Butterfly Peacock Bass
Cichla ocellaris
- Care level
- Specialist
- Adult size
- 45–75 cm
- Minimum tank
- 1800 litres
- Temperature
- 24–30 °C
Species profile
Bolivian Ram Cichlid
Mikrogeophagus altispinosus
Common names: Bolivian Ram Cichlid, Bolivian Butterfly Cichlid
Recognized speciesCichlids
Adult size
Up to 9 cm
Typical adult length 6–9 cm.
Up to 9 cm
Countries of origin
Good fit for your tank?
Good fit for
- Mature planted aquarium setups
- Beginner shrimp keepers
Think carefully if
- The aquarium contains shrimp-eating fish
- The tank is newly cycled
- Water conditions change frequently
A hardy, comparatively peaceful dwarf cichlid from Bolivia and Brazil that suits planted community aquaria with fine sand.
Appearance and Identification
A compact tan to silver cichlid with a dark eye bar, a flank spot, red fin edges, blue iridescence, and elongated pelvic filaments.
It is larger, deeper-bodied, and more tolerant of cooler water than M. ramirezi. The flank spot and red fin edging are useful features.
Males usually become larger with longer dorsal, pelvic, and caudal extensions. Mature females may have a fuller pinkish abdomen.
Tank Requirements
- Suggested filter
- About 160–240 litres an hour
- Suggested heater
- About 75–125 W for this tank
- Minimum tank volume
- 80 litres
- Minimum tank length
- 75 cm
- Minimum group size
- 2
- Recommended group size
- 2
- Activity level
- Moderate
- Flow preference
- Low
- Planting preference
- Moderately planted
- Hiding places
- Yes
- Lid recommended
- Yes
- Jumping risk
- Low
Provide fine sand, flat stones, wood, plants, open feeding areas, and visual barriers. A compatible pair needs a territory of its own.
Behaviour and Tankmates
Generally peaceful in a community but territorial around a chosen spawning site.
Best as a bonded pair or a small group in a larger aquarium where pairs can separate.
Both parents defend eggs and fry, usually within a limited area.
Works with peaceful tetras, rasboras, pencilfish, and calm catfish in adequate space. Shrimplets may be eaten.
Water Parameters
It tolerates soft to moderately hard water and does not require the very high temperature used for German blue rams.
Parameter caveat
Avoid chronic high temperature, rapid pH changes, and sharp gravel that interferes with normal substrate feeding.
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Manual aquarium siphon and gravel cleaner
A manual siphon for routine aquarium water changes and accessible waste removal. The seller lists a hose approximately 1.6 m long.
Control the flow and keep the intake clear of fish and delicate planting. Clean the areas appropriate for your substrate and layout rather than disturbing the entire planted bed.
Daraz NepalCheck availability on Daraz
Feeding
- Diet types
- Insectivore, Omnivore
- Feeding frequency
- Daily
- Preferred foods
- Live baby brine shrimpUseful for conditioning adults and feeding juveniles; rinse before use.
- Daphnia, cyclops, or mosquito larvaeSmall moving prey encourages natural feeding behaviour.
- Frozen brine shrimp or mysisOffer thawed portions sized for the fish.
- High-quality cichlid micro-pelletUse as part of a varied diet after the fish accepts prepared food.
An omnivorous micropredator that picks small invertebrates and edible particles from the substrate.
Feed varied small sinking foods and occasional live or frozen prey. Ensure shy fish receive food.
Breeding
- Breeding type
- Egg Layer, Substrate Spawner
- Breeding difficulty
- Moderate
- Breeding temperature
- 27 °C
- Breeding pH
- 6.8
- Brood or egg count
- About 100 to 300 eggs.
- Incubation
- 3 days
- Parental care
- Biparental care
- Baby foods
- Newly hatched brine shrimpPrimary food for free-swimming fry; feed small rinsed portions several times daily.
- MicrowormsUseful supplementary food for small fry near the substrate.
- Fine powdered fry foodUse sparingly and remove uneaten material.
A biparental open substrate spawner. Eggs are placed on a cleaned stone or shallow pit and both parents guard eggs, larvae, and fry.
Habitat and Origin
- Geographic origin
- Amazon Basin, Bolivia, Brazil, South America
- Natural habitat
- Floodplain, Freshwater Wetland, Sand/Mud Substrate, Slow River
- Aquarium contexts
- Breeding Aquarium, Freshwater Aquarium, Freshwater Community, Planted Aquarium
- Audience level
- Beginner
Classification
- Profile type
- Recognized species
- Genus
- Mikrogeophagus
- Family
- Cichlidae
- Species group
- Cichlids, Fish, South American Cichlids
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Dicrossus filamentosus
- Care level
- Advanced
- Adult size
- 5–9 cm
- Minimum tank
- 80 litres
- Temperature
- 26–30 °C
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- Care level
- Advanced
- Adult size
- 5–10 cm
- Minimum tank
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- Temperature
- 26–30 °C
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- Care level
- Advanced
- Adult size
- 18–25 cm
- Minimum tank
- 500 litres
- Temperature
- 24–29 °C