to explore. Both parents participate in the process; it can take from 2 days to a week. If you’re interested in learning more about Bolivian Ram Cichlids or have any stories you’d like to share about yours just let us know. They are hardy so live well in soft or hard water. Minimum Tank Size: 15-Gallons. Otherwise, especially if there are many of them, the rate of their growth will slow down and there will be more species with various pathologies. There is a dark stripe over the eye. Don’t utilize a powerful light unless you have plenty of shading. You can treat Ich in several ways. When it comes to tank decor, natural items are always best. However, bright red edging provides a pop of color. Tank compatibility [edit | edit source] Considered to be peaceful and a good community fish. Rigid rays act as a defense mechanism against predators. The Bolivian Ram (Mikrogeophagus altispinosus) is a widely available and very popular species of Cichlid within the aquarium trade. Description. Spiny dorsal fins, a feast of colors, small size, and mouths shaped like parrot beaks are all characteristics that make the popular Bolivian rams aquarium favorites. Upon closer inspection, finer details start to really pop! Naturally, the longer bolivian ram is bred in captivity the less the fish depends on chemical water parameters. Then, their shape tapers down to the tail fin. Alternatively, you can invest in faux rock decor. Bolivian Ram tank mates. Optimal tank capacity for a group of 6–8 species starts from 200 liters (44 gallons). Also known as the Bolivian Butterfly and Ruby Crown Cichlid, these eye-catching fish have become quite the crowd-pleaser in the fish community. The same goes for lighting. In captivity, they do just fine on dry food. A large vertical black stripe covers the head. The best thing you can do for your Bolivian Rams is to replicate their natural habitat. The only time they might show aggression is during breeding. This doesn’t just apply to the things you have in your tank, but also the water conditions. Young Bolivian rams bought from stores will typically be 1½ to 2 … The small size has made a Bolivian Ram ideal for keeping in a fish tank. The tank should have plenty of swimming space as well as places for them to safely hide. Don’t despair! This guide will teach you the essential elements of Bolivian Ram care. But it’s not exactly like this since butterfly cichlid can’t be found in Amazon river, but it is widely spread in its basin, in the rivers and streams joining the river. This species does best in a group of six to eight, so plan on a minimum tank size of 44-gallons. At this point, the parents will lead the fry in large groups to go find food. That said, it’s important to stick to their preferred parameters. The Bolivian Ram is a good alternative to the more colourful, but also more demanding, Ram or Butterfly Cichlid, and doesn't require the elevated temperatures of it's counterpart. But be ready that during the next 3-4 weeks the parents will zealously raise their juveniles. These fish are extremely approachable and can be kept by aquarists of all experience levels. Although rams make fierce parents, the fry stand little chance in a community tank. When they’re about 7 days old, they can swim freely. Also it eats all types of food and what is the most important – if compared to other cichlid species, the fish is very good-tempered and doesn’t damage tank plants. Some people say they have Bol Rams with GBR or apistos and it works find. Now that you know the essentials of Bolivian Ram care it’s time to get some for yourself! If you don’t have a bonded pair, you can get a large group of juvenile fish and let them pair off naturally. In the wild, they will sift through the substrate for small organisms. Sometimes, fish lays eggs not on a stone, but into such a pit in the substrate. The fish likes dim scattered light which you can provide by placing some floating plants on the tank water surface. The egg stage lasts about 3-4 days depending on the tank water temperature. In a word, something here and something there, so you need time to learn to see all these distinctive features and tell where there is a male and female in a school. This tank size is sufficient to house six of them together. The Bolivian Ram is a true gem that is almost criminally uncelebrated among dwarf cichlid enthusiasts. They may even attempt to camouflage the babies! When the juveniles become two month old you can feed them with what adult fish eat and in a month or two you can put them into the community tank. You can use a canister system (like the Fluval FX4) or a simple hang-on-back model. 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