Their natural habitat consists of mostly sandy bottoms with a scattering of clean flat roc… The Bolivian ram fish has a unique and unusual look and is a hardy tropical fish. These Cichlids are one of the easiest of the dwarf cichlids to care for making them suitable for the beginner aquarist as well as the more advanced aquarist as well as being an excellent choice for a community aquarium. These dwarf cichlids have all the characteristics of a popular aquarium fish. They can be found in Brazil and Bolivia in permanent freshwater streams and pools. Sometimes the female has to help extricate them from the egg shells, and then she will carry them in her mouth to a pre-dug pit. After about 48 hours (depending on the temperature) the larvae hatch from the eggs. In soft water it is more prolific, and interestingly, it forms very strong monogamous relationships. Tank Setup. I say go for rummynose. Let’s find out how these two fish species behave in a community tank. When a suitable stone has been chosen, thorough cleaning commences, and then pits are dug around it in the sand, to which the larvae will later be transferred. Bolivian rams stay relatively small in captivity, and grow to a maximum of 3 inches (8 cm) with the males growing slightly larger than the females. This brand of lighting also brings out the beautiful colors of your fish, which is more than welcome with a colorful Bolivian Ram in the aquarium. This family is very popular in the aquarium trade and includes fish such as Angelfish, Oscar… Bolivian Ram Fish are very fascinating and friendly fishes that have the potential to add grace to your aquarium. Bolivian rams are not necessarily schooling or shoaling fish. The canopy of your aquarium ensures: Your fish don’t jump out of your aquarium. The spawning lasts for about an hour, and in this time around 100 to 300 eggs will be laid in a circle. To keep German blue ram cichlids, keep them in a tank that holds at least 10 gallons of water, and install a heater in the tank since German blue ram cichlids prefer water that's between 82 and 86 degrees Fahrenheit. With their elegant colors and peaceful temperament, Bolivian rams are like the butterflies of the fishkeeping hobby. They belong to the Cichlidae family which is they largest group of freshwater fish. Pieces of driftwood will be useful as well, providing the fish with refuge in the face of a threat. The Bolivian Ram also requires a few caves in which to hide in and stones to spawn on. The Bolivian Ram (Mikrogeophagus altispinosus) is known under many common names: Butterfly Ram, Bolivian Butterfly Cichlid and Ruby Cichlid. The pH can range from 6.5 to 7.5, the GH should be below 10, and the temperature around 25° to 28°C (77° to 82°F). As far as feeding is concerned, the food should be small in size and varied; both live and dry foods are equally greedily taken. Consider the following to pair with your Bolivian rams: Angelfish; Barbs (tiger, cherry, or Odessa) They also like areas with flat rocks and natural caves during the breeding season. 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. Although it is not mandatory to put the pair in a separate tank, it helps in maintaining the tank conditions required for breeding in a separate tank. Bolivian Rams live in dimly lit and heavily vegetated river bottoms, thus they will prefer an aquarium setup that mimics their natural habitat. You can put just one in the tank as long as the tank is large enough - minimum would be 20 gal for 1 ram (imo). If you are planning for a community fish that would do well with your other peaceful fish, then […] It has a delicate elongated oval shape adorned with long pointed fins and tail. ©2020 TFH Magazine, a Central Garden & Pet Company. They are extremely colorful, of medium size, omnivorous, and furthermore they can adapt to various environmental conditions and breed easily. Large eyes, a characteristic snout reminiscent of a parrot’s beak, elongated anterior rays of the dorsal fin, a black eye stripe, and a black spot on the lateral line are the traits that dominate the appearance of these beautiful fish. Description. The mature males are very active and often display to the females, spreading their fins. These dwarf cichlids are best bought young, in a group of six to eight specimens; then, in just a few months, we can expect a pair to be formed. 77/8 is fine for Bolivians, but if you want pandas then lowering it to around 75 would be best. Hailing straight from the river basins of Bolivia and Brazil, this fish is very hardy and easy to care. 