Bolivian Ram Dwarf Cichlid (Mikrogeophagus altispinosus), Tank-Bred

Bolivian Ram Dwarf Cichlid (Mikrogeophagus altispinosus), Tank-Bred

$ 9.99

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* For the safety of our animals, we now ship live fish exclusively via UPS 1 Day Air. If your order contains this item, you will only see UPS 1 Day Air as a shipping option during checkout *

This "Ram" species is a real gem that is a wonderful alternative to its more well-known cousins!

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. The Bolivian Ram is a true gem that is almost criminally uncelebrated among dwarf cichlid enthusiasts. Rams and other dwarf cichlids are very popular among aquarists due to their vivid coloration, small size, and interesting personalities. Most dwarf cichlids are much less aggressive than most larger cichlids.

The Bolivian Ram Cichlid will thrive in an aquarium with a sandy substrate and plenty of refuge such as clay pots, driftwood, and rock formations. It is an excellent candidate for the planted aquarium, but it also needs a fair amount of open space. This cichlid is generally compatible with other peaceful fish as long as it has plenty of open terrain. Territoriality is typically at its peak during spawning, but this species tends to thrive and show its best coloration in groups of 6 or more. Dwarf shrimp and other small, delicate invertebrates should not be kept with the Bolivian Ram Cichlid, but more durable, larger shrimp and snails could possibly make good tankmates in a large enough aquarium If spawning is desired, tankmates of other species should be kept to a minimum or avoided altogether. While it is not an exceptionally aggressive species, some aquarists report that the Bolivian Ram is more territorial than other "Ram" cichlids.

Feeding is simple for the unfussy Bolivian Ram Cichlid. High-quality dry, frozen, and live meaty foods will all be readily accepted. Quality and variety are the keys to a diet that will ensure that this fish maintains optimal health and coloration.

What We Like About This Fish:

Beautiful coloration across most of the body in both males and females
Hardy with plenty of personality
Possible to breed in the aquarium
Compatible with many other species in a spacious tank

RECOMMENDED TANK PARAMETERS:

Temperature: 75° - 82.4° F (24° - 28° C)
pH: 6.0 - 7.5, tank-raised specimens are more flexible regarding pH level
KH: 0 - 10 KH
Minimum tank size: 20-30 gallons for a small group, but a larger aquarium should be used for a community of several species

CARE GUIDELINES:

Diet: Carnivorous. A variety of high-quality dry, frozen, and live meaty foods is necessary for optimal health and coloration.
Social behavior: Congregates loosely in groups. Males can be territorial when attempting to spawn and females are very protective of their eggs during spawning.
Origin: Tank-bred, but indigenous to South America
Average adult size: 3 inches (7.5 cm)
Average purchase size: Juvenile: 1 – 1.2 inches (2.5 – 3 cm), Adult: 2.5 - 3 inches (6.4 - 7.6 cm)

All Aquatic Arts brand plants and animals come with a 100% live arrival guarantee, plus free email support!

For the safety of our animals, we only ship live fish, crabs, and select other inverts exclusively via UPS 1 Day Air. If your order contains this item, you will only see UPS 1 Day Air as a shipping option during checkout. If other items are in your cart that can ship with 2 day or standard shipping options the only shipping method you can still select is UPS 1 Day Air.

UPS 1 Day is a description of the duration of time a shipment will spend in transit once it has been shipped. This does not guarantee the package will be shipped the same or next day from which the order was placed.

Shipping Schedule for this service

UPS 1 Day: Monday through Thursday

Current Handling Time:

1-9 business days

Here at Aquatic Arts, we consider the welfare of the live animals we are shipping to be of the foremost importance. This process is much more involved than simply creating a shipping label and affixing it to a box. Depending on the order, it takes from 4 to 7 people to complete this process properly. We check the weather conditions here where they fly out of the Indianapolis UPS facility and the destination for each shipment. We start early each morning and go through a multi-step process to have the day's shipments prepared in time for the UPS pickup. The volume of orders in our system also affects the processing time. Therefore our stated handling time is 1-9 business days.

Shipping Rate

Pricing is by size of package needed to fill entire order and distance it must travel. It will be calculated at checkout.

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