Ruby Clown Cichlid is one of the best additions to your tank, and there is no question about it. But what are they like? How can you take care of Ruby Clown in your tank?
These Ruby clown cichlids, also popularly known as Bolivian Ram Cichlids, are colorful freshwater fish. They are very peaceful and are one of the ideal choices for beginners.
You can easily take care of them even if you are new to fish keeping. They are even great addition to the community tank as these cichlids are shy and will not disturb other fish.
But will this information suffice for keeping Ruby Clown Cichlid in your tank? No, it won’t. So, let’s learn what the dos and don’ts for this fish are.
Overview of Ruby Clown Cichlids
| Fact | Information |
| Scientific Name | Mikrogeophagus altispinosus |
| Other Common Names | Bolivian Ram, Bolivian Butterfly Cichlid |
| Native Habitat | Streams and tributaries of the Amazon River basin in South America, especially Bolivia. |
| Size | Males reach up to 3 inches, females up to 2.5 inches. |
| Lifespan | Approximately 4-6 years in captivity. |
| Coloration | Iridescent pink/red on the belly, bright red on the fins, metallic blue/green on the body with black spotted dorsal fin. |
| Temperament | Peaceful, does well in community tanks. |
| Care Difficulty | Easy, suitable for beginners. |
Ruby Clown Cichlids are also widely known as Bolivian Ram cichlids, Butterfly Ram, and Bolivian butterfly Cichlids. Mikrogeophagus altispinosus is another name they carry scientifically.
These ruby clowns belong to the family Cichlidae family keeping themselves among the family of the largest group of freshwater fish.
Before you know how to take care of your fish, you need to know what they are like. Where do ruby clown cichlids originally belong to? What is their water preference?
Distribution And Habitat Of Ruby Clown Cichlid
Ruby Clown Cichlids originally come from the Amazon basin, which is a big area with rivers and forests in South America. You can also find them in rivers and lakes in Brazil.
Their other name, Bolivian Ram, gives a clue about where they’re from. They mainly live in a river called the upper Rio Madeira in Bolivia.
These fish like to live in places where there are lots of plants, like small lakes, streams, and quiet pools. They feel safest when there are hiding spots among the plants and areas where the sunlight isn’t too bright. Because they’re a bit shy, having places to hide helps them feel more comfortable in their home.
Appearance Of Ruby Clown Cichlid
Ruby Clown Cichlids are stunning fish that catch everyone’s eye. They may be small, but they bring big beauty to any tank.
With their oval-shaped bodies, they glide gracefully through the water, showing off their soft fins as they swim. The males have pointy dorsal fins and longer filaments, making them even more striking.
These fish come in a range of colors, from dull brown to grayish-blue, but it’s the touches of orange, yellow, and black that really stand out. Their fins have hints of orange, and their bellies are whitish-yellow.
One of their most striking features is a black spot in the middle of their dorsal fin. This splash of color makes them look even more vibrant.
In your tank, Ruby Clown Cichlids will add a burst of color and liveliness that everyone will enjoy.
Size of Ruby Clown Cichlid
Ruby Clown Cichlids belong to a big family of freshwater fish, with over 2000 types! They’re part of the dwarf cichlid group, which includes other small fish like Rainbow cichlids.
On average, Ruby Clown Cichlids grow to about 3.5 inches long. But there’s a difference between males and females. Males are usually bigger because of their pointy fins and longer filaments. A mature male can reach about 3 inches, while females are smaller, growing only up to 2 inches.
Lifespan Of Ruby Clown Cichlids
In their natural habitat, Ruby Clown Cichlids can live up to 6 years. However, when they’re kept in a fish tank at home, their lifespan is usually shorter. Even though you can give them the best care possible, various factors affect how long they live.
Factors like water quality, diet, tank size, and the overall environment can influence their lifespan. If you provide them with clean water, a balanced diet, enough space to swim around, and a stress-free environment, you can help increase their lifespan.
Despite your efforts, Ruby Clown Cichlids typically live around 4 years in captivity. But with proper care and attention, you can help them live as long and healthy a life as possible.
Temperament Of Ruby Clown Cichlid
Ruby Clown Cichlids are known for their peaceful nature, which means they don’t usually pick fights with other fish. They tend to mind their own business and spend their time exploring their environment or playing amongst themselves.
