Mikrogeophagus altispinosa (Haseman, 1911)
Suggested pronunciation: mike-row-gee-oh-FAY-guss alt-ee-spin-OH-suh

Species description

• Physical description....
  • Mikrogeophagus altispinosa have a deep body and tall dorsal fin.
  • They have a yellowish colouration under the pectoral fins and a black vertical stripe that goes through the eye to the bottom of their mouth.
  • They have jarge eyes that are set high on the head - typical for Eartheaters - to protect the eyes when they burrow in the substrate.
  • The dorsal and caudal fins have a fine red line outlining the edges.
  • The first few rays of the dorsal fin are black and held erect.
  • The pelvic fins are red with some light blue speckling and the anal fin was red with a few white dots.
  • There is a black spot in the middle of the body and another on top of the body near the start of the dorsal fin.
  • They exhibit some dark vertical banding when stressed.
  • When ready to spawn, the yellow and red areas intensify.
• Taxonomy....
  • Kingdom: Animalia
    • Phylum: Chordata: Sub-phylum: Vertebrates - Group: Fish
      • Class: Osteichthyes (Bony Fish): Sub-class: Actinopterygii (Ray-finned Fish)
        • Order: Perciformes (Perch-like Fish)
          • Family: Cichlidae (Cichlids): subfamily: Geophagine
            • Genus: Microgeophagus
              • Species: altispinosa
• Geographical variants....
  • Because the species is widespread across its natural habitat, differences in colour and markings occur naturally.
  • Colour is highly variable, ranging from a greeny-grey with faint banding to a vivid blue-green with red and blue markings and red-orange colour to the throat and pelvic fins.
  • The intensity of the banding varies from area to area.
• Similar species....
  • Mikrogeophagus ramirezi may look superficially similar, especially when small.
  • Mikrogeophagus altispinosa have distinct red edges on the outer rays of the caudal fin and the body is not as coloured.
  • Images:
    • Mikrogeophagus altispinosa (below left); Mikrogeophagus ramirezii (below right)

   

Habitat information

• The Bolivian Ram occurs in the Rio Amazonas basin, in the Rio Guaporé drainage in Brazil and Bolivia, and in the Mamoré drainage in Bolivia.
• They inhabit calm waters in small streams and at the edges of larger creeks.
• The substrate is mulm, leaves and tangles of tree roots.

Aquarium care
The following information relating to tank size, decoration and tank mates is indicative and intended to be used as a rough guide only. Other possible tank mates are listed under Compatibility and there are many plants and decorations that can be used - just ask us.

• Tank ideas....
  • As with most dwarf cichlids, a 60 litre aquarium represents the minimum for a bonded pair, but to experience more of the dynamic behaviour of these fish, a larger aquarium is needed.
  • Example - Tropical South American community tank:
    • Tank capacity: 154 litres
    • Tank type: Standard rectangular tank
      • 90 centimetres (3 foot or 36 inches)
    • Fish ideas:
      • 2 x Mikrogeophagus altispinosa
      • 8 x Hemigrammus bleheri
      • 9 x Paracheirodon axelrodi
      • 3 x Chilodus punctatus
      • 4 x Otocinclus vittatus
    • Building the tank:
      • Background - eg. external printed dark blue or black.
      • Substrate - 3mm Coffs Harbour gravel; roughly 25kg. Peat moss mixed into gravel.
      • Decoration - Driftwood to create a branch tangle; flat river stones.
        
      • Plants - Suitable plants include Anubias barteri var nana (on wood), Bacopa caroliniana; Ambulia (Limnophila sessiflora), Cryptocorene wendtii; Pygmy Chain Sword (Echinodoras tennellus) and Java Moss (Vesicularia dubyana).
• Maintenance and Disease....
  • Regular partial water changes and good filtration are essential.
  • They may be susceptible to White Spot if the water temperature is too low.
  • Water quality must be excellent, with minimal nitrate content.
  • Mikrogeophagus altispinosa is less sensitive and easier to spawn than the Blue Ram.
  • They should not be added to a new tank, but to a well-established tank.
  • Too high a temperature is likely to cause stress.
  • Water parameters:
    • pH: neutral to slightly alkaline (7.0-7.6)
    • Hardness: soft (3-10dH: optimal 5dH)
    • Temperature: 25-27oC.
• Compatibility....
  • The Bolivian Ram is a peaceful cichlid and can be kept with small active dither fish such as Tetras and smaller, non-aggressive Barbs.
  • They will become territorial when breeding.
  • They should not be kept with large aggressive fish, but can be kept with larger more peaceful cichlids such as Discus.
  • They become easily stressed if they are kept with larger or more boisterous fish.
  • These fish are less shy if placed in the company of small active dither fish such as tetras.

• Breeding....
  • Mikrogeophagus altispinosa form strong pair bonds and are biparental open substrate spawners.
  • To guarantee a pair, a group of juveniles may need to be purchased and allow them to pair off naturally.
  • The female will lay around 100-200 eggs on a flat, horizontal surface such as a rock or broad-leafed plant. Females that are ready to spawn have a bright red to magenta coloured belly, which she displays to the male.
  • The male stands guard while the female lays several eggs. He then fertilises them.
  • Both parents guard the eggs and fry.
  • The fry hatch after about two and a half days, depending on the temperature.
  • About three days after they hatch the wrigglers are free-swimming and can be fed on commercial baby food or newly-hatched brine shrimp or microworms.
  • The parents constantly moved the fry to depressions they make in the sand.
  • They will spawn in the community tank if the conditions are right.
    Special breeding notes....
  • The eggs will normally only hatch if the pH is right.
  • Good quality food and water are vital ingredients in keeping the fry alive, as the fry are extremely sensitive to nitrite levels.
  • After several months they begin to show the adult colour pattern.
  • Bolivian Rams don't breed until they are nearly fully-grown.
  • After the eggs hatch and the fry are wigglers, the pair will change colour, with a yellowish body, intense black eye stripes and lateral blotches.

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• References....
  Web sites
  Fishbase
  Books
  Baensch Aquarium Atlas Vol 1 (Mergus Publishing, 1996)
  Aquarium Fish (Hermes House, 2002)
  Aquarium Fish Facts (Quantum Books, 2002)
  Enjoying Cichlids (Cichlid Press, 1993)
  Popular Freshwater Tropical Fish (Parragon, 2002)
  The Complete Encyclopedia of Tropical Fish (Grange Books, 2000)
  A Practical Guide to Tropical Aquarium Fish (Coombe Books, 1995)

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