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No federal permit to keepBolivian Butterfly Cichlid
Mikrogeophagus altispinosus
Fishes › Cichlids (Cichliformes) › Cichlidae (Cichlids)
Mikrogeophagus altispinosus is a species of fish endemic to the southern Amazon River basin in Brazil and Bolivia.
Care at a glance
Species-specific values
Values researched for this exact species. Where they differ from the group guide below, follow these. Air, surface and water temperatures are listed separately, and each source is kept as published rather than averaged.
| Water temperature | 75–82 °F (24–28 °C) Maintenance recommendations from this source; do not replace with a multisource average. | 258 |
| Water pH | 6–7.5 Maintenance recommendations from this source; do not replace with a multisource average. | 258 |
| Water general hardness | 1–10 dGH Maintenance recommendations from this source; do not replace with a multisource average. | 258 |
| Adult standard length | 80 mm Maximum standard length reported by source; excludes caudal fin, not total body length. | 258 |
| Minimum tank base | length: 90 cm; width: 45 cm Minimum aquarium base recommended by this source, not a tank-volume specification. | 258 |
Species-specific aquarium care
- Tank: At least 24 in long and 12 in front to back for one adult (adults commonly reach about 2.2 in / 5.6 cm).
- Water: Freshwater.
- Temperature: 72–79°F (range recorded for this species).
- Layout: Uses both the bottom and open water: give open swimming space plus cover near the substrate.
- Availability: Rarely or never seen in the aquarium trade; expect to source it from specialists or not at all.
Calculated from this species' own FishBase record: tank size from its typical adult length and swimming zone, water values from its recorded ranges. The group guide below fills in general care.
Care guide
Species care notes
- Tank: a base of at least 35 × 18 in (roughly 48 US gallons); space needed is rated “large tank”.
- Water: a fairly wide range, from slightly acidic to slightly alkaline, 75–82 °F, pH 6–7.5, 1–10 dGH.
- Behaviour: a shoaling fish best kept in a group of six or more; suited to a community tank.
- Difficulty: Moderate (Seriously Fish rating).
Short excerpts from the species profile:
- Setup: “The most essential addition is a soft, sandy substrate so that the fish can browse naturally (see 'Diet').”
- Tankmates: “Despite normally being sold as such M.”
- Breeding: “This species is a biparental substrate spawner and is best bred in a dedicated set-up with no other fishes present.”
From the Seriously Fish profile for this species, which has the full habitat, maintenance, diet, behaviour and breeding write-up 167
South American dwarf cichlids
Applies to most species in this group. Habitat: Soft, acidic, leaf-littered streams. Individual species can differ, so compare with the species numbers above and the linked sources.
Housing & setup
- Use species-specific water chemistry and tank base dimensions: M. ramirezi has a source minimum base of 60 × 30 cm; M. altispinosus has 90 × 45 cm. Provide fine sand for these substrate-sifting species.
- Very sensitive to nitrate and water swings; mature, stable tanks are best.
Climate & lighting
Starting point only: Replace the merged genus range with separately sourced species water temperatures. Check the species-specific values for this animal where shown.
| Water | 76–84°F |
Diet
- Small live and frozen foods (bloodworms, brine shrimp, daphnia) plus quality micro pellets.
Social life
- Harems or pairs; peaceful with small dither fish.
Health watch
- Use mature, stable aquaria. Warm-water M. ramirezi has a source maintenance range of 27–30 °C (81–86 °F), whereas M. altispinosus has 24–28 °C (75–82 °F).
Understanding the animal
About this animal
About this animal
The species is part of the family Cichlidae and subfamily Geophaginae. It is a popular aquarium fish, traded under the common names Bolivian butterfly, Bolivian ram, Bolivian ram cichlid, and ruby crown cichlid.
Quoted from the Wikipedia article “Mikrogeophagus altispinosus” (CC BY-SA 4.0) 174
In the wild
In the wild
From this species’ own FishBase record (habitat, bottom type, water and breeding data), not its family. Good care copies these conditions.1
| Where it lives | Lives in freshwater. Uses both the bottom and open water. |
| Water it lives in | Freshwater, 72–79 °F (22–26 °C), pH 7, hardness 10 dH. |
| Climate | Tropical climate. |
| Behavior to plan for | Breeding: clutch tenders. |
What this means for care
- Keep water within its wild range, 72–79 °F.