One of the great things about Ruby Clown Cichlids is that they can easily fit into a community tank. Unlike some other types of cichlids that might be territorial or aggressive, Ruby Clowns are quite tolerant of other fish sharing their space. This makes them a wonderful addition to tanks with various species.
Their calm demeanor also means that they can coexist well with fish that prefer different levels of the tank. While some fish like to swim near the top, Ruby Clown Cichlids typically enjoy the middle to lower areas of the aquarium, giving everyone their own space to swim comfortably.
When you watch them move around the tank, you’ll notice how gracefully they glide through the water, sometimes pausing with elegant strokes. Their peaceful behavior and playful antics can add a delightful touch to any aquarium setting, making them a favorite among hobbyists.
Ruby Clown Cichlid Care
Caring for Ruby Clown Cichlids is essential to ensure they thrive in your aquarium. Providing proper care not only enhances their health and longevity but also contributes to the overall balance and beauty of your tank.
If you miss out on anything they ask for, you may lose your fish even when they are among the hardiest fish.
Ruby Clown Cichlids are hardy and can handle slight fluctuations in the water parameters. But if the change can affect the dynamic of the tank, then it will definitely affect your fish.
You need to be careful while handling fish as they are very sensitive living beings. There are certain water parameters and qualities these cichlids ask for. Make sure you give them all that.
1. Water Parameters For Ruby Clown Cichlid
| Water Parameter | Ideal Range |
| Temperature | 74 to 82 °F |
| pH | 6 to 7.5 |
| General Hardness | 5 to 15 dGH |
Maintaining optimal water conditions is crucial for the well-being of your Ruby Clown Cichlids. These charming fish thrive in environments that closely resemble their natural habitat, making water quality a top priority.
To create a comfortable environment for your Ruby Clown Cichlids, it’s essential to monitor and regulate the temperature, pH level, and water hardness in the aquarium. Maintaining stable conditions is key to their overall health and happiness.
Keep the water temperature between 74 to 82 °F (23 to 28 °C) to mimic the warm, tropical conditions they prefer. Aim for a pH level between 6 to 7.5 and a general hardness (GH) of 5 to 15 dGH. These parameters closely resemble the conditions found in their native slow-moving streams.
2. Water Quality Maintenance For Ruby Clown Cichlid
Ensuring pristine water quality is essential for the health and well-being of your Ruby Clown Cichlids. Regular maintenance is key to keeping the aquarium environment clean and conducive to their thriving.
To maintain optimal water quality, it’s crucial to remove any pollutants that may accumulate in the tank, such as dead plants, leftover fish food, and waste. These pollutants can cloud the water and create a stressful environment for your fish. Additionally, they can lead to harmful ammonia and nitrite levels, which can be detrimental to fish health and even cause fatalities.
Using a reliable filtration system, such as canister or hang-on filters, is instrumental in removing impurities from the water. These filters harbor beneficial bacteria that play a vital role in the aquarium nitrogen cycle. This cycle helps break down harmful ammonia into less toxic compounds like nitrate, ensuring a safer environment for your fish.
3. Perform 25-30% Weekly Water Changes
Regular water changes are essential for maintaining optimal water quality in your aquarium and promoting the health and well-being of your Ruby Clown Cichlids. Aim to replace 25 to 30% of the tank water once a week to remove accumulated toxins like ammonia and nitrate while replenishing essential minerals and nutrients.
Performing water changes helps reduce the risk of water quality issues and ensures a clean and stable environment for your fish. However, it’s important to avoid overdoing it, as sudden changes in water parameters can stress your fish.
To perform a water change effectively, siphon out the desired amount of water from the tank using a gravel vacuum or siphon hose. Replace the removed water with dechlorinated freshwater at a similar temperature to the tank water.
4. Allow Low Water Flow
Opt for air-powered sponge filters, under-gravel filters, or canister filters to maintain a low water flow in your Ruby Clown Cichlid tank. These filtration systems provide gentle water circulation, mimicking the natural slow-moving streams where Ruby Clown Cichlids thrive.
Low water flow helps create a calm and stress-free environment for your fish, allowing them to exhibit their natural behaviors comfortably. By opting for filters that promote low water flow, you can ensure a peaceful and conducive habitat for your Ruby Clown Cichlids to thrive and flourish.
5. Provide Complete Nutrition
Ensuring a varied diet is essential for the health and vitality of your Ruby Clown Cichlids. Alongside offering a diverse selection of vegetables, it’s important to provide a balanced diet that includes high-quality fish flakes, pellets, and occasional live or frozen foods like bloodworms or brine shrimp.
