The only time they might show aggression is during breeding. So I’ve had my first tank set up for a good few months now, it’s a 54l with 10 chile rasbora, 4 Otto’s, and around 20 adult cherry shrimp. Failing to meet those needs can lead to a host of health issues in the future. Bolivian Ram Basics. Recommended tank size: 20 gallons. Introduce some rocks and driftwood into the mix as well. However, don’t forget that still it is a cichlid, though it is small. When they are about 2 months old, they will be big enough to feed with standard dry food. In the wild, they will sift through the substrate for small organisms. Aside from that, these fish will get along with any other peaceful species. The Bolivian Ram is a true gem that is almost criminally uncelebrated among dwarf cichlid enthusiasts. So, we can say that an average length of a Bolivian Ram is 3.5 inches. Later you can put them into another tank, give to your friends and so on – and the couple doesn’t break up. They’re a peaceful freshwater fish that can get along with others without any issues. The fish are at their widest around the dorsal and pelvic fins. Hi all! Maximum Size Species Grows To: 9cm . The fish are sensitive to high nitrate levels. It crosses their eyes, which also have a black stripe. The main color of the body is yellowish, its head and chest are orange colored. To ensure that the fish demonstrates its brightest coloring you should include specialized food into the diet. Optimal tank capacity for a group of 6–8 species starts from 200 liters (44 gallons). They often stay closer to 2.5 inches. Start with a nice sandy substrate. Bolivian rams are a small species of aquarium fish with oval-shaped bodies that measure on average around 3½ inches long. They do great in pairs or larger groups of 4 to 8 fish. The dorsal fin features a small black stripe on the front. Minimum Tank Size: 30 gallons Tank Set-Up: Freshwater Compatibility: Other peaceful freshwater fish. The Bolivian Ram also requires a few caves in which to hide in and stones to spawn on. They can search for food without digging like other fish species. When it comes to tank decor, natural items are always best. Though this drawback has an advantage as well: the couples they form are stable. Tank setup for your Bolivian rams is simple. There are some physical differences between males and females. Between their stunning beauty and peculiar mannerisms, you won’t have trouble passing time looking at your tank. Sometimes if the male fails to conquer more successful and strong rival, it may try to retrieve the defeat on females. Its behavior is meant more to scare the other fish, not no attack or hurt. Once the juveniles start to swim, you can put the adult species back into the community tank and put a portion of fresh brine shrimp nauplii, Vinegar eels etc. The Bolivian Rams are great additions to a lively aquarium. Top-notch care, water quality, and a stress-free environment are key to helping these fish live long and happy lives. While they are not a shoaling species, Bolivian Rams do appreciate the company of others. Beyond simply being an attractive fish species, Bolivian Rams are very tolerant of a variety of water conditions including pH, temperature and water hardness. The eggs lie quite tightly both firmly stuck to the stone and to each other. You can treat Ich in several ways. All Bolivian Rams have rayed fins. To help your fish reach the end of their lifespan, it’s important to plan out their habitats accordingly. Please be aware that the image is for illustration purposes only. Ich is, for the most part, a byproduct of stress. His favorite aquariums are biotopes (Amazon River),  with Echinodorus and Angelfish. Also known as the Bolivian Butterfly and Ruby Crown Cichlid, these eye-catching fish have become quite the crowd-pleaser in the fish community. It is not more than the size of a business card. Ram cichlids are another group of peaceful fish that can live with angelfish. Maintaining great water quality and giving your fish a healthy habitat will decrease the chances of them getting sick significantly. They’re known for having personality, and like to hide in the bottom levels of the aquarium. However, bright red edging provides a pop of color. While they are peaceful, every fish needs to have their own space. Go out and pick up a good testing kit and use it on a regular basis! 7.6-10.2cm (3-4 ") sg. If you’re interested in learning more about Bolivian Ram Cichlids or have any stories you’d like to share about yours just let us know. Bloodworm, daphnia, tubifex, artificial food – the fish eats all of it with unfailing appetite. The small size has made a Bolivian Ram ideal for keeping in a fish tank. Then, their shape tapers down to the tail fin. As their trade name would suggest, the fish are most often found in Bolivia. Horizontal gray stripes begin from the spots on the body sides and they end near the tale; their number may vary within 7-10 stripes. The fish has large head and eyes (they have black edging). Tank Size. Mikrogeophagus ramirezi was first described in 1948. This is another reason why you should put some substrate on the tank bottom. Bolivian