Aquariumcichlid · freshwater
Bolivian Ram: adult size, tank size & tankmates
The Bolivian Ram (Mikrogeophagus altispinosus) grows to about 3.8 in (8 cm SL). It needs a tank at least 36 inches long and about 48 gallons. It doesn't need a group of its own kind, at 75–82°F.
How big it really gets
Drawn to scale against common tank lengths. Green bars meet the minimum tank length from our sources.
Will it fit your tank?
Quick facts
- Adult size
- 3.8 in (8 cm SL)
- Minimum tank
- 36 inches long and about 48 gallons
- Temperature
- 75–82°F
- pH
- 6–7.5
- Hardness
- 1–10 dGH
- Group size
- 1 (solitary or pair)
- With other fish
- peaceful
- With its own kind
- semi-aggressive
- Swims
- bottom of the tank
- Diet
- omnivore
- Care level
- beginner
- Lifespan
- not stated in sources
Watch for: may eat baby shrimp
Bolivian Ram tankmates
Checked with the same rules as our tank builder: temperature overlap, pH and hardness, predation and mouth size, fin-nipping and temperament. Tank size is left out here; check it in the builder.
Good tankmates
- Neon TetraAdult ~1.4 in · 70–77°F
- Cardinal TetraAdult ~1.7 in · 73–84°F
- Harlequin RasboraAdult ~2.1 in · 70–82°F
- Ember TetraAdult ~0.9 in · 68–82°F
- Chili RasboraAdult ~0.9 in · 68–82°F
- Celestial Pearl DanioAdult ~1 in · 68–79°F
- Cherry BarbAdult ~2.4 in · 68–81°F
- Rummy-nose TetraAdult ~2.4 in · 73–79°F
- Black Neon TetraAdult ~1.7 in · 73–82°F
- Glowlight TetraAdult ~1.9 in · 75–82°F
Use caution
- Endler's LivebearerNeeds careBolivian Ram (1–10 dGH) and Endler's Livebearer (15–35 dGH) prefer different water hardness.
- German Blue RamNeeds careBolivian Ram and German Blue Ram only share 81–82°F. That's a tight window.
- AngelfishNeeds careAngelfish can bully smaller, peaceful Bolivian Ram.
- Cherry ShrimpBolivian Ram may eat baby Cherry Shrimp. Adults are usually safe, but expect fewer shrimplets.
- Amano ShrimpBolivian Ram may eat baby Amano Shrimp. Adults are usually safe, but expect fewer shrimplets.
- Nerite SnailBolivian Ram (pH 6–7.5) and Nerite Snail (pH 8–8.4) prefer different pH.
- Mystery SnailBolivian Ram (pH 6–7.5) and Mystery Snail (pH unknown) prefer different pH.
- MollyNeeds careBolivian Ram (1–10 dGH) and Molly (15–30 dGH) prefer different water hardness.
Avoid
- White Cloud Mountain MinnowNeeds careBolivian Ram (75–82°F) and White Cloud Mountain Minnow (57–72°F) need different temperatures.
- Chinese Algae EaterOutgrows tanksChinese Algae Eater is aggressive toward tankmates. Bolivian Ram is peaceful.
- Convict CichlidNeeds careConvict Cichlid is aggressive toward tankmates. Bolivian Ram is peaceful.
- Fancy GoldfishOutgrows tanksBolivian Ram (75–82°F) and Fancy Goldfish (50–70°F) need different temperatures.
- Iridescent SharkOutgrows tanksIridescent Shark eats small fish, and Bolivian Ram only grows to about 3.8 in.
- OscarOutgrows tanksOscar eats small fish, and Bolivian Ram only grows to about 3.8 in.
- Paradise FishNeeds careBolivian Ram (75–82°F) and Paradise Fish (50–72°F) need different temperatures.
- Weather LoachOutgrows tanksBolivian Ram (75–82°F) and Weather Loach (64–74°F) need different temperatures.
