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Bolivian ram, Mikrogeophagus altispinosus

Cichlids · Mikrogeophagus

Bolivian ram

Mikrogeophagus altispinosus · Mamoré and Guaporé basins, Bolivia and Brazil

Photo: Corpse89, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The Bolivian ram (Mikrogeophagus altispinosus) is a freshwater fish from Mamoré and Guaporé basins, Bolivia and Brazil, where it lives in river habitat. Adults reach about 8 cm (3.1 in). Keep it at 22–28 °C (72–82 °F) and pH 6–7.5, in calm water. It is peaceful and does best in a group of 2 or more. It eats most foods: flakes, small pellets and frozen foods.

At a glance

Water temperature

22–28 °C 72–82 °F

pH

6–7.5 neutral water

Adult size

8 cm 3.1 in

Swims

Bottom and mid-water mostly on the floor and in caves

Keep together

2 or more a shoal feels safe

Current

Calm still or slow water

Food

Eats most foods

Temperament

Peaceful

≈ Every value here is an estimate from typical hobby ranges. We're checking them against sources.

Where it comes from

Home water

Mamoré and Guaporé basins, Bolivia and Brazil

Guaporé, Mamoré

Lives in river habitat.

The dot is placed on its home rivers, not an exact collecting site. Map: Natural Earth.

Tank mates

Checked against a roomy 300 L planted tank with low flow and plenty of caves. Your own tank may change the answer: try it in Your tanks.

In the hobby

In stock now

Not in stock at any store we track.

Tanks with this fish

No shared tanks have this fish yet. Share yours from Your tanks.

From keepers

Notes appear here when a keeper shares a tank with this fish and writes about it.

Questions keepers ask

How big does a Bolivian ram get?

About 8 cm (3.1 in) as an adult.

What temperature does a Bolivian ram need?

22–28 °C (72–82 °F).

What pH does a Bolivian ram need?

pH 6–7.5.

Does a Bolivian ram need to be kept in a group?

Yes. Keep at least 2.

Is the Bolivian ram aggressive?

No. It is peaceful with fish that suit the same water.

What does a Bolivian ram eat?

It eats most foods: flakes, small pellets and frozen foods.

Where does the Bolivian ram come from?

Mamoré and Guaporé basins, Bolivia and Brazil.

What fish can live with a Bolivian ram?

Good tank mates include Candy stripe (L015), Leopard frog (L134), Amano shrimp, Boeseman's rainbowfish, Bronze corydoras.

All the numbers

Temperature min (°C)22 Estimate
Temperature max (°C)28 Estimate
pH min6 Estimate
pH max7.5 Estimate
Adult size (cm)8 Estimate
FlowLow Estimate
Habitatriver Estimate
Smallest happy group2 Estimate
TemperamentPeaceful Estimate
DietOmnivore Estimate
Typical price min (CAD)10 Estimate
Typical price max (CAD)18 Estimate

Some values are estimates from typical hobby ranges and haven't been checked against a source yet.

Other Mikrogeophagus