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. First of all, make sure the tank is at least 50 gallons and has plenty of shelter and hiding spots in the form of wide leaves, caves, large stones, smooth pebbles, snags, among others. Tank Set-Up. Description: The Bolivian Ram is a beautiful fish, often used as a centerpiece fish in aquariums. Later the fish was placed in the genus Apistogramma; however, as its morphology and spawning behavior are similar to M. ramirezi, it was moved to a new genus set up for that species. A few hours after the cleaning of the stone, the female begins the act of spawning with a few dry runs, while the male watches her keenly. However, we should take care not to overfeed, as this species is voracious. They are not that difficult to care for as long as you meet some basic requirements for them. Then the spawning process begins; the female lays the ovoid, light gray eggs, a few at a time, and they are immediately fertilized by the male. Bolivian rams do not need a large tank with 30 gallons being enough for one fish. The fish are mostly found in shallow, sandy ponds with a temperature of around 27°C (81°F), a pH of 7 to 7.6, and a carbonate hardness below 100 mg/l. Fairly common in the aquarium trade, Bolivian rams are fairly hardy and adaptable in the home aquarium. Pandas will do better in cooler waters like 74-75 and so will bolivians. Bolivian Ram (Mikrogeophagus altispinosa) – Known for their golden-brown color, Bolivian rams have multicolored highlights that make them quite attractive. This cichlid is incredibly colorful, and fully colored adult specimens shimmer with all the hues of the rainbow. When a female catches a male’s eye, he will start courting her, chasing away other admirers. I recommend this equipment for a 20-gallon community tank with a Bolivian Ram: Lights: The NICREW ClassicLED aquarium lights will support any low-light live plants like the aquatic Java Fern that you end up putting in your community tank. Though, they inhabi… Some researchers believe this species to be more closely related to the genus Biotodoma than the Venezuelan ram, on account of some morphological details, namely the shape of the dorsal fin and the head, as well as the body coloration and the absence of a large spot on the third crossband (typical of Mikrogeophagus ramirezi). To make them bolder it is advisable to include companion fish, such as species of the genus Apistogramma or small characins. The species was originally described as Crenicara altispinosa. The rummynose would do alright with him, or down the road they would do great with the GBR you want to get as they like warm water. For larger community tanks, you can keep Bolivian rams with other peaceful fish of similar size. The Planted Tank Forum Since 2002 A forum community dedicated to Aquatic tank owners and enthusiasts. Bolivian Ram Cichlid belongs to the diverse freshwater Cichlidae family. It is endemic or found exclusively in the upper Rio Madeira basin in Bolivia and Brazil. Questions to Ask Before Starting a Freshwater Fish Tank. All trademarks are either the property of Central Garden & Pet Company, its subsidiaries, divisions, affiliated and/or related companies or the property of their respective owners. Bolivian Ram Cichlids eventually grow to be 3-4 inches long. The Bolivian Ram requires a tank of 30 gallons minimum. Jul 12, 2016 - Explore Nathan E.'s board "Ram Bolivian, Mikrogeophagus altispinosus", followed by 116 people on Pinterest. They’re a peaceful freshwater fish that can get along with others without any issues. Bolivian Rams are Cichlids and unlike their closely related cousins (such as the Green Terror Cichlid) they are peaceful. These fish are peaceful, robust, and make an excellent aquarium fish for a general community or dwarf cichlid community.Unlike many other dwarf cichlids, they can be kept in groups of 5 or more, given a tank size of greater than 90cm. If its a dwarf then just one. Fish Lore's aquarium forum - aquarium hobbyists helping hobbyists since 2005! On account of their peaceful temperament they are the perfect inhabitants for community aquariums, and they can be confidently recommended to all novice enthusiasts of South American cichlids. Males are slightly longer (10 cm, or 4 inches, in length) and slimmer than the females, which in turn are stouter and more rounded in the belly area. These cichlids grow to around 8 to 10 cm (3 to 4 inches) in length, but you should use at least a 50-liter (15-gallon) tank for one adult pair. 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