All 105 species we checked against the Bolivian Ram
| Species | Verdict | Why |
|---|---|---|
| African Dwarf Frog | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Assassin Snail | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Bala Shark | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Betta | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Black Neon Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Black Skirt Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Bleeding Heart Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Bristlenose Pleco | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Bronze Cory | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Buenos Aires Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Bumblebee Goby | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Cardinal Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Celestial Pearl Danio | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Cherry Barb | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Chili Rasbora | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Clown Killifish | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Clown Loach | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Clown Pleco | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Cockatoo Dwarf Cichlid | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Common Pleco | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Congo Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Denison Barb | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Diamond Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Discus | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Dwarf Gourami | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Dwarf Neon Rainbowfish | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Ember Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Giant Danio | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Glass Catfish | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Glowlight Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Guppy | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Harlequin Rasbora | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Head-and-tail-light Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Honey Gourami | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Japanese Trapdoor Snail | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Julii Cory | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Kribensis | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Kuhli Loach | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Lambchop Rasbora | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Lemon Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Malaysian Trumpet Snail | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Marbled Hatchetfish | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Moonlight Gourami | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Neon Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Odessa Barb | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Otocinclus | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Panda Cory | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Pea Puffer | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Pearl Danio | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Pearl Gourami | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Penguin Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Peppered Cory | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Platy | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Pristella Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Pygmy Cory | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Ramshorn Snail | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Rummy-nose Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Scissortail Rasbora | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Serpae Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Siamese Algae Eater | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Silver Hatchetfish | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Silver Tip Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Sparkling Gourami | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Sterbai Cory | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Swordtail | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Tiger Barb | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Tinfoil Barb | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Upside-down Catfish | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Zebra Danio | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Amano Shrimp | Caution | Bolivian Ram may eat baby Amano Shrimp. Adults are usually safe, but expect fewer shrimplets. |
| Angelfish | Caution | Angelfish can bully smaller, peaceful Bolivian Ram. |
| Bamboo Shrimp | Caution | Bolivian Ram may eat baby Bamboo Shrimp. Adults are usually safe, but expect fewer shrimplets. |
| Blood Parrot Cichlid | Caution | Blood Parrot Cichlid can bully smaller, peaceful Bolivian Ram. |