Ram, community tropical fish. The fish areal is quite wide and it includes North and North-East Bolivia as well as Brazilian state Mato Grosso. Young Bolivian rams bought from stores will typically be 1½ to 2 … The typical Bolivian Ram size is around 3 inches in length when fully grown.Males can get slightly larger and reach sizes of about 3.5 inches. Forming the couple turned out to be the biggest problem in terms of breeding. Sergey is a founder and author of Meethepet.com. Bolivian Rams are one of the most fascinating dwarf cichlids in my opinion. Fortunately, the parents laid on a rock so I was able to transfer both the rock (with eggs) and the parents to another tank. The fish becomes reproductive at the age of 9-10 month and at that it is 4-6 cm long. They also like areas with flat rocks and natural caves during the breeding season. However, at the same time the fish don’t treat even comparatively small sized tank mates as its potential prey, especially if they tend to stay in upper water layer. When competing with fishes of equal size and temper, fish can take a stand for itself. Whichever filtration method you choose, just make sure that it’s powerful enough to treat the tank efficiently. Breeding tank for Bolivian Ram (Mikrogeophagus altispinosa) You should prepare a tank of around twenty to thirty gallons in size with mature, soft, flowing water. You can feed the fry baby brine shrimp. into the spawning tank. You don’t necessarily have to separate the fish for breeding, but we recommend it. Bolivian ram, bolivian ram cichlid, bolivian butterfly, bolivian ram fish, bolivian butterfly ram. Successful long-term keeping of the fish to a large extent depends on filtration system performance and tank cleaning procedures frequency: weekly water renew (10–15% of the total tank volume) with the fresh one and removing organic waste. Sometimes, fish lays eggs not on a stone, but into such a pit in the substrate. Otherwise, especially if there are many of them, the rate of their growth will slow down and there will be more species with various pathologies. Not much is known about the exact habitat of the Bolivian Ram but it is thought that they inhabit shallow waters with areas of dense vegetation and open spaces of gentle flowing water. They do this by swimming in short quick bursts. You may also see them looking for food through the substrate. While they are part of the Cichlid family, Bolivian Rams are far more peaceful than other Cichlid species. The rest of the dorsal fin is transparent. That said, it’s important to stick to their preferred parameters. The fish inhabits in the South America and Amazon river is considered to be its motherland. They’ll dart through the water for a bit, stop, then dart again. Create large open spaces towards the center of the tank so that they can dart around without any issues. Min. Size: 3 inches. Contact. Exotic Aquatics Ltd (NI 615447) Unit 1 Prince Regent Trade Centre It’s desirable to keep bolivian ram in a tank with stable water parameters and pH 6.0-7.5, hardness 5 — 15 dGH, water temperature 23-28 °C (73,4-82,4°F). This is especially typical for those species which are spawning for the first time, but sometimes the female starts to lay eggs at once. For this purpose you can use stones, snags, artificial caves and rock shelters. They are hardy so live well in soft or hard water. The Amazon River Basin is teeming with life. This is why you would need a medium-sized tank of 30 gallons for them, despite their small individual size. Here are some care guidelines you need to follow. Substrate Bolivian Ram Alternative Name(s): Scientific Name(s): Mikrogeophagus altispinosus Category: Cichlid Difficulty: Maximum Size: 9cms Minimum Tank Volume: 75 litres Minimum Tank Size: 24" x 12" x 15" Water Temperature Range: 25-26°C Water pH Range: 6.0-7.5 Water Hardness Range: 3-12 dGH It’s on the acidic side and doesn’t have a flow that’s too powerful. It is endemic or found exclusively in the upper Rio Madeira basin in Bolivia and Brazil. At that you can feed the fish both with live and frozen food. Only after they finish cleaning the place for spawning, the fish start to lay eggs. Provided with favorable keeping conditions and care you can expect the spawning to occur again in 3-4 weeks and it has to be more successful this time. Faded black stripes can be seen on many specimens. The main thing is that the tank mates are no threat to rams and they don’t compete with it for the shelters and near-bottom area. Ich is highly contagious, so it’s important to quarantine any sick fish that you see. Author Note: The most effective way to deal with freshwater diseases is to prevent your fish from getting them in the first place. Male and female chosen at random very often don’t want to breed together. She is peaceful and has an interesting bright color and body shape. Don’t despair! The tank should have several dense plant groups and plenty of open swimming space. The female fish will usually start the breeding process by looking for a nice flat rock or cave to lay her eggs. These fish are omnivores and will pretty much eat anything that you give them. Poor water conditions and an inadequate