- Common name
- Bolivian ram
- Scientific name
- Mikrogeophagus altispinosus
- Category
- Freshwater fish
- Group
- Dwarf cichlids
- Environment
- Mature freshwater aquarium with fine sand, shaded cover, flat spawning surfaces and gentle to moderate flow
- Origin
- Upper Amazon basin in Bolivia and Brazil, including the Mamoré and Guaporé region
- Care level
- Intermediate
- Adult size
- Up to about 6 cm standard length, with greater total length
- Expected lifespan
- No dependable species-specific captive maximum was located; plan for approximately 6–10 years.
- Minimum housing
- At least 100 L with an 80 cm or longer footprint for a compatible pair; larger for a group
- Temperature
- 22–27 °C
- pH
- Unknown; use stable source-matched water
- Hardness / minerals
- Unknown; stable source-matched mineral content
- Salinity
- Freshwater, 0 ppt; routine salt addition is not recommended
- Lighting
- Subdued to moderate with shaded refuge
- Placement / zone
- Bottom and lower-middle water
- Filtration
- Use mature biological filtration sized for the complete adult bolivian ram group, with guarded intakes and accessible mechanical capture. Keep flow gentle to moderate with high oxygen, sand, sight breaks and serviceable pair territories where the fish lives, and maintain undetectable ammonia and nitrite.
- Aeration
- Maintain reliable surface agitation and oxygen exchange at all times. Increase aeration during warm weather, medication, transport recovery, heavy feeding or any sign of rapid breathing.
- Maintenance
- Perform regular matched-water changes guided by nitrate and waste, remove uneaten food and trapped detritus, clean mechanical media without disrupting the biofilter, and record feeding, body condition, respiration and aggression.
Identity and search names
Single-species profile for Mikrogeophagus altispinosus. Papiliochromis altispinosus is a former combination retained for searching; it is distinct from M. ramirezi.
Search names: Bolivian butterfly cichlid, Papiliochromis altispinosus
Environment and housing
Use fine sand for sifting, wood or plant shade, flat stones, multiple retreat routes and gentle to moderate flow.
Social structure: Compatible pair or carefully planned group with several separated territories
Feeding and nutrition
Feeding ecology: Omnivorous benthic feeder taking small invertebrates and suitable sinking prepared foods
Feeding routine: Offer small sinking and frozen foods once or twice daily and make sure calm fish are not outcompeted at the bottom.
Breeding, reproduction or spread
Open substrate spawner
Detailed care and app-ready planning
- Identity scope
- Single-species profile for Mikrogeophagus altispinosus. Papiliochromis altispinosus is a former combination retained for searching; it is distinct from M. ramirezi.
- Adult size and space
- Up to about 6 cm standard length, with greater total length. At least 100 L with an 80 cm or longer footprint for a compatible pair; larger for a group. Adult dimensions, activity and social structure matter more than sale size.
- Social structure
- Compatible pair or carefully planned group with several separated territories
- Swimming zone or placement
- Primary zone: Bottom and lower-middle water. Keep that zone usable and provide escape routes, feeding access and uninterrupted movement appropriate to the species.
- Feeding ecology
- Omnivorous benthic feeder taking small invertebrates and suitable sinking prepared foods
- Feeding plan
- Offer small sinking and frozen foods once or twice daily and make sure calm fish are not outcompeted at the bottom.
- Water stability
- Maintain 22–27 °C; pH: Unknown; use stable source-matched water; hardness/minerals: Unknown; stable source-matched mineral content. Stable temperature, oxygen and nitrogen-cycle control matter more than chasing unsupported exact numbers.
- Habitat structure
- Use fine sand for sifting, wood or plant shade, flat stones, multiple retreat routes and gentle to moderate flow.
- Compatibility plan
- Use calm community fish that do not dominate bottom feeding. Allow extra territory during breeding.
- Breeding or reproduction plan
- Open substrate spawner. Parental care: Both parents may guard eggs and fry. Do not trigger reproduction without capacity for aggression, eggs, fry and rehoming.
- Quarantine
- Quarantine in a separate cycled aquarium with dedicated nets, containers and siphons. Match temperature and mineral chemistry gradually, confirm normal feeding, respiration, skin, fins and waste, and never pour transport water into the established aquarium.
- Welfare checks
- Check belly condition, sand-sifting, pair compatibility, fin and jaw injuries, respiration, feeding access and parental aggression.
- Biosecurity and release
- Never release fish, fry, eggs, aquarium water, sediment, plants or foods into drains, dams or natural waterways. Check the exact accepted identity in current BICON and applicable South Australian rules before import, sale or movement; import eligibility does not authorise release or wild collection.
- Main risk
- It is not Mikrogeophagus ramirezi and should not inherit that species’ hotter temperature assumptions. Rough gravel damages normal sand-sifting behaviour.
- Adult projected load
- Project biological load from the full adult bolivian ram group, adult body mass, feeding pattern, activity and social requirement rather than juvenile sale size. A compatible pair has moderate biomass, but territorial defence and repeated feeding can concentrate waste around spawning sites.
- Filtration
- Use mature biological filtration sized for the complete adult bolivian ram group, with guarded intakes and accessible mechanical capture. Keep flow gentle to moderate with high oxygen, sand, sight breaks and serviceable pair territories where the fish lives, and maintain undetectable ammonia and nitrite.
- Aeration
- Maintain reliable surface agitation and oxygen exchange at all times. Increase aeration during warm weather, medication, transport recovery, heavy feeding or any sign of rapid breathing.
- Maintenance
- Perform regular matched-water changes guided by nitrate and waste, remove uneaten food and trapped detritus, clean mechanical media without disrupting the biofilter, and record feeding, body condition, respiration and aggression.
- Overridable warnings
- Non-overridable: do not accept persistent ammonia or nitrite, oxygen distress, starvation, chronic aggression or inadequate adult space. Different equipment, stocking or maintenance methods may be used only when measured water quality and adult welfare remain equivalent or better. Pair breakdown, blocked retreats and chronic subordinate injury require immediate separation.
Compatibility, welfare and risk
Compatibility: Use calm community fish that do not dominate bottom feeding. Allow extra territory during breeding.
Welfare: Check belly condition, sand-sifting, pair compatibility, fin and jaw injuries, respiration, feeding access and parental aggression.
Main warning: It is not Mikrogeophagus ramirezi and should not inherit that species’ hotter temperature assumptions. Rough gravel damages normal sand-sifting behaviour.
Biosecurity and release
Never release fish, fry, eggs, aquarium water, sediment, plants or foods into drains, dams or natural waterways. Check the exact accepted identity in current BICON and applicable South Australian rules before import, sale or movement; import eligibility does not authorise release or wild collection.