Bolivian Ram

[cla55y19]

Bolivian Ram
Mikrogeophagus altispinosus
does any one know anything about these ie price in there lfs are they easy to get hold of and shud i start with these fish or is there a better ram to get?

 

[yvez9]

i had a pair for a while. They are quite cool fish. Bolivian Rams are quite hardy and easy to get a hold of, they are pretty cheap too.

German Blue rams or Gold rams are very delicate fish as they are a man-made variation of the bolivian ram (ie in-breeding). I had a pair too and they suddenly died of some sort of gill infection. I have a friend who had 4 or 5 and they all died, while the Bolivian Rams were fine.

I think the Bolivian Rams are the best anyway. They're not as colorful, but they are fun to watch and if yu get lucky, you might have a breeding pair!

 

[ramesses]

OK,a few things Yves9,Microgeophagus altispinosus and Microgeophagus Ramirezzis are two different fish,from two different places.The Bolivian ram is obviously from Bolivia while the blue ram is from the Colombian and Venezuelan llanos.
It's true that blue rams are more delicate than bolivians,but it's also true that only people who are experienced and know about them and their needs should keep them.If yours died and you don't even know from what,is a clear indication that you haven't got a clue.
Cla55y19...Bolivians are very cool fish,as most dwarf cichlids are.You would have tons of fun with them,just let us know how they are doing.

 

[Katchan]

If yours died and you don't even know from what,is a clear indication that you haven't got a clue.

Please no flaming here

I aclimitised mine for well over an hour, it was in a tank with lots of dither fishes. Ph 6.7 Ammonia/Nitrite 0, Nitrate usually less than 5, Well planted some caves, nothing bigger than it in the tank. I tried flake, granules, cichlid pellets and blood worm I couldn't get it to eat. It died about 2 1/2 days after I bought it and Yes I researched it well , I also have 4 bolivians all doing happy, Its common knowledge wether it fact or fiction I dont know that blue rams are not a hardy fish (most come from the mass produced asian farms, rumor has it that the german produced rams are much more hardy)

Katchan

 

[cla55y19]

how many should i think of getting and what requirments in tank decor do they need ie do they have to have a cave? i have a really heavierly planted tank will this be a problem i just want my first step in to cichlids to be worth while

 

[Ben]

what tank size do you have?
a 20 gal is a minimum for a pair of these fish(they like to be kept in pairs, but groups are fine, but they WILL pair off anyway)
they like natural caves, like caves made out of rocks and like alot of shade so the planted tank you have should be fine, these are (along with Blue Rams,Apistos and Dwarf Acaras(keyhole etc) these fish dont eat plants)

HTH

DD

 

[cla55y19]

my tank is 35 us gallons 130 litres out of these fish is there anything that shouldnt be kept with them
angel
feather fin syno
kissing gourami
3 spot gourami

 

[Katchan]

in a 35 gallon tank I go for either 2 pairs or 1 pair not 3 fish, 2 pair may be pushing it I'd double check with DD. BTW this is actually your 2nd step into cichlids because angels are cichlids as well but often not marketed/talked about as such. I'd say Rams should be fine with what you have other than the syno which I know squat diddly about. Tope this helps some

katchan

 

[Ben]

i would only go for one pair

DD

 

[cla55y19]

ok kool ill get one pair and this can be my second bigger step lol do they need a cave formation if so how big should the cave be

 

[Ben]

just big enough so both could queeze in, but if they do breed,most of the time the female will be in there

DD