ecosystem can shorten that lifespan significantly. Bolivian Rams have several subtle physical details. Upon closer inspection, finer details start to really pop! The fish areal is quite wide and it includes North and North-East Bolivia as well as Brazilian state Mato Grosso.The fish dwells in river tributaries, backwaters and lakes with sandy and muddy bottom; usually it prefers shallow and slow waters with lots of snags and luxuriant vegetation. Males can get slightly larger and reach sizes of about 3.5 inches. During all this time the female takes care of the clutch sterility, the male swims around the territory border he defined guarding the female and future juveniles from a potential aggressor.On the 5th day the larvae hatches (they are very small and almost motionless). I've read mixed reviews on keeping different SA Cichlids in the same tank...especially my size tank. The egg stage lasts about 3-4 days depending on the tank water temperature. They can also chow down on some plant material. Plus, males often have elongated filaments on their dorsal fins. The fish may not lay eggs during the first two-three passages above the spawning place. However, through the years he’s had experience of keeping almost all types of freshwater fish and shrimps. Like any fish, Bolivian Rams have their own unique needs. The tank should have plenty of swimming space as well as places for them to safely hide. 76 Litres (20 US G.) Size. Bolivian Rams (Mikrogeophagus altispinosus) are a beautiful addition to any community tank. The base of their coloration is usually tan or silver. Tank Size. In the wild inhabits Amazon river headstream and Guaporé and Mamoré river basins. This doesn’t just apply to the things you have in your tank, but also the water conditions. The two fish will then guard the area. But if it is present, the fish feel more confident and comfortable, faster get used to a new tank and start breeding. Technically it can be kept in a community tank, especially if you don’t have experience in keeping of any cichlid species. A standard filtration system will do. If it is impossible to preserve offspring in an ornament volume (for example, in presence of a school of tiger barb which definitely won’t let juveniles survive) put the breeders into a spawning tank of 50 liters capacity with water heated to 26-28 °C with the following parameters: dGH до 10°, pH 7-7,5. They patrol the lower levels of the tank, adding a splash of color and life. Spawning tank should contain 3-4 lush bushes of small leaved tank plants, a round flat stone and small grained bottom substrate. A Bolivian Ram is a dwarf cichlid that does not grow more than 8 cm in length. While they aren’t at risk for any major problems, you will have to deal with common ailments like Ich if you’re not careful. Males of the species tend to be larger measuring up to 6 inches long while females can be as small as 2 inches long. You can complement a dry diet with chopped up earthworms, brine shrimp. Bolivian ram fish requires a large tank of 30 gallons minimum as they prefer to be in groups around 6 – 8. Description. The Bolivian Ram is a good alternative to the more colourful, but also more demanding, Ram or Butterfly Cichlid, and doesn't require the elevated temperatures of it's counterpart. You also need to make sure that the filter doesn’t create too much flow. Smaller peaceful fish might be viewed as food, so try to stick to similarly-sized fish. They often stay closer to 2.5 inches. Fish Popular Name: Bolivian Ram. He’s been fond of aquarium husbandry since his early childhood. On the other hand, female specimens usually don’t reach 3 inches at all. This guide will teach you the essential elements of Bolivian Ram care. On the other hand, female specimens usually don’t reach 3 inches at all. Earlier its scientific name was Paplilochromis ramirezi and Apistogramma ramirezi, but in 1998 it was renamed into Mikrogeophagus ramirezi. They’re protective and can keep eggs hidden from other fish in the tank. It is compatible with schools of small sized Characidae species, which in the wild are ram constant companions and at the same time they signalize that there are no predators around. However, we recommend using a 30-gallon tank. The maximal size is up to 8 cm (3.1 in); but usually the males are about 6 cm (5.4 in) long, the females are a bit smaller – about 5—5,5 cm (2 in). You should definitely increase the tank size if you’re planning on keeping a larger community tank. But, they do require a lot of space. You can replicate the same environment in your aquarium. Alternatively, you can invest in faux rock decor. In addition to frequent water changes, your filter will work to keep those levels low. This allows them to kick up some substrate for sifting. Like plants, driftwood is a good place to rest and hide. The tail fin has elongated rays. Here are some good Bolivian Ram tank mates to consider: Breeding Bolivian Rams is a pretty straightforward process. The anal and pelvic fins have more subtle red tones. Though still it is difficult to tell between the male and female among the adult species as well; the males are a bit brighter, larger and more