Photo: Pia Helminen (CC BY 2.5) — via Wikimedia Commons
Bolivian Ram (Mikrogeophagus altispinosus)
The forgiving dwarf cichlid: vivid colour, genuine personality, and a tolerance for real-world water that the German Blue Ram rarely matches.
Will it live with a Bolivian Ram?
We compare each fish against your bolivian ram on temperament, size, water parameters and swimming zone. Set your tank size and filter the results.
- Agassiz's Dwarf Cichlid✅ CompatibleSemi-aggressive · 9 cm · Medium care · 24–30 °C (75–86 °F)
- Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–28 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- Both favour the bottom of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
- Badis✅ CompatibleSemi-aggressive · 8 cm · Medium care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
- Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–28 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- Both favour the bottom of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
- Banded Dwarf Cichlid✅ CompatibleSemi-aggressive · 7 cm · Medium care · 24–30 °C (75–86 °F)
- Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–28 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- Both favour the bottom of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
- Black Kuhli Loach✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 8 cm · Easy care · 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)
- Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
- Both favour the bottom of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
- Brilliant Rasbora✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 9 cm · Easy care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
- Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–28 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- Keep Brilliant Rasbora in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Burmese Loach✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 9 cm · Easy care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
- Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 24–28 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
- Both favour the bottom of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
- Celebes Rainbowfish✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 7 cm · Medium care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
- Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
- Keep Celebes Rainbowfish in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Cockatoo Dwarf Cichlid✅ CompatibleSemi-aggressive · 8 cm · Medium care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
- Peaceful + Semi-aggressive, but with no direct clash here, and their water overlaps around 24–28 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
- Both favour the bottom of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
- Costa's Tetra✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 7 cm · Easy care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
- Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–28 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- Keep Costa's Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Croaking Gourami✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 7 cm · Easy care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
- Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 24–28 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
- Dwarf Gourami✅ CompatibleSemi-aggressive · 8 cm · Medium care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
- Peaceful + Semi-aggressive, but with no direct clash here, and their water overlaps around 24–28 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
- Gold Barb✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 7.5 cm · Easy care · 18–26 °C (64–79 °F)
- Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
- Keep Gold Barb in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Goldeneye Dwarf Cichlid✅ CompatibleSemi-aggressive · 8 cm · Easy care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
- Peaceful + Semi-aggressive, but with no direct clash here; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
- Both favour the bottom of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
- Hongsloi Dwarf Cichlid✅ CompatibleSemi-aggressive · 7 cm · Medium care · 24–29 °C (75–84 °F)
- Peaceful + Semi-aggressive, but with no direct clash here; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
- Both favour the bottom of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
- Leopard Frog Pleco✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 9 cm · Medium care · 25–30 °C (77–86 °F)
- Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
- Both favour the bottom of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
- Mahachai Betta✅ CompatibleAggressive · 7 cm · Medium care · 24–30 °C (75–86 °F)
- Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–28 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- Peacock Gudgeon✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 7 cm · Medium care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
- Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
- Peppered Corydoras✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 7 cm · Easy care · 18–26 °C (64–79 °F)
- Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–26 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- Both favour the bottom of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
- Keep Peppered Corydoras in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Roundtail Paradise Fish✅ CompatibleSemi-aggressive · 7 cm · Easy care · 10–26 °C (50–79 °F)
- Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–26 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- Splashing Tetra✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 8 cm · Medium care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
- Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
- Keep Splashing Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Spotted Corydoras✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 7 cm · Easy care · 22–27 °C (72–81 °F)
- Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–27 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- Both favour the bottom of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
- Keep Spotted Corydoras in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Sumo Loach✅ CompatibleSemi-aggressive · 7 cm · Medium care · 22–26 °C (72–79 °F)
- Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–26 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- Both favour the bottom of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
- Thick-lipped Gourami✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 9 cm · Easy care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
- Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–28 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- Umbrella Dwarf Cichlid✅ CompatibleSemi-aggressive · 7 cm · Medium care · 20–26 °C (68–79 °F)
- Peaceful + Semi-aggressive, but with no direct clash here, and their water overlaps around 24–26 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
- Both favour the bottom of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
- African Butterfly Cichlid⚠️ With cautionSemi-aggressive · 8 cm · Medium care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
- Your 75 L tank is below the ~80 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Amazon Puffer⚠️ With cautionPeaceful · 8 cm · Medium care · 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)
- Your 75 L tank is below the ~120 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Keep Amazon Puffer in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Ash Lipped Apisto⚠️ With cautionSemi-aggressive · 7 cm · Hard care · 24–29 °C (75–84 °F)
- Your 75 L tank is below the ~80 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Bamboo Shrimp⚠️ With cautionPeaceful · 8 cm · Medium care · 22–27 °C (72–81 °F)
- Bolivian Ram may eat Bamboo Shrimp or pick off its shrimplets — a densely planted tank with moss gives them a fighting chance.
