Description
The Bolivian ram is the larger, less colourful cousin of the common ram: about 8 cm, silvery flanks with a greenish tone, a large dark spot and a tall dorsal fin, which earned it the trade name hi-fin. It lacks the blue iridescence of the other, but it is in fact a better choice for a less experienced aquarist.
It does, however, need strictly clean water and a soft sand floor to browse.
Behavior
Calm and uncompetitive: it does not suit a lively community. Peaceful mid-water fish such as tetras, which give it security, and calm bottom catfish suit it.
It lives well with tetras, corydoras and small loricariids.
Avoid housing it with energetic fish that take its food and with other territorial cichlids.
Habitat
Mikrogeophagus altispinosus is endemic to the upper Madeira basin in Bolivia and Brazil. Browsing in sand is part of the way it feeds.
That is why the floor must be fine, soft sand and the water of high quality with no nitrate spikes.
Details
🌊 Water parameters
🐠 Minimum tank size
Breeding
It spawns on a hard surface, such as a flat stone, wood or a broad leaf, and both parents guard the spawn. Breeding it calls for its own tank, with a varied diet and rigorous water changes, with no other fish.
Diet
An omnivore that sifts the sand.
- Staple: quality sinking micropellets.
- Supplement: frozen food, such as brine shrimp, mysis or mosquito larvae.
It competes poorly for food, so check that it gets some.
What about your tank?
Enter your tank's values to see only the compatible species that fit them. Litres apply to fish.
Compatible fish
General guidance based on water parameters, behaviour and known exceptions; always review the individual animals' and aquarium's specific needs.
They share water: pH 6–7.5 and 22–26 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7.5 and 24–28 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7 and 23–28 °C.
They share water: pH 7–7.5 and 26–28 °C. They only meet at the very edge, so the tank has to hold that value.
They share water: pH 6–7.5 and 22–27 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7.5 and 22–27 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7.5 and 22–27 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7.5 and 24–28 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7 and 24–27 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7.5 and 22–26 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7.5 and 22–28 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7.5 and 24–28 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7.5 and 25–28 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7.5 and 24–28 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–7.5 and 24–26 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7.5 and 22–26 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7.5 and 22–25 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7.5 and 24–28 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–7.5 and 22–24 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7 and 27–28 °C.
They share water: pH 7–7.5 and 22–28 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–7.5 and 22–28 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7.5 and 25–28 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7.5 and 22–28 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7.5 and 22–28 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7.5 and 24–28 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7.5 and 24–27 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7 and 24–28 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7 and 22–26 °C.
They share water: pH 6–6.5 and 23–27 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–7.2 and 22–26 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7.5 and 22–26 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7.5 and 22 °C. They only meet at the very edge, so the tank has to hold that value.
They share water: pH 6.5–7.5 and 22–24 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7.5 and 22–28 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7 and 23–28 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7.5 and 22–27 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7.5 and 22–28 °C.
They share water: pH 7–7.5 and 22–27 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7.2 and 22–26 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7 and 26–28 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7 and 22–26 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–7.5 and 22–26 °C.
They share water: pH 6–6.5 and 24–28 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7 and 23–28 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7.5 and 23–27 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7.5 and 23–28 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7.5 and 24–28 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7.5 and 22–26 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7.5 and 23–27 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7.5 and 22–27 °C.
They share water: pH 7–7.5 and 22–28 °C. They only meet at the very edge, so the tank has to hold that value.
Compatible invertebrates
General guidance based on water parameters, behaviour and known exceptions; always review the individual animals' and aquarium's specific needs.
They share water: pH 7–7.5 and 22–28 °C.
They share water: pH 6–6.5 and 22–24 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–7.5 and 22–27 °C.
They share water: pH 7–7.5 and 22–25 °C.
They share water: pH 7.5 and 24–28 °C. They only meet at the very edge, so the tank has to hold that value.
They share water: pH 7–7.5 and 22–28 °C.
They share water: pH 7.5 and 26–28 °C. They only meet at the very edge, so the tank has to hold that value.
They share water: pH 7–7.5 and 22–28 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–7.5 and 22–26 °C.
They share water: pH 6–6.8 and 22–24 °C.
They share water: pH 6–6.8 and 22–24 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–7.5 and 22–27 °C.
They share water: pH 7.5 and 27–28 °C. They only meet at the very edge, so the tank has to hold that value.
They share water: pH 7–7.5 and 22–28 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–7.5 and 22–26 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–7.5 and 22–26 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–7.5 and 22–26 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–7.5 and 22–26 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–7.5 and 22–26 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–7.5 and 22–26 °C.
They share water: pH 7–7.5 and 22–28 °C.
They share water: pH 7–7.5 and 22–28 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–7.5 and 22–28 °C.
They share water: pH 7–7.5 and 22–28 °C.
.jpg){kind=link}
_1.jpg){kind=link}
.JPG){kind=link}
_02.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
_1.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
They share water: pH 7–7.5 and 22–28 °C.
Sources
- FishBaseFroese, R. and D. Pauly. Editors. 2026. FishBase. World Wide Web electronic publication.
- Seriously FishSeriously Fish. Mikrogeophagus altispinosus. Ficha de especie; consultada 2026-10.
Water: FishBase gives only minimums, pH from 7 and hardness from 10 dH, and 22-26 °C; Seriously Fish, pH 6-7.5, 1-10 dGH and 24-28 °C. The profile uses pH 6-7.5, dGH 1-10 and 22-28 °C. Size: 5.6 cm SL in FishBase and 8 cm SL in Seriously Fish; the larger is taken.
Litres per fish and minimum tank height and depth: the profile's own judgement. Seriously Fish gives only the tank base and FishBase gives no tank sizes.
Plan your next aquarium
Is this fish right for you? Plan a suitable aquarium before setting it up.