JL North - 2018-11-02 My favorite fish, I've kept Bolivians for about 15 years. Very smart and personable, waggling their fins excitedly whenever they see me. Good informative articles, more accurate than usually found on the net. They are definitely bottom-huggers, however, rather than middle. They will swim up to the middle but rarely farther, so sinking food is best. When young they will get along with their own kind, but I've never successfully kept two or more grown males in the same tank (even large ones). They are peaceful with and actually barely notice other tankmates, but don't tolerate seeing other Bolivians - it just never ends well. You become the center of their world, and they don't like competition. What's not to love?
Linda Demarco - 2018-09-14 MI adopted a Bolivian Ram yesterday not knowing they need a lrg.tank. Is he alright in a 3 gallon fir a few weeks till I get him a new tank?
random - 2012-10-10 I have 4 german, and 2 Bolivian Rams and was wondering if i could add a Reticulated Hillstream Loach?
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Jeremy Roche - 2012-10-11 That should be fine. Observe behavior after adding. Like people, fish seem to just some times just not like another that they would normally get along with.
JohnB - 2012-10-21 I have 5 Blues in a 40Long along with Neons, long finned Zebras and Platies. One female Platy had fry in a net type breeder suspended in the tank. A few days later I noticed all the fish were on the opposite side of the tank. I looked closer and notice one of my male rams was keeping guard of the platy fry in the breeder. He would chase any fish away and then go back next to the fry and stand guard. This has to be the most peculiar behavior I ever seen. He stayed next to them until I took them out a few days later. After that, he was still in the same spot for the rest of the day.
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Jeremy Roche - 2012-10-21 Rams are very paternal. guess it got confused.
Julie - 2010-06-04 Unfortunately having now twice had eggs and I think at least some live fry my butterflys have not been able to raise any past 3 days. I think perhaps my PH is responsible. It has been fascinating watching them guard their eggs and move the fry around in their mouths. They get so beautifully colored up, they really are a lovely fish to have.
Julie - 2010-04-19 I have a pair of Bolivian Rams that have just bred for the first time. Have loved watching then guard their eggs but this morning they both worked together to move the fry/eggs to the back of the tank where I can no longer see them. They have both really coloured up and have lots of yellow at the moment, they are really beautiful. Can't wait to see if any babies survive.
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Jm - 2010-04-22 You are so lucky; I had a really hard time just trying to find a female for the Ram I have.... best of wishes.
Jules - 2010-06-11 I just got one 2 days ago and it lives with 3 guppies. It is a peaceful calm fishy that loves to eat. Ya, they don't like sudden movements and loud sounds. Other than that, it is just lovely and peaceful. But it's no coward, it would chase the guppies back if they go too close. It loves the leafy cover and the plants with roots.
Jordan - 2011-04-03 I got a pair of these the other day and pretty sure i managed to acquire a male and female judging by the elongated dorsal fin on one of them. They are full of character and constantly come to the front of the tank if i come close to it. They are extremely peaceful fish and do not bother any other fish including the neon tetras I have in the tank. They seem to love swimming around together and look for each other if they break apart. Still will have to wait to see if they decide to pair up or if they are indeed male and female. Great addition to any tank though
Javier Mun - 2010-02-01 I have one of this guys sharing a tank with neon tetras and a dwarf gourami . The gourami chases him around the tank from time to time but they do not hurt each other. I am currently adding more plants and will be adding a female Ram shortly. No doubt this is a great fish to have (I even have glass shrimp in the tank and never had an incident; 55 gallon tank) jj
The pretty Bolivian Ram is one of the most popular dwarf cichlids due to its ease of maintenance and peaceful demeanor!
My favorite fish, I've kept Bolivians for about 15 years. Very smart and personable, waggling their fins excitedly whenever they see me. Good informative articles, more accurate than usually found on the net. They are definitely bottom-huggers, however, rather than middle. They will swim up to the middle but rarely farther, so sinking food is best. When young they will get along with their own kind, but I've never successfully kept two or more grown males in the same tank (even large ones). They are peaceful with and actually barely notice other tankmates, but don't tolerate seeing other Bolivians - it just never ends well. You become the center of their world, and they don't like competition. What's not to love?
MI adopted a Bolivian Ram yesterday not knowing they need a lrg.tank. Is he alright in a 3 gallon fir a few weeks till I get him a new tank?
Is it ok to keep them with zebra danios??
I have 4 german, and 2 Bolivian Rams and was wondering if i could add a Reticulated Hillstream Loach?
That should be fine. Observe behavior after adding. Like people, fish seem to just some times just not like another that they would normally get along with.
I have 5 Blues in a 40Long along with Neons, long finned Zebras and Platies. One female Platy had fry in a net type breeder suspended in the tank. A few days later I noticed all the fish were on the opposite side of the tank. I looked closer and notice one of my male rams was keeping guard of the platy fry in the breeder. He would chase any fish away and then go back next to the fry and stand guard. This has to be the most peculiar behavior I ever seen. He stayed next to them until I took them out a few days later. After that, he was still in the same spot for the rest of the day.
Rams are very paternal. guess it got confused.
Unfortunately having now twice had eggs and I think at least some live fry my butterflys have not been able to raise any past 3 days. I think perhaps my PH is responsible. It has been fascinating watching them guard their eggs and move the fry around in their mouths. They get so beautifully colored up, they really are a lovely fish to have.
I have a pair of Bolivian Rams that have just bred for the first time. Have loved watching then guard their eggs but this morning they both worked together to move the fry/eggs to the back of the tank where I can no longer see them. They have both really coloured up and have lots of yellow at the moment, they are really beautiful. Can't wait to see if any babies survive.
You are so lucky; I had a really hard time just trying to find a female for the Ram I have.... best of wishes.
I just got one 2 days ago and it lives with 3 guppies. It is a peaceful calm fishy that loves to eat. Ya, they don't like sudden movements and loud sounds. Other than that, it is just lovely and peaceful. But it's no coward, it would chase the guppies back if they go too close. It loves the leafy cover and the plants with roots.
I got a pair of these the other day and pretty sure i managed to acquire a male and female judging by the elongated dorsal fin on one of them. They are full of character and constantly come to the front of the tank if i come close to it. They are extremely peaceful fish and do not bother any other fish including the neon tetras I have in the tank. They seem to love swimming around together and look for each other if they break apart. Still will have to wait to see if they decide to pair up or if they are indeed male and female. Great addition to any tank though
I have one of this guys sharing a tank with neon tetras and a dwarf gourami . The gourami chases him around the tank from time to time but they do not hurt each other. I am currently adding more plants and will be adding a female Ram shortly.
No doubt this is a great fish to have (I even have glass shrimp in the tank and never had an incident; 55 gallon tank)
jj