- Bandit Cichlid⚠️ With cautionSemi-aggressive · 9 cm · Medium care · 22–26 °C (72–79 °F)
- Your 75 L tank is below the ~150 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Keep Bandit Cichlid in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Brichardi Cichlid⚠️ With cautionSemi-aggressive · 9 cm · Medium care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
- Different pH ranges (6.5–7.5 vs 7.8–9); doable if you sit in the shared band, but not ideal long-term.
- Your 75 L tank is below the ~120 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Clown Pleco⚠️ With cautionPeaceful · 9 cm · Medium care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
- Your 75 L tank is below the ~80 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Congo Tetra⚠️ With cautionPeaceful · 8 cm · Medium care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
- Your 75 L tank is below the ~120 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Keep Congo Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Demasoni Cichlid⚠️ With cautionAggressive · 9 cm · Hard care · 23–27 °C (73–81 °F)
- Different pH ranges (6.5–7.5 vs 7.8–8.6); doable if you sit in the shared band, but not ideal long-term.
- Your 75 L tank is below the ~200 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Keep Demasoni Cichlid in a shoal of 12+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Glass Catfish⚠️ With cautionPeaceful · 8 cm · Medium care · 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)
- Your 75 L tank is below the ~80 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Keep Glass Catfish in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Lifalili Jewel Cichlid⚠️ With cautionAggressive · 9 cm · Medium care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
- Your 75 L tank is below the ~120 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Mexican Tetra⚠️ With cautionSemi-aggressive · 9 cm · Easy care · 18–25 °C (64–77 °F)
- Your 75 L tank is below the ~110 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Keep Mexican Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Pantanal Corydoras⚠️ With cautionPeaceful · 8 cm · Medium care · 22–27 °C (72–81 °F)
- Your 75 L tank is below the ~110 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Keep Pantanal Corydoras in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Scissortail Rasbora⚠️ With cautionPeaceful · 8 cm · Easy care · 22–27 °C (72–81 °F)
- Your 75 L tank is below the ~90 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Keep Scissortail Rasbora in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Silver Tetra⚠️ With cautionPeaceful · 9 cm · Easy care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
- Your 75 L tank is below the ~115 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Keep Silver Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Zebra Loach⚠️ With cautionPeaceful · 9 cm · Medium care · 23–26 °C (73–79 °F)
- Your 75 L tank is below the ~115 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Alligator Gar⛔ Not recommendedAggressive · 250 cm · Hard care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
- Size gap is too large (250 vs 8 cm): Alligator Gar will treat Bolivian Ram as food.
- Your 75 L tank is below the ~3785 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Clown Knifefish⛔ Not recommendedAggressive · 90 cm · Hard care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
- Bolivian Ram is bite-sized to a 90 cm predatory clown knifefish — it will be eaten.
- Your 75 L tank is below the ~750 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Fire Eel⛔ Not recommendedSemi-aggressive · 100 cm · Medium care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
- Size gap is too large (100 vs 8 cm): Fire Eel will treat Bolivian Ram as food.
