How I Bred Bolivian Rams at Home

Watch in detail my experience with breeding Bolivian Rams. In this video I'll cover sexing, forming pairs, and raising fry.

[@MakeMoreFish]

Thanks for watching! Feel free to leave questions in the comments if you have them, and If you enjoyed this video, consider subscribing to see future projects.

[@themidwestfishkeeper8117]

I used to breed dwarf cichlids and I find your video series on them to be the extremely accurate and very well put together! I think a cool challenge for you would be to do a video on your experience breeding clownfish, cardinal fish and gobys for the first time. I think it would make for a really cool experience!

[@MakeMoreFish]

I would love to try cardinals some day

[@dennisbinkhorst2039]

@@MakeMoreFish And shortly thereafter Paracheirodon Simulans, please :)

[@tinadoyle3803]

Ideal ph and temperature please ?

[@matthewmorton6536]

Hands down the best breeding guides I have found. Thanks for all your effort and research into breeding different fish species! Can't wait to see what else you try to breed.

[@michaelhaines3451]

Some of the best fish related content on KZbin. Thank you so much for this.

[@andystokes8702]

Excellent video and most of what you discovered is the same as I discovered with German Blue Rams. I put a group of six into a tank specifically set up for them to breed. They had previously been very outgoing and confident but the moment I put them in the breeding tank with no other fish they hid under the filter and would only venture out briefly to grab food before returning to their hiding place. Any movement from within the room would have them panicking. This continued the same for a couple of weeks until I put a small school of rummy nose tetras in and they immediately returned to being confident and outgoing.

[@SlickNick3]

Cute little fry with those orange bellies full of brine shrimp! You always impress me with your knowledge and ability to breed these different fish! Keep it up I’m always excited to see what’s next! Edit: something interesting on your video how the male spawned with 2 different females! I’ve always heard rams pick a mate and stick with them for life. Turns out that seems to be false if there’s multiple females around

[@MakeMoreFish]

I think opportunistic is a good way to describe pairing rather than monogamous

[@evita1643]

I have had 5 Bolivian rams for over a year. 2 males, 3 females. Both my males have 1 favorite female, but the extra female has spawned with both males 🤗

[@tinadoyle3803]

Can I ask what other fish do you keep with them if any ?

[@evita1643]

@@tinadoyle3803 corydoras, otoconclus, l66, wabenmusters, some tetra species, pencil fish, guppies. All kinds of peaceful fish. It differce per tank

[@tinadoyle3803]

I have my 6 Bolivian Rams in my 65g tank there's lots of hidy spots and spawning I have live plants and bog. The problem is they all stay together as if they are scared ots only at food time I see the six together. What can I do ? I want too breed them. I was thinking of getting long sword plants to maybe block the light a bit. Please any other suggestions that I could use too help them . As I'm.not at all fond of tetras is there any other fish that would be top swming, would they help to make my Bolivians less shy and more comfortable? All advice appreciated.

[@MakeMoreFish]

hmm hatchet or pencil fish maybe? I'm just reluctant to recommend buying a fish to solve a temporary problem. Any other smallish fish that you actually want to keep for a while is probably best. Or just wait and hope that they get comfortable.

[@FishmanEricRussell]

Very cool! Thanks for sharing your experiences

[@stevereyes9275]

Can you keep blue German rams and Bolivian rams together?

[@MakeMoreFish]

Ummm yes, I think so. Germans like (and need, really) the water to be really warm but Bolivians don't. I think you can take them pretty high my concern would more be about interspecific aggression.

[@user-tz9jh6pv2j]

Thanks. I found myself having watched almost all your videos over the past couple months as I've gotten into trying to breed my fish. Learned a lot from your channel 👍

[@flemmingj1965]

I have free swimming fry of bolivian rams

[@agoogleuser9237]

Is that black shard gravel safe to use with cichlids? I was told that this substrate is much to sharp and cuts up the gills when sifted and sucked and blown threw there gills

[@MakeMoreFish]

It's a sand rather than a gravel. Not the finest but fairly small diameter. It may or may not be safe, I'm not sure. I haven't noticed any issues

[@gowthams2865]

New sub here Interesting channel I got 5 Bolivian , hope I’ll also get babies Can you suggest some food !? Pellet ? Frozen ?

[@MakeMoreFish]

Frozen foods and quality pellets would both be great options. Probably frozen daphnia since it's a bit bigger. A few bloodworms here and there. Babies will want something much smaller so I always recommend getting into live baby brine shrimp.

