Bolivian Ram
Bolivian Ram(Mikrogeophagus altispinosa) is the standard color form — a warm golden-orange body with subtle blue iridescent highlights, a prominent black spot on the flank, and vivid red-orange fin edging with elongated dorsal and caudal fin extensions in males. Less intensely colored than the German Blue Ram but no less beautiful. The Bolivian Ram is the hardier and more adaptable sibling of the German Blue Ram — sharing the same elegant body form, devoted parental care, and peaceful personality, but considerably more forgiving of water conditions and temperature variation. An excellent choice for aquarists who want the Mikrogeophagus experience without the demanding requirements ofM. ramirezi.
Feeding & Care Tip:Hikari Micro PelletsandSera Vipan Babymake excellent daily staples. Supplement 2–3× per week withHikari Frozen or Freeze-Dried Baby Brine Shrimp,Hikari Frozen or Freeze-Dried Bloodworms, andHikari Frozen Daphnia. Feed small amounts 2–3 times daily.
Native to the upper Madeira River basin in Bolivia and surrounding Brazil — slow-moving streams, lagoons, and floodplain pools. The water is warm to cool-moderate and moderately soft. The Bolivian Ram’s wider temperature tolerance and greater adaptability make it a genuinely more accessible entry point to the Mikrogeophagus genus than its more demanding relative.
Keep as a bonded pair or in a small group. Flat surface spawner with devoted biparental care — both parents guard eggs and fry intensely. Compatible with small, peaceful tetras, Corydoras, and community fish that will not disturb the breeding territory. The Bolivian Ram is an excellent choice for planted community aquariums — more forgiving of standard water conditions thanM. ramirezi.
The Bolivian Ram is a flat surface spawner — the pair cleans a smooth patch of substrate and guards the eggs and fry with the same intensity as the German Blue Ram. Watching a pair of Bolivian Rams parent their fry is one of the most rewarding small cichlid experiences available.
Care & Ideal Parameters
| Difficulty | Easy — Moderate |
| Temperament | Peaceful — pairs territorial when breeding |
| Typical Adult Size | 3.5 inches (9 cm) |
| Min. Group Size | Bonded pair — minimum 20 gallons |
| Ideal Temp | 72–82°F (22–28°C) |
| Ideal pH | 6.5–7.5 |
| Ideal GH | 3–15 dGH |
| Ideal KH | 1–8 dKH |
| Staple Food | Hikari Micro Pellets; Sera Vipan Baby |
| Treat / Supplement | Hikari Frozen or Freeze-Dried Baby Brine Shrimp; Hikari Frozen or Freeze-Dried Bloodworms; Hikari Frozen Daphnia |
| Origin | Upper Madeira River basin, Bolivia and Brazil |
| Notes | Standard Bolivian Ram. More adaptable and beginner-friendly than M. ramirezi. Wide temperature tolerance. Ideal entry point to the Mikrogeophagus genus. |
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