Native climate (measured)
Native climate (measured)
| Warm-season highs | about 91°F (up to 93°F in the hottest sampled areas) |
| Cool-season lows | about 63°F (down to 58°F in the coldest sampled areas) |
| Average temperature | 77–80°F across sampled records |
| Relative humidity | 76–77% on average (driest month about 67%) |
| Rainfall | about 1660 mm a year |
Measured at 17 wild occurrence records sampled against WorldClim 2.1 climate data (1970–2000 averages). Air conditions in the range are ecological context, not enclosure settings: microhabitats such as burrows, leaf litter or basking rocks can be cooler, warmer or more humid.
From the sources
From the sources
Quoted from the matching sections of reputable sources for this exact species. Specialist databases are used first; Wikipedia (community-edited, CC BY-SA 4.0) only fills gaps. Other sources are short credited quotes.
| Overview | Mikrogeophagus altispinosus is a species of fish endemic to the southern Amazon River basin in Brazil and Bolivia. The species is part of the family Cichlidae and subfamily Geophaginae. It is a popular aquarium fish, traded under the common names Bolivian butterfly, Bolivian ram, Bolivian ram cichlid, and ruby crown cichlid. — Wikipedia (community-edited) |
| Where it lives | Home ranges Population dynamics Growth parameters Max. ages / sizes Length-weight rel. Length-frequencies Mass conversion Recruitment Abundance Life cycle Reproduction Maturity Maturity/Gills rel. — FishBase |
| Wild diet | Omnivorous, this fish sifts the substrate for plant material and small organisms. It is capable of feeding in midwater or on the surface. — Wikipedia (community-edited) |
| Reproduction | Eggs are deposited on stones and covered with sand, female cares for eggs. Larvae are carried into troughs and defended by both parents. — FishBase |
| Appearance and size | The species is similar in profile to the larger geophagine cichlids. Maximum size is about 8 cm. The head and front half of the body is yellow, fading to olive-grey at the rear. — Wikipedia (community-edited) |
Data and studies
The numbers
The numbers
Each bar is what one source reports. Where several sources weigh in, the dashed gold band marks their average.
Adult length
Maximum recorded length. Measured as standard length (snout to the base of the tail, not counting the tail fin). Fish in home aquariums often stay smaller than wild records.
Water temperature
Range the species tolerates in nature; aim for the middle.
pH
Water hardness
Minimum tank footprint
Seriously Fish recommends a tank base of at least 35 × 18 in (about 48 US gallons).
Sources for this sheet
- FishBase (Froese & Pauly, eds.), version 24.07 Peer-reviewed researchThe global scientific database on fishes, maintained by a consortium of research institutions; every value is referenced.
- Seriously Fish species profiles Experienced keeper or breederLong-running aquarium reference written and peer-checked by experienced fishkeepers and ichthyologists; each profile covers habitat, tank size, water, diet, behaviour and breeding.
- Merck Veterinary Manual: Management of aquarium fish Zoo, university or veterinaryThe Merck Veterinary Manual: a standard veterinary reference written and reviewed by veterinary specialists.
- Merck Veterinary Manual: Types and features of aquatic systems Zoo, university or veterinaryThe Merck Veterinary Manual: a standard veterinary reference written and reviewed by veterinary specialists.
- Seriously Fish — Mikrogeophagus ramirezi Zoo, university or veterinaryAdded in the 2026 source-checked care-guide review.
- Seriously Fish — Mikrogeophagus altispinosus Zoo, university or veterinaryAdded in the 2026 source-checked care-guide review.
- Wikipedia (species article) Community referenceFree encyclopedia; useful overviews with their own citations. Intro text is quoted under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- iNaturalist (captive observations) Community referenceCommunity observation platform run by the California Academy of Sciences and National Geographic; observations marked captive show animals living in homes, zoos and aquariums.
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