[@tinadoyle3803]

Mine spawn on leaves.

[@tinadoyle3803]

Mine too.But they never survive cos sand gets on them.

[@jamespozone5238]

Love your videos and your commentary. Keep up the good work!

[@dpedroh]

After not having luck getting a pair of Bolivian Rams form a group (all males) I went ahead and bought 2 as a pair. I put them in the a tank all set up for breeding with the intention of adding tetras for dither fish at the end of QT. Interestingly they went ahead and bred anyway after a week. The fry disappeared a day after hatching but I let them be rather than add the tetras. Then a week later they bred again and so far are taking care of the wigglers. Maybe the exception that proves the rule.

[@MakeMoreFish]

I wouldn't call dithers a rule, just a strategy you can apply if you notice the adults feeling uncomfortable in their surroundings.

[@bakerc1981]

We are at the part of the process where we are looking for some Bolivian Rams. My LFS does not carry them and it seems only generic pics for the online options. Any suggestions on where we could find some for our planted 36 gallon? How many would put in there?

[@MakeMoreFish]

The Wet Spot in portland ships fish very well. In 36 gallons I guess I would do 4-8. I'm not a very good judge of stocking levels.

[@kadreamertv5970]

Hi there i like your video but can i have question. I have one bolivian ram and my substrate is gravel do you think he can still eat even my substrate is gravel instead sand?

[@MakeMoreFish]

They can eat, they just won't sift sand. Hard to say how much of a negative impact that has on them.

[@mumbaibalconygardenerhobbies]

Thank you so much for all your videos ❤

[@mizukage796]

What substrate is that? Gravel? Have you had a problem with it?

[@MakeMoreFish]

a coarse black sand. No problems to speak of, but I probably wouldn't recommend it for sand sifters.

[@crimegeek]

I love Bolivian rams. Your video is well informed and I plan on attempting these steps. I have happy Bolivians and other rams. Thanks!

[@dpedroh]

Which black substrate are you using? I picked up a black sand but I worry it may be too sharp. Thanks.

[@MakeMoreFish]

Black something blasting sand. I forget the name. It's pretty abrasive by nature so I'm I don't think I would use it long term with geophagines. I didn't notice any issues, but it was only used temporarily so I can't say one way or another.

[@dpedroh]

@@MakeMoreFish thanks after some shopping I found the Flourite Black Sand (not Flourite Black) seems to be the finest, softest black sand. Sort of sugar sand but black. My Bolivian Rams and Cory Cats like it.

[@testaja3614]

the light always turn on 24 hours?

[@MakeMoreFish]

I didn't find that to be necessary in this case but I do think it's a good idea to have some ambient light that prevents a tank from going completely dark at night

[@BasicAquarium]

I’m breeding my first pair and found this video. It’s helped a lot thank you

[@akvaryumtv4900]

Hi, what is the fry powder mix ? What is the food name

[@MakeMoreFish]

That was Sera Micron

[@akvaryumtv4900]

@@MakeMoreFish according your experience, do you recommend sera micron for fries?

[@oVisionaire]

These videos are amazing. Great information paired with beautiful photos and video. Well done.

[@DEXTER-TV-series]

Excellent story. As always from you. 👍💚

[@jessejakubiak1837]

Excellent video. Informative, specific and concise.

[@mohamadnizarkezzo1974]

Can you please try breeding pseudomugil paskai.

[@marksfishfrenzy]

Superb video well done, really interesting and well narrated

[@MrThanh55555]

Very useful video thanks

[@zeaqua1766]

Around of the beginning of this year, I decided to set up a breeding tank with Bolivian rams and Rummynose Tetras as a dither fish. I bought 6 rams, and after a few months and your guide on sexing them, it turns out that SOMEHOW, all 6 of them turned out to be male. Nonetheless, very well made guide.

[@MakeMoreFish]

Wow that is a lousy dice roll.. I hope you do have a female in the group but I think after a few months you would probably know by now.

[@troublingleaf]

Did you leave lights on at night to help the parents with raising the fish? I've found with bettas that they're more likely to eat eggs if the lights go out at night, so I just move the light to leave a subtle light over night. But I my new gigantic male has chosen one of my females that I've had for a while, and he's currently in the process of wooing her, so I'm expecting eggs some time soon, and I'm curious if I should leave them a little moon lighting over night to stop them from panicking and chowing down on their eggs.

