Bolivian Ram Cichlid (Mikrogeophagus altispinosus)

Bolivian Ram Cichlid (Mikrogeophagus altispinosus) is a peaceful South American dwarf cichlid with warm gold body colour, red edging on the fins and the steady, curious behaviour that makes rams so rewarding in a planted aquarium. It is calmer and more forgiving than the German Blue Ram, while still giving you genuine cichlid character: pair bonding, sand-sifting, careful territory use and attentive brood care when conditions are right.

This fish has also appeared in the trade under the older name Papiliochromis altispinosus and the common name Bolivian Butterfly Ram. We use the accepted scientific name in the title so the listing is clearer for customers and Google, while keeping the old trade name here for anyone matching it to supplier labels.

Why Choose A Bolivian Ram?

The Bolivian Ram is one of the most useful choices for aquarists who want a colourful dwarf cichlid without the fragility or constant heat demand of some ram strains. FishBase places the species in the Guapore and Mamore drainages of Brazil and Bolivia, while aquarium references describe it as a fairly adaptable, hardy ram that still needs high water quality. In practice, that means it suits mature, well-filtered aquariums far better than brand new tanks, but it does not force you into extreme blackwater conditions.

Colour develops best after the fish settles. Expect a golden to olive body, a dark eye bar, a central flank mark and red or pink edging on the fins, often with blue highlights under good lighting. The look is more natural and subtle than a selectively bred electric-blue fish, which is exactly why many planted-tank keepers prefer it.

Tank Setup

Plan the aquarium around floor space and structure. A pair can work from about 80 litres if the tank is mature and thoughtfully arranged, but 100-120 litres is more comfortable if you want dither fish or a small group. Use fine sand where possible, because this species naturally mouths and sifts the substrate while searching for food. Rounded stones, broad leaves and flat slate pieces can double as resting and spawning surfaces.

A good layout has open sand at the front, plants and wood along the sides, and broken sight lines so the fish can avoid one another when one becomes territorial. Cryptocoryne, Amazon swords, Java fern, floating plants, leaf litter and driftwood all suit the species. Filtration should be mature and steady, with gentle flow rather than a strong jet across the bottom.

Feeding

Bolivian Rams are sand-sifting omnivores. Offer small sinking granules, quality cichlid foods and fine frozen foods such as daphnia, brine shrimp, bloodworm and cyclops. They will feed in midwater too, but many individuals are most confident when food reaches the lower half of the aquarium. Several small meals are better than one heavy feed, especially in tanks with sand where waste can build up if portions are too large.

Conditioning foods matter if you want stronger colour or breeding behaviour. Live foods and varied frozen foods are excellent, but keep them as part of a balanced routine rather than the whole diet.

Tank Mates

This is a peaceful cichlid, not a pushy mixed-cichlid bruiser. Good companions include small to medium tetras, pencilfish, peaceful rasboras, Corydoras, Otocinclus and other calm community fish that do not nip fins or invade every bottom-level territory. Avoid aggressive cichlids, fin nippers, very tiny fry-sized fish and boisterous species that outcompete slower bottom feeders.

For a South American theme, pair Bolivian Rams with upper-level schooling fish and leave the lower level relatively uncluttered. They can live with other dwarf cichlids only in larger aquariums with clear territories. During spawning, even peaceful pairs may guard a chosen stone or pit, so a little extra space is worth it.

Breeding And Behaviour

Bolivian Rams are open-spawning biparental cichlids. Pairs may clean a flat stone, broad leaf or shallow pit, then guard eggs and move larvae as they develop. FishBase notes egg care by the female and defence by both parents; hobby sources also report that pairs often form best when juveniles are allowed to choose partners naturally. If breeding is your goal, use a quiet tank, stable water, fine sand, flat stones and rich conditioning foods.

The best part of keeping them is everyday behaviour. They patrol slowly, inspect the substrate, display to one another and become much more confident once they know the tank is safe. A bare tank makes them nervous. A structured planted tank lets them behave like small, intelligent cichlids.

Arrival, Guarantee And First Week Care

Selected sizes are in stock and shipped by licensed live-animal courier with our Live Arrival Guarantee. Use WELCOME10 on your first Tropical Fish Co order if the code applies at checkout. After arrival, float the bag to equalise temperature, acclimate gradually and keep the lights low for the first few hours. Offer a small meal only after the fish is upright, calm and exploring.

During the first week, prioritise stable water over chasing exact numbers. Test ammonia and nitrite, keep nitrate low, and avoid rearranging the tank while the fish are settling. A settled Bolivian Ram should show interest in food, hold its fins cleanly and spend time exploring the lower half of the aquarium.

Sources checked

• FishBase profile for Mikrogeophagus altispinosus: range, temperature, size and breeding notes.
• Tropical Fish Hobbyist species profile: synonym notes, aquarium difficulty, setup, feeding and planted-community suitability.
• Steenfott Aquatics Bolivian Ram care guide: habitat, tank setup, water parameters, diet and compatibility cross-checks.