Feeding Bolivian Rams: A Comprehensive Diet Guide

Bolivian Rams, or Bolivian Butterflies, are a species of small, peaceful cichlid native to the Amazon River in Brazil and Bolivia. They are a popular choice for fishkeepers due to their ease of maintenance and attractive colouring. In the wild, they feed on benthic detritus, plant material, and small organisms found in the substrate. In captivity, they can be fed a variety of foods, including:

- Flake food

- Cichlid pellets

- Bloodworms

- Brine shrimp

- Daphnia

- Algae wafers

- Sinking wafers

- Hikari Micro Pellets

- Freeze-dried bloodworms

- Tubifex

- Live or frozen brine shrimp and worms

- White worms

- Chopped earthworms

- Cyclopeeze

- Artemia

Bolivian Rams Prefer Sinking Foods

Bolivian Rams are omnivores and will eat almost anything you give them. In the wild, they feed on small organisms and plant material found by sifting through the substrate at the bottom of the water bed.

In captivity, they thrive on a diet of dry food. Because they stick to the bottom and middle of the aquarium, they prefer sinking pellets. Their diet can be complemented with chopped-up earthworms, brine shrimp, and bloodworms.

When it comes to feeding, it is recommended to feed them multiple times a day, keeping the meals small to avoid overfeeding.

Bolivian Rams are not picky eaters and will eat most types of algae they can get their mouths on. They prefer brine shrimp and sinking pellets but will also eat hair algae, brown algae, black beard algae, and detritus algae.

If you notice your Bolivian Ram eating a lot of algae, it could be due to a lack of certain nutrients in their diet. As omnivores, they require a balanced diet, and if they are missing specific nutrients, they will seek alternative sources. Algae and vegetables are not only healthy for your Ram but also help brighten their coloration.

Bolivian Rams are bottom feeders, meaning they prefer digging around the bottom of the tank for food like algae rather than eating from the tank walls or live plants. They are not considered tank cleaners as they do not remove excess ammonia build-up. Instead, their excess eating can lead to increased ammonia levels.

When it comes to food type, it is important to feed your Bolivian Rams a healthy and balanced diet. While they can eat algae, it should not be the only thing they consume. Variety is essential to ensure they get a good cross-section of nutrients.

Some recommended foods for a healthy Bolivian Ram diet include:

• Sinking wafers and pellets
• Algae flakes or wafers
• Shrimp
• Boiled vegetables like zucchini or cucumber
• Tubifex
• Bloodworms
• Brine shrimp

Bloodworms Are a Popular Treat

Bloodworms are a common treat for Bolivian Rams, but they should be fed in moderation. They are a great way to get picky eaters to start eating, but they should not be a staple of their diet. It is recommended to offer them only two to three times a week.

Bolivian Rams are known to be picky eaters, and bloodworms are a popular treat that many fish keepers use to entice them to eat. Bloodworms can be offered frozen or live, and they are a great way to provide variety in their diet. However, it is important to remember that bloodworms should not be the only thing Bolivian Rams eat.

In the wild, Bolivian Rams are omnivores and mainly consume plant matter and small invertebrates. They feed by sifting through the substrate, taking mouthfuls of it and then expelling it through their mouths or gills. This behaviour is often replicated in home aquariums, where they will browse for food through the substrate. Therefore, it is important to provide them with a sand or small grain substrate that is safe for them to ingest.

In addition to bloodworms, Bolivian Rams can be offered a variety of frozen or live foods, such as blackworms, daphnia, and brine shrimp. They will also eat prepared fish foods, such as sinking pellets or wafers, but these should be broken up into smaller pieces. It is important to provide a varied diet to ensure complete balanced nutrition.

If you are having trouble getting your Bolivian Rams to eat, there are a few tricks you can try. Some people recommend soaking their food in garlic juice to increase their appetite and boost their immune system. Others suggest offering only flake or pellet food for a few days, so they get hungry and start to nibble on what is available. With some patience and experimentation, you can find a diet that works for your picky Bolivian Rams.

They Need a Variety of Foods

Bolivian Rams are omnivores and need a variety of foods in their diet. In the wild, they feed by sifting through the substrate for plant material and small organisms. They also feed on organisms in the water and sometimes at the surface.

In captivity, they will not feed from the surface. They are substrate feeders, so sinking foods are best. They will eat catfish and loach food, as well as frozen bloodworms. They can also be fed brine shrimp and algae wafers.

It is important to vary their diet, so it is recommended to alternate between different types of sinking foods. They can also be fed frozen or live food, such as bloodworms, blackworms, daphnia, and brine shrimp.

As omnivores, they also need plant matter in their diet. They will eat flakes and pellets, as well as meaty foods such as brine shrimp, bloodworms, white worms, chopped earthworms, cyclopeeze, and artemia.

They're Omnivores

Bolivian Rams are omnivores, so they will eat a wide variety of foods. In the wild, they feed on benthic detritus containing seeds and fruits, as well as aquatic and land plants. They also feed on small organisms in the water and at the surface.

In captivity, they will eat flakes, pellets, and meaty foods such as brine shrimp, bloodworms, white worms, chopped earthworms, cyclopeeze, and artemia. It is recommended to feed them 2 to 5 small pinches of food a day in smaller amounts instead of a large quantity once a day.

Some owners have reported that their Bolivian Rams will not eat flake food and will only eat sinking foods. They can be fussy eaters, so it may take some trial and error to find what they like. It is also recommended to feed a variety of foods to ensure a balanced diet.

It is important to note that frozen bloodworms should only be given 2-3 times per week as a treat, as they should not be a staple of their diet.

They Feed by Sifting Through Substrate

Bolivian Rams (Mikrogeophagus altispinosus) are curious fish that like to explore their tank, often sifting through the substrate as they search for food. They are small geophagus, meaning "earth-eaters". In the wild, they feed by taking a mouthful of substrate and sifting it through their mouths or gills to expel it afterward.

In the home aquarium, it is critically important to replicate their natural environment, providing them with a sand or other small-grain substrate. Gravel or pebbles can cause injury and, in rare cases, kill them if ingested. Bolivian Rams will also eat directly from the surface and will readily accept prepared fish foods. They will also eat frozen or live food, including bloodworms, blackworms, daphnia, and brine shrimp.

Bolivian Rams are one of the most durable and hardy dwarf cichlids and are fairly easy to care for. They are curious fish that like to explore their tank, often sifting through the substrate as they search for food. They are not fussy eaters and will eat most sinking foods intended for catfish and loaches, as well as frozen bloodworms. They will also eat frozen or live food, including bloodworms, blackworms, daphnia, and brine shrimp.

When setting up a tank for Bolivian Rams, it is important to provide them with a sand substrate as they enjoy sifting through it to find food. They will also need plenty of hiding places, such as driftwood, caves, and flat rocks. Plants can be added, but they are not necessary, and open swimming spaces should always be maintained. A minimum tank size of 20 gallons (75 litres) is required for a pair of Bolivian Rams, and they should be kept in groups of at least five or six in a larger tank. They are peaceful fish, but they are shy, and in a community tank, they will often be outcompeted for food by more aggressive tank mates. Their ideal tank mates are other soft water, non-aggressive minnow species, or other peaceful, bottom-dwelling fish like corydoras catfish.

Frequently asked questions