[@MakeMoreFish]

I didn't find that to be necessary. I think they're really good parents.

[@tinadoyle3803]

I had tetras I with my six bolivan Rams and the Rams hated them they stayed at the bottom and followed the Rams around , I kept them for six weeks but nothing change and no sign of my breeding pairing up yesterday I took the 6 tetras back too the shop and today I have newly laid eggs. They look orange in colour does that mean they are fertilised?

[@MakeMoreFish]

That's a normal color but doesn't say one way or another if they fertile. If they stay orange over the next days then they are likely fertile and healthy. If they turn pale/white, then the opposite.

[@Pinejuice521]

Awesome video , thanks for the info.

[@tinadoyle3803]

I have a mix of males and females mostly females they are in a 65g tank with some rummy nose tetras they are at least ten months old and all are showing colours but the thing is they haven't spawned is it possible that the front have no interest in eachother ? At what age does the urge too spawn happen? Thanks.

[@MakeMoreFish]

Long term I don't think that's likely. Animals really have one goal in life and that's to reproduce. If given what they see as a reasonable opportunity, they'll do it. In the short term they might not feel like it right now or be missing certain antecedent conditions. They need a reasonably good diet and to be fed enough to have extra nutrients to spare on eggs. They're fairly tolerant of a wide range of water parameters but I know you deal with somewhat hard water so it might be worth attempting to lower pH and hardness and see if it helps. They also will be less likely to spawn if they are struggling with any infections including and especially internal parasites. There's a checklist of things you can work through to try to eliminate reasons not to spawn, and I think it's always worth considering that you don't have the mix of sexes that it seems. Still, even if you have 100% females you would still be likely to see them depositing eggs somewhere because they need to pass them, even without a male to fertilize. Just get creative. If you think you can pick out a male and female, separate them off into another tank and see if some privacy helps them get in the mood. There's no single clear path.

[@tinadoyle3803]

I'm cycling a 66g tank with live plants, sand substrate I'm going too set up spawning 4 in this big tank no tank mates, just six B R spawning sites would it be possible to get at least too get two spawning pairs in a thank that size

[@MakeMoreFish]

Sure, I bet you could. Another likely scenario is that the biggest baddest male will spawn with more than one female.

[@GREYGHOST-135]

When they spawned did you have the other rams present? Will the other rams bother the parents?

[@MakeMoreFish]

I've seen it both ways. The parents will clear out that side of the tank and keep everything else pinned on the opposite end. I don't think there's any scenario where it isn't better, if possible, to just remove other fish from the tank if you have them.

[@shahinsafari620]

Very informative 👌🏿 How long it takes for them to reach breeding size? And i challenge you to breed bumble bee gobbies 😁✌🏿

[@MakeMoreFish]

I'm not sure yet. If I had to guess probably 4-6 months

[@tinadoyle3803]

My Bolivian Rams eggs are ginger colour when they are are hatched is this good or does it mean they aren't fertile. ? Tia.

[@MakeMoreFish]

Mine were a similar color, sounds fine to me.

[@tanyaroberson9629]

I noticed a big difference to my plecos coming out of hiding soon as I added some tetras too. They must really think there's a predator if they don't see other fish.

[@MakeMoreFish]

I think so too. I'm glad it helped

[@jacopretorius5437]

Awesome vid, can you try to breed kuhli loaches 🐟🤷‍♂️😁

[@MakeMoreFish]

Maybe some day. They're pretty camera shy

[@stevereyes9275]

Awesome video 😍

[@Fishcentral]

Beautiful rams!

[@Fishcentral]

What temperature do you keep those guys in and wold sand be a good substrate straight for them?

[@MakeMoreFish]

I kept mine between 77-80 and sand would be ideal for them

[@markfranklin8831]

Great talk 💯👍👍

[@tinadoyle3803]

Do they need dither fish or do they prefer too be on there own in a nice big thank.p

[@MakeMoreFish]

I wouldn't say they need them but if you get the sense that the rams are uncomfortable and nervous, it's worth trying dithers to see if they relax. It was a big help for me.

[@domillima]

Amazing!

[@tinadoyle3803]

So both adults have that yellow colour around the chest area ?

[@MakeMoreFish]

Both sexes have some yellow color

[@billfutz]

Your videos are so high quality and straight forward, thank you!

[@PICASSO....]

Can I follow u on Instagram?

[@MakeMoreFish]

Of course!