| Boesemani Rainbowfish | Caution | Bolivian Ram and Boesemani Rainbowfish only share 81–82°F. That's a tight window. |
| Cherry Shrimp | Caution | Bolivian Ram may eat baby Cherry Shrimp. Adults are usually safe, but expect fewer shrimplets. |
| Common / Comet Goldfish | Caution | Bolivian Ram and Common / Comet Goldfish only share 75–75°F. That's a tight window. |
| Crystal Red Shrimp | Caution | Bolivian Ram and Crystal Red Shrimp only share 75–76°F. That's a tight window.; Bolivian Ram may eat baby Crystal Red Shrimp. Adults are usually safe, but expect fewer shrimplets. |
| Electric Blue Acara | Caution | Electric Blue Acara can bully smaller, peaceful Bolivian Ram. |
| Electric Yellow Lab | Caution | Bolivian Ram (pH 6–7.5) and Electric Yellow Lab (pH 7.7–8.6) prefer different pH. |
| Endler's Livebearer | Caution | Bolivian Ram (1–10 dGH) and Endler's Livebearer (15–35 dGH) prefer different water hardness. |
| Firemouth Cichlid | Caution | Firemouth Cichlid can bully smaller, peaceful Bolivian Ram. |
| Forktail Blue-eye | Caution | Bolivian Ram (1–10 dGH) and Forktail Blue-eye (15–30 dGH) prefer different water hardness. |
| German Blue Ram | Caution | Bolivian Ram and German Blue Ram only share 81–82°F. That's a tight window. |
| Ghost Shrimp | Caution | Bolivian Ram may eat baby Ghost Shrimp. Adults are usually safe, but expect fewer shrimplets. |
| Gold Barb | Caution | Bolivian Ram and Gold Barb only share 75–75°F. That's a tight window. |
| Hillstream Loach | Caution | Bolivian Ram and Hillstream Loach only share 75–75°F. That's a tight window. |
| Kissing Gourami | Caution | Kissing Gourami can bully smaller, peaceful Bolivian Ram. |
| Molly | Caution | Bolivian Ram (1–10 dGH) and Molly (15–30 dGH) prefer different water hardness. |
| Mystery Snail | Caution | Bolivian Ram (pH 6–7.5) and Mystery Snail (pH unknown) prefer different pH.; Bolivian Ram (1–10 dGH) and Mystery Snail (unknown dGH) prefer different water hardness. |
| Nerite Snail | Caution | Bolivian Ram (pH 6–7.5) and Nerite Snail (pH 8–8.4) prefer different pH. |
| Pictus Catfish | Caution | Pictus Catfish can bully smaller, peaceful Bolivian Ram. |
| Rainbow Shark | Caution | Rainbow Shark can bully smaller, peaceful Bolivian Ram. |
| Red-Tail Shark | Caution | Red-Tail Shark can bully smaller, peaceful Bolivian Ram. |
| Rosy Barb | Caution | Bolivian Ram and Rosy Barb only share 75–75°F. That's a tight window. |
| Three-spot Gourami | Caution | Three-spot Gourami can bully smaller, peaceful Bolivian Ram. |
| Variatus Platy | Caution | Bolivian Ram (1–10 dGH) and Variatus Platy (14–30 dGH) prefer different water hardness. |
| Yoyo Loach | Caution | Yoyo Loach can bully smaller, peaceful Bolivian Ram. |
| Chinese Algae Eater | Avoid | Chinese Algae Eater is aggressive toward tankmates. Bolivian Ram is peaceful. |
| Convict Cichlid | Avoid | Convict Cichlid is aggressive toward tankmates. Bolivian Ram is peaceful. |
| Fancy Goldfish | Avoid | Bolivian Ram (75–82°F) and Fancy Goldfish (50–70°F) need different temperatures. |
| Iridescent Shark | Avoid | Iridescent Shark eats small fish, and Bolivian Ram only grows to about 3.8 in. |
| Oscar | Avoid | Oscar eats small fish, and Bolivian Ram only grows to about 3.8 in. |
| Paradise Fish | Avoid | Bolivian Ram (75–82°F) and Paradise Fish (50–72°F) need different temperatures. |
| Weather Loach | Avoid | Bolivian Ram (75–82°F) and Weather Loach (64–74°F) need different temperatures. |
| White Cloud Mountain Minnow | Avoid | Bolivian Ram (75–82°F) and White Cloud Mountain Minnow (57–72°F) need different temperatures. |
Care notes
Needs: Soft sand substrate is essential to facilitate continuous benthophagous sediment sifting through gill rakers without mechanical damage.
Group: Kept singly, as an established pair, or in loose aggregations in setups exceeding 48 inches in length.
Temperament: peaceful toward other fish, semi-aggressive toward its own kind. Lives in the bottom of the tank.
Common questions
How big does a Bolivian Ram get?
About 3.8 inches (8 cm SL) as an adult, according to seriouslyfish.com.
What size tank does a Bolivian Ram need?
At least 36 inches long and about 48 gallons. The smallest standard tank that meets that is a 55 gallon.
How many Bolivian Rams should be kept together?
It can be kept on its own. Kept singly, as an established pair, or in loose aggregations in setups exceeding 48 inches in length.
What fish can live with a Bolivian Ram?
Species that passed every check include Neon Tetra, Cardinal Tetra, Harlequin Rasbora, Ember Tetra, Chili Rasbora, Celestial Pearl Danio.
Gear for a Bolivian Ram setup
TankSmallest standard tank that meets its minimum: 55 gallon (48 in long).Find on Amazon →HeaterAbout 300 W for 55 gallons, holding 75–82°F.Find on Amazon →SandSoft sand protects barbels and lets it sift.Find on Amazon →FoodSinking food reaches the bottom before tankmates grab it.Find on Amazon →Test kitCheck ammonia, nitrite and pH. Cycle the tank before adding fish.Find on Amazon →
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Related guides
Sources
Values come from these pages, in our own words. Status: verified. Last reviewed 2026-10-12.
- seriouslyfish.com /species/mikrogeophagus-altispinosus