Feed your Ruby Clown Cichlids small portions multiple times a day, only what they can consume within a few minutes to prevent overfeeding and water quality issues. Observing their feeding behavior helps gauge their appetite and adjust feeding amounts accordingly.
Rotate their diet regularly to prevent dietary deficiencies and encourage natural foraging behaviors. Additionally, consider supplementing their diet with homemade gelatin-bound foods incorporating a mixture of vegetables, fruits, and protein sources to enhance nutritional variety.
6. Quarantine The New Fish
Quarantine any new fish in a separate tank before introducing them to your main aquarium. This precautionary measure allows you to monitor their health and behavior closely and prevent the spread of diseases, parasites, or bacteria to your existing fish population.
New fish often carry unseen pathogens that can harm your established tank inhabitants, making quarantine essential to safeguard the health of your aquatic community. During the quarantine period, observe the new arrivals for signs of illness or stress, such as loss of appetite, abnormal behavior, or physical abnormalities.
Once the new fish have been quarantined and deemed healthy and asymptomatic, you can safely introduce them to your main tank, minimizing the risk of disease transmission and promoting the well-being of your entire aquarium ecosystem.
Ruby Clown Cichlid Diet
It is risky to bring live foods into the tank as they can bring parasites and bacteria along with them. Still, you can stick with a few diets that are healthy as well as different.
Meat Items
In the meaty section, you can feed them live or frozen brine shrimps and white or blood worms. You can even feed them finely chopped earthworms.
Flakes and pellets are also the best options for ruby clowns. Pellets tend to sink to the bottom of the tank as flakes don’t sink properly. As your cichlids have a habit of searching and feeding from the bottom, pellets are an ideal option here.
- Tubifex: San Francisco Bay Brand/Sally’s Freeze-Dried Bacteria Free Tubifex – 4 oz.
- Bloodworms: SAN FRANCISCO BAY Brand Freeze Dried Bloodworms 1.75oz
- Mosquito larvae: Exotic Nutrition Bulk Dried Black Soldier Fly Larvae (10 lbs.) – High-Calcium Insect Treat
- Brine shrimp: Omega One Freeze Dried Brine Shrimp, 1.28 oz
Vegetables
Ruby Clown Cichlids benefit from a diverse diet that includes vegetables alongside their staple fish flakes and pellets. Incorporating leafy greens like spinach and kale, as well as vegetables such as zucchini and peas, provides essential nutrients and encourages natural feeding behaviors. Additionally, homemade gelatin-bound foods can offer a balanced mixture of vegetables, fruits, and dried fish food. Adding garlic juice to their diet can stimulate appetite and boost immune health.
Recommended vegetables for Ruby Clown Cichlids include:
- Spinach: Rinse thoroughly and offer fresh or blanched.
- Kale: Wash and remove tough stems, then offer fresh or blanched.
- Zucchini: Wash and slice into thin pieces, offer raw or blanched.
- Peas: Remove from pods and blanch briefly, then offer.
- Romaine lettuce: Rinse leaves and offer fresh, torn into smaller pieces.
- Cucumber: Wash and slice into thin rounds or strips, offer raw.
Frozen or Dried Food
You can soak frozen or dried fish food you have in the garlic juice and feed them to these cichlids.
And now, coming to the size of food. Don’t go big with these cichlids. You should feed them 2-3 pinches of food several times a day rather than large-sized food once a day.
This will help keep your fish healthy and active and clean the tank with no remaining uneaten food.
- Frozen Mysis shrimp: San Francisco Bay Brand Freeze Dried Mysis Shrimp 3.35oz
- Frozen krill: Tetra JumboKrill Freeze-Dried Jumbo Shrimp 14 Ounces, Natural Shrimp Treat For aquarium Fish, red (16200)
- Frozen copepod: Cobalt Aquatics25142Ultra Guppy Nano Bits Floating .6mm 6 oz, Natural
- Frozen dried Blackworms: Aquatic Foods Inc. Blackworms, Loose Freeze Dried California Blackworm 10gram
Get more information on Fish Food 101: A Beginner’s Guide On How To Feed Aquarium Fish.
Tank Setup For Ruby Clown Cichlid
Creating the right environment is crucial for the health and well-being of your Ruby Clown Cichlids. A properly set up tank provides them with the space, water conditions, and habitat features they need to thrive. By setting up the tank correctly, you can mimic their natural habitat, reduce stress, and promote their natural behaviors, ultimately ensuring a safe and comfortable home for your fish to flourish.
