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Genus

Mikrogeophagus

Species
2
Photographed
2 of 2
Difficulty rated
2 of 2

Where the name comes from

from the Greek μικρός (mikrós), meaning 'small', and the generic name Geophagus.

Adult specimen from the Singapore aquarium trade.

Mikrogeophagus altispinosusBolivian Ram

Haseman, 1911

Max length
80mm SL3.1in SL
Tank
90 × 45cm36 × 18in
Temp
24–28°C75–82°F
pH
6.0–7.5

This species appears endemic to the upper rio Madeira basin in Bolivia and Brazil. Records exist from the Río Mamoré and Río Guaporé drainages in Bolivia (where the Guaporé is known as the Iténez) and Brazil plus the upper Río Orthon (ríos Tahuamanu and Manuripi). Type locality is 'sand-bank in the Rio Marm...

Moderate
Wild adult pair of M. ramirezi, male on left.

Mikrogeophagus ramireziRam

Myers & Harry, 1948

Max length
40mm SL1.6in SL
Tank
60 × 30cm24 × 12in
Temp
27–30°C81–86°F
pH
4.0–7.0

M. ramirezi is also known by the names 'Ramirez' dwarf cichlid' and 'butterfly cichlid' and is among the more popular dwarf cichlids in the aquarium hobby. As a result, it is produced on a commercial basis in huge numbers and a number of ornamental strains have been developed including 'gold', 'long-finned' (both blue and gold forms; also traded as 'lyre-tail', 'veil-tail' and 'hi-fin'), 'electric/neon blue', 'super neon blue gold' 'pearl/perlmutt' and 'balloon'.

Easy