Bolivian ram Tank Mates
Short answer: the best bolivian ram tank mates are Betta fish, Dwarf gourami, Guppy, Bristlenose pleco, Harlequin rasbora, Molly. Bolivian rams need 75–82 °F (24–28 °C), pH 6–7.5 and at least 55 gallons.
Bolivian ram care at a glance
| Adult size | 3.1 in (8 cm) |
| Minimum tank | 55 US gallons |
| Temperature | 75–82 °F (24–28 °C) |
| pH | 6–7.5 |
| Temperament | Peaceful |
| Swims in | Bottom |
| Group size | Can be kept singly or in pairs |
| Care level | Easy |
gallon tank
✅ Compatible tank mates (42)
- Betta fish
- Dwarf gourami
- Guppy
- Bristlenose pleco
- Harlequin rasbora
- Molly
- Platy
- Tiger barb
- Angelfish
- Celestial pearl danio
- Chili rasbora
- Ember tetra
- Endler's livebearer
- Mystery snail
- Otocinclus
- Black skirt tetra
- Bronze cory
- Cardinal tetra
- Cherry barb
- Glowlight tetra
- Honey gourami
- Kuhli loach
- Rummy nose tetra
- Serpae tetra
- Pearl gourami
- Swordtail
- Three spot gourami
- Discus
- Clown loach
- Pygmy cory
- Sparkling gourami
- Black neon tetra
- Bloodfin tetra
- Dwarf neon rainbowfish
- Forktail blue-eye
- Glass catfish
- Lemon tetra
- Sterbai cory
- X-ray tetra
- Buenos Aires tetra
- Congo tetra
- Upside-down catfish
⚠️ Possible with caution (7)
- Neon tetra — Very narrow shared temperature range: Bolivian ram 24–28 °C (75–82 °F) vs Neon tetra 21–25 °C (70–77 °F).
- Nerite snail — Very narrow shared temperature range: Bolivian ram 24–28 °C (75–82 °F) vs Nerite snail 22–25 °C (72–77 °F).
- Amano shrimp — Bolivian ram may eat small or moulting Amano shrimp.
- Panda cory — Very narrow shared temperature range: Bolivian ram 24–28 °C (75–82 °F) vs Panda cory 22–25 °C (72–77 °F).
- Zebra danio — Very narrow shared temperature range: Bolivian ram 24–28 °C (75–82 °F) vs Zebra danio 18–25 °C (64–77 °F).
- Odessa barb — Very narrow shared temperature range: Bolivian ram 24–28 °C (75–82 °F) vs Odessa barb 16–25 °C (61–77 °F).
- Boesemani rainbowfish — Very narrow shared temperature range: Boesemani rainbowfish 27–30 °C (81–86 °F) vs Bolivian ram 24–28 °C (75–82 °F).
❌ Not recommended (22)
- Cherry shrimp — Bolivian ram will hunt and eat cherry shrimp.
- Fancy goldfish — Coldwater and tropical fish don't mix: Bolivian ram 24–28 °C (75–82 °F) vs Fancy goldfish 20–23 °C (68–73 °F).
- Oscar — An adult oscar (up to 35 cm) is big enough to eat Bolivian ram (8 cm).
- Pea puffer — Pea puffer is aggressive and will bully peaceful Bolivian ram.
- German blue ram — Both are territorial and use the same part of the tank, so constant fights are likely.
- White cloud mountain minnow — Coldwater and tropical fish don't mix: Bolivian ram 24–28 °C (75–82 °F) vs White cloud mountain minnow 14–22 °C (57–72 °F).
- Kribensis — Both are territorial and use the same part of the tank, so constant fights are likely.
- Electric yellow cichlid — Electric yellow cichlid is a Lake Malawi cichlid: it needs hard, alkaline water and an African-cichlid community, and is too boisterous for Bolivian ram.
- Rainbow shark — Both are territorial and use the same part of the tank, so constant fights are likely.
- Red tail shark — Both are territorial and use the same part of the tank, so constant fights are likely.
- Siamese algae eater — Both are territorial and use the same part of the tank, so constant fights are likely.
- Common pleco — Both are territorial and use the same part of the tank, so constant fights are likely.
- Cockatoo dwarf cichlid — Both are territorial and use the same part of the tank, so constant fights are likely.
- Paradise fish — No comfortable shared temperature: Bolivian ram 24–28 °C (75–82 °F) vs Paradise fish 10–22 °C (50–72 °F).
- Peppered cory — No comfortable shared temperature: Bolivian ram 24–28 °C (75–82 °F) vs Peppered cory 20–24 °C (68–75 °F).
- Convict cichlid — Convict cichlid is aggressive and will bully peaceful Bolivian ram.
- Gold barb — No comfortable shared temperature: Bolivian ram 24–28 °C (75–82 °F) vs Gold barb 16–24 °C (61–75 °F).
- Rosy barb — No comfortable shared temperature: Bolivian ram 24–28 °C (75–82 °F) vs Rosy barb 16–24 °C (61–75 °F).
- Firemouth cichlid — Both are territorial and use the same part of the tank, so constant fights are likely.
- Chinese algae eater — Both are territorial and use the same part of the tank, so constant fights are likely.
- Jack Dempsey — An adult Jack Dempsey (up to 25 cm) is big enough to eat Bolivian ram (8 cm).
- Bala shark — An adult bala shark (up to 35 cm) is big enough to eat Bolivian ram (8 cm).
How many Bolivian rams per tank?
55 gal 75 gal — see what else fits with our stocking calculator.
FAQ
What fish can live with Bolivian rams?
Good matches include Betta fish, Dwarf gourami, Guppy, Bristlenose pleco, Harlequin rasbora, Molly. They share a temperature range with Bolivian rams (75–82 °F (24–28 °C)), are a similar temperament, and are not big enough to eat each other or nip fins.
What fish should not live with Bolivian rams?
Avoid Cherry shrimp, Fancy goldfish, Oscar, Pea puffer, German blue ram, White cloud mountain minnow.
What size tank do Bolivian rams need?
We recommend at least 55 US gallons for one bolivian ram, more if you add tank mates.
Can Bolivian rams live alone?
Yes. Bolivian rams do not need a group, though they can be kept with compatible tank mates.
Note: Compatibility depends on individual temperament, tank size, decor and how fish are introduced. Our verdicts use conservative rules applied to published care data (see methodology). They are guidance, not a guarantee. Quarantine new fish and watch for chasing, torn fins or hiding.