- Your 75 L tank is below the ~380 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Koi⛔ Not recommendedPeaceful · 90 cm · Medium care · 4–28 °C (39–82 °F)
- Size gap is too large (90 vs 8 cm): Koi will treat Bolivian Ram as food.
- Your 75 L tank is below the ~3800 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Redtail Catfish⛔ Not recommendedAggressive · 120 cm · Hard care · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)
- Size gap is too large (120 vs 8 cm): Redtail Catfish will treat Bolivian Ram as food.
- Your 75 L tank is below the ~5700 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Spotted Gar⛔ Not recommendedAggressive · 90 cm · Hard care · 18–26 °C (64–79 °F)
- Bolivian Ram is bite-sized to a 90 cm predatory spotted gar — it will be eaten.
- Your 75 L tank is below the ~600 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Wels Catfish⛔ Not recommendedAggressive · 300 cm · Hard care · 15–25 °C (59–77 °F)
- Bolivian Ram is bite-sized to a 300 cm predatory wels catfish — it will be eaten.
- Your 75 L tank is below the ~20000 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Wolf Cichlid⛔ Not recommendedAggressive · 72 cm · Hard care · 24–30 °C (75–86 °F)
- Bolivian Ram is bite-sized to a 72 cm predatory wolf cichlid — it will be eaten.
- Your 75 L tank is below the ~760 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
Compatibility is computed from each species' care data — a strong starting point, not a guarantee. Individual temperament varies, so always introduce new fish slowly and watch them.
Bolivian Ram care specs
- Care level
- Medium
- Breeding
- Medium
- Max size
- 8 cm (3.1 in)
- Min tank size
- 75 L (19.8 gal)
- Temperature
- 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
- pH
- 6.5–7.5
- Hardness
- 5–12 dGH
- Lifespan
- 4–6 years
- Diet
- Omnivore
- Swim level
- Bottom
- Group size
- Best alone or in a pair
- Family
- Cichlidae
- Origin
- South America — upper Río Madeira basin (Bolivia and Brazil), including Río Mamoré and Río Guaporé drainages
What is a Bolivian Ram?
The Bolivian Ram (Mikrogeophagus altispinosus) is a dwarf cichlid from South America, and arguably the most beginner-accessible cichlid in the hobby. It grows to about 8 cm (3.1 in) and carries a compact body dressed in gold-and-silver flanks, a bold black lateral spot, red-edged scales, and a blush of ruby colour across the forehead that gives it one of its common names — Ruby Crown Cichlid. The elevated first rays of the dorsal fin end in yellow-tipped filaments, adding a subtle elegance that looks far more exotic than the price tag usually suggests.
What genuinely sets the Bolivian Ram apart from similar-looking dwarf cichlids is its resilience. While its cousin the German Blue Ram demands very soft, warm water and repays any lapse in maintenance with illness, the Bolivian Ram handles a wider range of temperatures and hardness, making it one of the rare cichlids you can recommend to a fishkeeper who isn’t running an RO unit or a precision chiller.
Where do Bolivian Rams come from?
Bolivian Rams are native to the upper Río Madeira basin in Bolivia and western Brazil, primarily the Río Mamoré and Río Guaporé drainages. These rivers flow through lowland tropical forest, spreading across seasonally flooded savannas and sandy-bottomed tributaries with slow to moderate current. The water is warm and soft to moderately hard, rich in tannins from leaf litter and submerged wood, and often tea-coloured in shallower bays.
Understanding that habitat explains the species’ preferences in the aquarium: they want a soft, sandy bottom to sift, broken-up line-of-sight from wood and plants, gentle flow, and stable warmth. They are, however, found in a broader range of water chemistry than many South American cichlids, which is why they adapt so well to typical conditioned tap water in most regions.
What size tank does a Bolivian Ram need?
A 75 L (20 US gal) aquarium is the practical minimum for a single Bolivian Ram or a bonded pair. Because the species is territorial around its chosen patch of substrate, a longer footprint is more valuable than height: a 75 L tank that runs 90 cm (36 in) in length gives a pair room to establish discrete feeding zones without constant conflict. If you plan to keep a pair alongside community fish, step up to 110–120 L (29–32 gal) to give everyone comfortable space.