1. Selecting the Tank
Opt for a tank with a minimum capacity of 20 gallons for a small group of Ruby Clown Cichlids. A larger tank provides more swimming space and helps maintain water quality.
2. Preparing the Substrate
Rinse the gravel or sand substrate thoroughly to remove any dust or debris before adding it to the tank. Spread the substrate evenly across the bottom of the aquarium.
3. Adding Décor and Plants
Place driftwood, rocks, and artificial plants in the tank to create hiding spots and caves for your Ruby Clown Cichlids. Arrange the décor to provide a natural-looking environment and ensure there are plenty of hiding places.
4. Installing Water Filter
Set up a suitable filtration system, such as a canister filter or sponge filter, to maintain optimal water quality. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for installation and priming.
5. Adding Heater
Install a submersible aquarium heater to maintain a stable water temperature between 74 to 82°F (23 to 28°C), ideal for Ruby Clown Cichlids. Place the heater in an area with good water circulation for even distribution of heat.
6. Setting Up Lightings
Choose LED lights with adjustable settings to provide moderate to low lighting conditions in the tank. Set the lighting to simulate a natural day-night cycle and promote the well-being of your fish.
7. Cycling the Tank
Before adding fish, cycle the tank to establish a stable nitrogen cycle. Add a source of ammonia, such as fish food or ammonia solution, to kickstart the cycling process. Monitor water parameters regularly and perform water tests to ensure ammonia and nitrite levels are within safe limits.
8. Introducing Fish
Once the tank has completed cycling and water parameters are stable, you can gradually introduce your Ruby Clown Cichlids to their new environment. Acclimate them slowly to prevent stress and shock.
Best Tank Mates Ruby Clown Cichlid
These peaceful Ruby clowns make ideal tank mates for most of the other dwarf cichlids as well as other peaceful fish. And as already said, they are ideal for community tanks as well.
The thing that matters the most is the size of the fish as well as the water requirements. If the fish have similar water requirements as these cichlids and are peaceful, they will be ideal tank mates.
Another factor is size. Although these fish are peaceful, they can’t differentiate between fish and food. So, there is a chance that these cichlids will devour smaller fish and shrimps present in the tank.
Larger fish tend to make ruby clown nervous and stressed. These fish are already shy and might be seen as prey by the larger fish.
Here is the list of ideal tank mates for these Ruby Clown Cichlids:
- Neon Tetra
- Pleco
- Tiger Barb
- Gourami
- Swordtail
- Mollies
- Rummy Nose Tetra
- Platies
- Corydoras
- Guppies
- Odessa barbs
Worst Tank Mates For Ruby Clown Cichlid
Predator or aggressive fish will make the worst tank mates for these cichlids. Also, avoid keeping small-sized fish with these cichlids.
Shrimps like Red Cherry Shrimp are very small and can be eaten as food by these cichlids. So, stick to the above-given list and research well before keeping any fish with ruby clowns.
Planted Aquariums for Ruby Clowns
Ruby Clowns appreciate having live plants in the aquarium. It provides shade, refuge and helps replicate their natural environment. Some good beginner plants include:
- Java fern
- Amazon sword plant
- Anubias
- Java moss
- Cryptocorynes
Use root tabs for rooted plants and dose a liquid fertilizer weekly. Provide low to moderate lighting of 2-4 watts per gallon. The plants help absorb waste and keep water conditions clean.
Identifying The Gender Of Ruby Clown Cichlids
The best way to determine the gender of these ruby clown cichlid is to look closely at their tails, head structure, and dorsal fins.
Let’s talk about the tail first. The male species’ tail has filaments extended on both sides, whereas the female has none. The only extension females have in their tail fin.
Now coming to the head structure. You will notice two head structure types: one is more rounded than the other. The fish with a round head structure is female, whereas a slightly less round one is male.
The dorsal fins come in the list of differences next. The male ruby clown has a longer dorsal fin in the 3rd and 4th ray, while the female shows no such prolonged rays.
However, the dorsal fin of the Ruby Clown Female has rays arranged in a progressive slope. Meaning that the middle rays are a bit shorter than the boundary rays maintaining continuous progress.
Moreover, it is easier to distinguish these species during the breeding season. The pinkish patch on the female belly shows up at the time of breeding.