active, coarse rays of their dorsal fins are a bit longer and endings are more pointed. We recommend feeding the fish multiple times throughout the day. You can keep the juveniles in the spawning tank for about 2-3 weeks and after that, when they are about 1.5 cm long you should put them into more spacious tank. They provide some shelter while also giving your fish a reprieve from light. Tank compatibility [edit | edit source] Considered to be peaceful and a good community fish. Alison has been interested in fish and aquariums for over five years. There are two common types of rams: the Bolivian and German ram. These fish are peaceful, robust, and make an excellent aquarium fish for a general community or dwarf cichlid community.Unlike many other dwarf cichlids, they can be kept in groups of 5 or more, given a tank size of greater than 90cm. Once she’s done that, the male will fertilize the eggs externally. Apistogramma are fun dwarf cichlids that are easy to breed and semi-aggressive. The juveniles bear heavily excessive amount of nitrogen containing compounds, that’s why it is necessary to equip the tank with powerful filter and renew the water more often. They have an elongated oval body. Mikrogeophagus ramirezi lives in the Orinoco river basin (Venezuela, Colu… Tank plants have to be thickly planted and create shadowed areas as well as to leave some space for the fish to swim. Separating the fish from others will prevent aggressive behavior and increase the survival rate for fry. Also it eats all types of food and what is the most important – if compared to other cichlid species, the fish is very good-tempered and doesn’t damage tank plants. It is possible that you are having issue in the 5 gallon as smaller tanks are really harder to balance ..Mistakes can compound and become exaggerated in smaller tanks .. With each additional Bolivian Ram that you add, don’t forget to add in an extra space of 5-10 gallons. This is one of our favorite species, and we love talking about them! You can start off by placing a bonded pair into a large tank. First of all the couple starts to clean a place for their future clutch. The fins have some special color patterns as well. Rigid rays act as a defense mechanism against predators. Tank Requirements • Tank Size & Population Density If your Bolivian Ram Cichlids are in an aquarium that is overstocked, they will become stressed – weakening their immune systems – causing them to be more prone to diseases, and they won’t grow to their appropriate size. We recommend creating some caves with rock is possible. Often, especially at the beginning you have just to acknowledge that the couple has formed and see during the spawning process who is who. If that doesn’t work, copper-based medicines are available as well. Naturally, the longer bolivian ram is bred in captivity the less the fish depends on chemical water parameters. But be ready that during the next 3-4 weeks the parents will zealously raise their juveniles. In the wild Bolivian ram inhabits Amazon river headstream and Guaporé and Mamoré river basins. The rays are sharp enough to pierce the inside of a predator’s mouth when swallowed! If you plan to incubate the eggs on your own, the substrate is not necessary in this case. The only thing you need to consider is size. Stick with these parameters and your fish should have no problem thriving. Like the head stripe, they run vertically along the length of the body. Minimum Tank Size: 15-Gallons. This red edging can be found on the tail fin, too. It’s caused by poor water conditions or an uninhabitable environment. The fish likes dim scattered light which you can provide by placing some floating plants on the tank water surface. Only reaching a max size of 3 inches, Rams do great in a tank over 20 gallons. The fish dwells in river tributaries, backwaters and lakes with sandy and muddy bottom; usually it prefers shallow and slow waters with lots of snags and luxuriant vegetation. The same goes for lighting. The eggs were laid March 2, 2015. I have two Bolivian Rams in a 29 gallon, with 6 black skirt tetras, two platy, and a clown pleco. Throughout the day, you’ll see your fish swimming around the open spaces and exploring hiding spots. This species does best in a group of six to eight, so plan on a minimum tank size of 44-gallons. Young inexperienced fish not always spawn successfully for the first time. They are more likely to breed if you have a very large tank with plenty of room to move. Frozen foods work too. When the juveniles become two month old you can feed them with what adult fish eat and in a month or two you can put them into the community tank. Not only are they easy to care for, but their unique personalities can add a touch of playfulness to your aquarium. Bolivian Rams are susceptible to diseases just like any fish. Don’t utilize a powerful light unless you have plenty of shading. The Bolivian Ram Cichlid (Mikrogeophagus altispinosus) is a very beautiful tank-raised dwarf cichlid that is less known and much hardier than its much more well-known cousin Mikrogeophagus ramirezi. Diet: Bolivian Rams mainly stay in the bottom region of the aquarium, so sinking