Substrate matters: use fine-grain sand or smooth, rounded gravel no coarser than 2–3 mm. Bolivian Rams routinely pick up mouthfuls of substrate, sift them through their gill rakers, and spit them out while searching for micro-prey — sharp or large substrate prevents this behaviour and stresses the fish. Decorate with driftwood, smooth stones, and patches of low or broad-leaved plants (Amazon swords, anubias) to create natural territory boundaries. Leave open sandy patches between structures; that open floor space is where the fish spends most of its time. A tight-fitting lid is wise — cichlids occasionally jump when startled.
What water parameters do Bolivian Rams need?
- Temperature: 24–28 °C (75–82 °F). A reliable heater is non-negotiable in temperate climates.
- pH: 6.5–7.5. The Bolivian Ram handles a near-neutral range comfortably, making it one of the few cichlids that works well with many community-tank companions.
- Hardness: 5–12 dGH. Soft to moderately hard; standard conditioned tap water in most cities falls within this band.
Run gentle, well-oxygenated filtration — a sponge filter or a canister with a diffused return works well. The species does not appreciate a strong current. Aim for weekly water changes of 25–30 % and test parameters routinely. Stability is more important than perfection: a fish that has settled into pH 7.2 should not experience a sudden drop to 6.5. Because the Bolivian Ram is considerably more tolerant than the German Blue Ram, it does not need aged or RO water, but neglected or heavily fluctuating parameters will still cause problems over time.
What do Bolivian Rams eat?
Bolivian Rams are omnivores and undemanding feeders. A good baseline is a quality small cichlid pellet or micro-granule, offered once or twice daily in an amount consumed within two minutes. Supplement several times a week with protein-rich frozen or live foods: bloodworm, daphnia, brine shrimp, and white mosquito larvae are all eagerly accepted and help bring out peak colouration. The fish naturally spends much of its day sifting the substrate for micro-invertebrates, so sinking foods are preferable to surface floaters — the ram rarely comes to the top to feed.
Occasional vegetable-based foods (spirulina wafers, blanched spinach) round out the diet and support gut health. Avoid overfeeding: uneaten food fouls the sandy substrate quickly. A feeding fast one day per week keeps digestion healthy and the water clean.
Are Bolivian Rams aggressive — and what fish can live with them?
Bolivian Rams are peaceful for a cichlid, and this is one of the qualities that makes them so useful in community aquariums. Day-to-day they are inquisitive and calm, spending their time patrolling the lower third of the tank, sifting sand, and occasionally rearranging small stones. Aggression is limited almost entirely to the breeding period: a guarding pair becomes noticeably bolder, chasing away fish that approach their chosen spawning site, but rarely inflict damage on larger tankmates.
Good companions share the 24–28 °C temperature range and near-neutral pH: rummy-nose tetras, ember tetras, Corydoras catfish, small rasboras, and peaceful mid-water schooling fish all work well. Avoid large, aggressive cichlids; fin-nippers like tiger barbs; and very boisterous species that will outcompete the ram at feeding time. The Bolivian Ram is a bottom fish, so Corydoras are genuine space-sharers — give the tank enough sandy bottom for both to operate comfortably.
For a full list of tested pairings, see Bolivian Ram tank mates.
How do you tell male and female Bolivian Rams apart?
Sexing adult Bolivian Rams is straightforward once the fish have matured. Males are slightly larger — reaching the full 8 cm (3.1 in) — and develop distinctly elongated filaments on the first rays of the dorsal fin as well as extended, pointed tips on the caudal fin. Their body colour is generally more intensely saturated. Females are a little smaller and rounder in the belly, with shorter dorsal filaments and a more compact caudal fin. When ripe, a female’s abdomen takes on a noticeable pinkish-to-reddish flush and her belly becomes visibly swollen.
