Bolivian ram, Mikrogeophagus altispinosus

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URL : http://www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk/pfk/pages/show_article.php?article_id=350

Categories : English, Aquarium, CICHLIDS, SOUTH AMERICAN, Ram - Blue, Microgeophagus ramirezi, Ram - Gold, Microgeophagus ramirezi

Matt Clarke looks at this lovely little cichlid.

Common name: Bolivian Ram
Scientific name: Mikrogeophagus altispinosus
Synonyms: Crenicara altispinosus, Papilochromis altispinosus.
Origin: Originates from South America: Bolivia and Brazil, in the Rio Mamoré near the mouth of the Rio Guaporé at Trinidad, the Guaporé basin at Santa Cruz, the Rio Quizer at San Ramón, flood plain below Todos Santos, and the mouth of the Igarapé at Guajara-Mirim.
Size: Around 8cm/3"
Aquarium:Keep this fish in a densely plant aquarium with some open swimming space and hiding places such as caves. Recommended substrate is peat.
Temperament: This is a social species which will break off into pairs as they reach maturity. They tend to fight amongst each other and leave other fish alone.
Stocking: Can be kept in small groups or pairs.
Water:Soft to medium-hard, neutral pH, Temperature 25-28°C.
Diet:Will accept all foods including freeze-dried, live, flake and tablet food.
Breeding:Both the male and female are responsible for rearing the brood. They are open spawners and lay up to 200 eggs on stones.
Notes:It has been reported that to protect their fry the parents may gather them up in their mouths like a mouth brooder. Unlike its cousin 'ramirezi' the Bolivian Ram is less colourful but does make an easier alternative to the more illness prone ramirezi. The species is sometimes imported from Singapore under the completely ridiculous made-up common name of Clown ruby barb. The correct spelling of the genus name, according to South American cichlid taxonomist Dr Sven O Kullander is "Mikrogeophagus", but you may see it spelt the old-fashioned way "Microgeophagus" elsewhere.
Availability: These fish are more robust than ramirezi, so you tend to see them on sale more often. There are some quite decent quality fish arriving from the Czech Republic at the moment.
Price: Expect to pay upwards of £2.50 each for these, depending on where they have been imported from.

This article is exclusive to the Practical Fishkeeping magazine website.

Bolivian ram, Mikrogeophagus altispinosus

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