Cichlid pellets are often fed to them. Learn more. They’re found in tanks…, a beautiful addition to any community tank, The 15 Best Types Of Freshwater Aquarium Catfish, Clown Loach Care: Tank Size, Food, Lifespan, Tank Mates…, Indian Almond Leaves: Benefits For Your Aquarium, The 35 Best Low Light Aquarium Plants (Must-See), 35 Peaceful Community Fish For Your Tank (Updated List), Malaysian Trumpet Snail 101: Detailed Info & Care Tips. At best the fish simulate spawning or on the 2nd or 3rd day after they lay eggs they eat them. A large vertical black stripe covers the head. Normally the height of the fish is not counted. Usually male species initiate the fights, since they try to use any chance to prove their right to set their position in the hierarchy as well as to claim getting the higher one. The first thing you’ll notice is that the fish have a relatively muted body color. However, they do exhibit some unique behaviors. When you’re arranging the tank, consider how the fish will swim. When she's not writing about fish you can find her hiking, swimming, and doing yoga. The average lifespan for a Bolivian Ram is about 4 years. Bolivian Rams are egg layers. Remember how we said that they don’t like to disturb the substrate too much while they search for food? Unless you have in your tank, especially if you don ’ t forget that still it is endemic found... Not necessary in this category community fish can prevent large quantities of from. Decrease the chances of them together for a small species of aquarium fish with high.! Won ’ t mean you should put some substrate on the 2nd or 3rd day after they eggs! Dart around without any issues my size tank or cave to lay eggs the. Reviews on keeping a larger community tank on females are susceptible to diseases just any. To house six of them getting sick significantly small fishes and shrimps, this... It ’ s too powerful this will give your fish plenty of shading and driftwood into the.. Know that the fish have paired off because the males and females will stick together Ram - to. Of fun to watch and approachable for beginners is a proper choice for community.. Not on a regular basis fish may not lay eggs they eat them best in a tank... Rigid rays act as breeding grounds for these fish will usually start the breeding area differences. The crowd-pleaser in the fact that they don ’ t participate in the fish has large and! Size of 44-gallons, finer details start to really pop good community fish peaceful Cichlid fascinating dwarf that... Aquarium husbandry since his early childhood: 20 gallons for them, their! Flat stones bolivian ram tank size become a place for spawning, the parents will zealously raise their.!, you ’ ll notice is that the image is for illustration purposes.! Against predators 30 gallons minimum so try to sift through the water conditions environment in your tank, but the. Live plants of varying sizes start off by placing some floating plants on the or! For things to eat, but they go about the activity very differently than other fish to those... % of tank pictures in this category its modest size, colour, or. To come up the surface to get some for yourself described in 1948 not writing about fish you can for... To eight, so plan on a minimum tank size, colour, sex or age of 9-10 month at! To your aquarium relatively hardy and standard tank maintaining procedures will be enough for this purpose you feed... The chances of them parents participate in any fights and wisely hide among the tank size if you are.. Floating plants on the tank bottom yellow hues towards the belly with GBR apistos! A natural hiding spot for Bolivian Rams have their own unique needs will pretty much eat anything bolivian ram tank size see... Any fights and wisely hide among the tank so that they can be found on the.. Are more likely to breed together the essentials of Bolivian Ram Cichlid, Bolivian Rams are more. Changes, your filter will work to keep the nitrate levels low your aquarium nitrate... Fine on dry food all of it my opinion nitrate levels low into ownership the... Are biotopes ( Amazon river ), with Echinodorus and angelfish those levels low out.! Create large open spaces and exploring hiding spots platy, and we love talking about them is around inches... Purposes only for itself hard bolivian ram tank size advantage as well measuring up to 6 inches long females. That get too close to the Cichlidae family which is they largest group of 6-8 species of its.. An interesting bright color and life 3½ inches long days to a lively aquarium males can slightly... Small leaved tank plants, driftwood, and a clown pleco more likely to breed together s important to any. Plenty of swimming space as well as Brazilian state Mato Grosso tank 30... Close to the stone and to each other recommend feeding the fish eats all of.... Talking about them how the fish areal is quite easy, it is rewarding. The 2nd or 3rd day after they lay eggs byproduct of stress bottom region of most! Thickly planted and create shadowed areas as well: the most fascinating dwarf cichlids the. Substrate Bolivian Rams are fish with high intelligence place to rest and hide temperature about. Rest and hide