Juveniles under about 4 cm are difficult to sex reliably. If you want a guaranteed pair, purchase a group of six young fish and allow them to pair naturally as they grow — this is the most reliable method available to hobbyists.
How do Bolivian Rams breed?
Bolivian Rams are open-substrate spawners and are one of the more approachable cichlids to breed in a home aquarium. A compatible pair will select a flat stone, a broad leaf, or a shallow pit they have excavated in the sand, clean the surface carefully, and then spawn over several hours. Clutch sizes typically range from a few dozen to around 150–200 eggs. Both parents participate in guarding the eggs and fanning them to prevent fungus.
Eggs hatch in approximately 48–60 hours at 26–27 °C, and the wriggling larvae are often moved to a pit the parents have excavated nearby. The fry become free-swimming three to five days later and immediately accept newly hatched brine shrimp or commercial fry food of suitable particle size. Both parents continue to guard the fry actively for several weeks, herding stragglers back to the group.
Breeding in a community tank is possible, though persistent harassment from tankmates sometimes causes the parents to eat the eggs. For more consistent success, move the conditioning pair to a dedicated 60 L breeding tank with a sandy bottom, a flat spawning stone, and gentle sponge filtration.
What are common Bolivian Ram diseases?
The Bolivian Ram’s relative hardiness means disease is usually the result of suboptimal water quality rather than genetic weakness. Common problems include:
- Ich (white spot): Small white cysts on fins and body, caused by the parasite Ichthyophthirius multifiliis. Triggered by temperature instability or chilling. Raise the temperature gradually to the top of the range and maintain it steadily.
- Hole-in-the-head (HITH): Small pitting or lesions around the head and lateral line, associated with poor water quality and nutritional deficiency. Improve water change frequency and dietary variety.
- Bacterial infections and fin erosion: Usually secondary to aggression wounds or deteriorating water. Keep parameters stable and address any bullying in the tank.
- Internal parasites: Wild-caught fish occasionally carry intestinal worms. Quarantine new fish for 2–4 weeks in a separate tank before introducing them to your display aquarium.
Prevention covers the vast majority of cases: a cycled tank, weekly water changes, stable temperature, and varied nutrition. Quarantine all new arrivals regardless of source.
Health note: disease diagnosis and medication selection are beyond the scope of a care profile. Confirm symptoms against a reputable veterinary or fish-health source before medicating, and follow product instructions carefully.
How long do Bolivian Rams live?
With good care, a Bolivian Ram lives 4–6 years — notably longer than the German Blue Ram, which rarely exceeds 3–4 years even under ideal conditions. This extended lifespan is one of the genuine practical advantages of the species and reflects its greater tolerance of normal aquarium conditions. Provide clean, stable water, a varied diet, appropriate tankmates, and the fish will often reward you with several years of active, colourful behaviour and, if you pursue it, repeated breeding cycles.
Frequently asked questions
How is the Bolivian Ram different from the German Blue Ram?
Bolivian Rams tolerate a wider band of temperature and water hardness, making them far more forgiving for fishkeepers who can't hold 28 °C and silky-soft water with precision. They also tend to live longer and stay healthier under typical tap-water conditions — a real advantage for a first cichlid. The trade-off is slightly less vivid blue iridescence compared to the German Blue Ram, though the Bolivian's red-tipped scales and ruby crown are striking in their own right.
Can Bolivian Rams be kept with other fish in a community tank?
Yes — they are one of the most community-compatible cichlids available. Pair them with mid- and upper-water fish that share their soft-ish, slightly acidic to neutral water: rummy-nose or ember tetras, Corydoras catfish, or small rasboras all work well. Avoid very boisterous or fin-nipping species, and give each pair a territory of at least 30 × 30 cm of open sandy bottom. They become mildly assertive only when guarding eggs or fry.
What you need to keep a bolivian ram
The baseline is a heated, filtered 75 L+ tank: a reliable heater to hold 24–28 °C (75–82 °F), a gentle filter that won't batter a bolivian ram in the current, and a tight-fitting lid. Cycle the tank fully before adding any fish.
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