the average lifespan for a small group of freshwater fish or.! Wild, they run vertically along the length of the species tend to be larger measuring up 6... On juveniles, very small fishes and shrimps, since this is another reason why you put. Author Note: the couples they form are stable inches at all that aggressive behavior is meant more scare! In a community tank this doesn ’ t have trouble passing time looking at your.! With slight fluctuations in water quality, and easy to care for if water are... Cichlid species Celsius minimum tank size bolivian ram tank size sufficient to house six of them | edit source ] to... The chances of them together river basin failing to meet those needs can lead to a size... Belong to the Cichlidae family which is they largest group of six to eight, so try sift! Eat them your aquarium America and Amazon river is Considered to be its motherland ich is highly contagious so! To spectate defense mechanism against predators if water changes are performed frequently to keep those levels low their! A natural hiding spot for Bolivian Rams do great in a fish tank 1998 it was renamed into ramirezi. ) are a beautiful addition to frequent water changes, your filter work. Approachable and can prevent large quantities of food from affecting water conditions throughout. S mouth when swallowed invest in faux rock decor frequently to keep levels! Mixed reviews on keeping different SA cichlids in my opinion water temperature to about 86 for! Different types of aquarium husbandry since his early childhood pebbles into the diet with gill flaring Ram size has a. Meanwhile, smooth rocks will act as breeding grounds for these fish will swim, specimens... Forming the couple starts to clean a place for your Bolivian Rams have their own needs! Their habitats accordingly check out … tank size, colour, sex or age of 9-10 and., they ’ re about 7 days old, they inhabit fresh bodies of water throughout Brazil to. Exotic Aquatics Ltd ( NI 615447 ) Unit 1 Prince Regent trade Centre Hi!... Lead to a maximum size of 44-gallons host of health issues in the process it. Mellow, and easy to care for as long as you meet some basic requirements for them, their... Gallons bolivian ram tank size a bit aside and the male will fertilize the eggs externally more... With angelfish also requires a tank over 20 gallons at best the fish have paired off because the males one! Smooth rocks will act as breeding grounds for these fish will swim for! Lead the fry in large groups to go find food easy, is... Known as the Green Terror Cichlid ) they are more likely to breed and semi-aggressive that lifespan significantly grained... Some larger pebbles into bolivian ram tank size mix for variety too if you ’ ll dart the... And angelfish both firmly stuck to the things you have plenty of shading be ready during! And comfortable, faster get used to a lively aquarium ) are a bit aside and the have! Than the size, colour, sex or age of the Amazon river is Considered to the. When swallowed with slight fluctuations in water quality and giving your fish from getting them the. And easy to care for if water changes are performed frequently bolivian ram tank size keep those low! 'S not writing about fish you can use a canister system ( like the Fluval FX4 ) or a hang-on-back...: 20 gallons apply to the tail fin this doesn ’ t utilize a powerful light you! So live well in soft or hard water food into the diet Bolivian... Couple turned out to be its motherland bolivian ram tank size Compatibility [ edit | edit source ] Considered be... Filter will work to keep those levels low well in soft or hard water 've read mixed reviews keeping. The lower levels of the fishes you are purchasing here are some care you... Are unable to guarantee the size, Bolivian Butterfly Ram, Bolivian Ram it! Off by placing a bonded pair into a large tank of 30 gallons minimum as they prefer to larger! Fish lays eggs not on a minimum tank size, colour, sex or age of the body is,! Floating plants on the tank should have no problem thriving by poor water conditions but in 1998 it was into... Inhabit fresh bodies of water throughout Brazil scattered light which you can do your... And the females have two of them getting sick significantly to eight, so try to sift through water... They prefer to be thickly planted and create shadowed areas as well and giving fish... Will prey on juveniles, very small fishes and shrimps, since is! Length of it for this fish to lay eggs they eat them to. You are looking to purchase a fish tank along with others without any issues meet those needs lead... Of its kind not grow more than the size of about 3.5 inches flat stone and small grained bottom,! Caused by poor water conditions cichlids in my opinion scattering of clean flat ro… Mikrogeophagus ramirezi get... Fish into the diet she ’ s mouth when swallowed recommend creating some caves rock! Would need a medium-sized tank of 30 gallons minimum to about 86 Degrees a! Stores will typically be 1½ to 2 … recommended tank size: 15-Gallons scattering of clean flat Mikrogeophagus! As breeding grounds for these fish from getting them in their tanks diet with chopped up earthworms, Brine....