Well, the male doesn’t develop any patch like that, and it will be easier for you to know which one is what.
Breeding Process Of Ruby Clown Cichlids
With all the easy levels while caring for these Ruby Clown Cichlids, there is no way they will give you headaches during the breeding period. They might not be the easiest fish to breed in a home aquarium, but they are very easy to breed, just slightly different than the top 10.
You have to be a little careful and extra caring when these fish are about to breed. There are things you need to do to make sure your fish have everything they need in the tank. You have to set up a fry tank that is applicable for breeding and keeping the fry safe.
Before starting anything, you need to make sure you have male and female paired first. You can’t take two male and female cichlids and wish these two to breed.
You need to get 8-10 juvenile groups of fish and wait for them to partner up on their own. Once they have found their mate, you’ll know because of their togetherness as they mate for life.
Breeding Tank Requirements
Although you can keep them in the same tank while they breed, separating them into a new tank is wise. You need to get an extra tank just for breeding purposes, as the tank mates from the tank can harm the eggs.
They need a large space for breeding purposes, so you need to get and set up a 50-gallons tank. Also, these clowns search and seek shelter as they do in the wild.
You need to keep caves, plants, large snags, and stones where these fish can lay eggs. Likewise, you need to feed them enough frozen food during this period.
The temperature they ask for in the breeding tank is on quite the warm side, i.e., between 77 to 82 °F, as well as the light should be dimly lit. Other requirements are quite similar to their normal tank, so you don’t have to worry about that.
After seeking the areas, they want to lay eggs on, the couple cleans and prepares the area for spawning. Once the area is prepared, the breeding process starts.
Breeding
The female then lays eggs in the various areas they have chosen, and the male will protects the areas where the eggs are kept.
These ruby clowns are open spawners and will lay eggs externally. The male will fertilize the eggs after they are laid.
These females are known to lay 100-200 eggs in the wild. However, captivity decreases the egg count to 100.
After the spawning and fertilization, the couple will protect their eggs till they hatch. These clowns are known for their parental instincts and will guard the eggs.
The male also keeps on fanning the eggs to create water flow and remove the dead ones. The watch is, however, taken over by females, only giving a turn to males during feeding time.
Hatching
After 60 hours of fertilization, the eggs will begin to hatch, and once they are hatched, parents move the fry to another area with the help of their mouth.
Parents are overly protective of these newly-born and will guard them till they mature enough to swim. Fries will take 7 days to swim freely, till then they feed on their yolk sac.
These newborns are quite sensitive to nitrates so you’ll have to change 30% of the water every day. Once they pass a few weeks, they will start feeding on vinegar eels or shrimp naupii.
The parents of Ruby Clown Cichlids will lead their babies while they search for food in the tank. After 2 months, the fry will feed on any standard dry food.
Common Ruby Clown Cichlid Diseases
Ruby clown cichlids are susceptible to few diseases like any other fish. That doesn’t mean they are very sensitive and will develop the disease every time you look away.
There are no such complicated diseases that are common in these cichlids. The disease they get is one of the most common among fish and is easily treatable.
Some of the diseases seen in Ruby Clown Cich are:
1. Ich
Ich is a highly contagious parasite infection that causes small white dots all over fish. It thrives in tanks with poor water conditions. Treat with medications like ich-x, raising water temperature and aquarium salt.
2. Bloating
Overeating, internal parasites or bacterial infections can cause swollen abdomen, loss of appetite and lethargy. Treat with anti-bacterial medications and feed peas.
3. Fin Rot
Bacteria that eats away fins, leaving white fuzzy edges on fins. Cause is poor water quality. Improve tank maintenance and dose antibiotics. Remove carbon filters during treatment.
4. Hole in the Head
Symptoms are white holes forming on the head of the fish. Caused by flagellates. Treat by improving water conditions and food quality, antibiotics.
Causes
- Poor water quality
- Sudden Environment change
- Change in water parameters
- Stress
- Introduction of new fish with infection
Prevention And Cure
- Maintain the ideal water quality all the time.
- Maintain the optimum pH and temperature.
- Change the water frequently with high-quality water.
- Quarantine the new fish before adding it to the tank.
- Ensure the decorations you buy are clean and sanitized.
- Use medications as soon as you see symptoms in your fish.
Frequently Asked Questions(FAQS)
Are Ruby Clown Cichlids Aggressive?
No, Ruby Clown Cichlids are shy but peaceful fish that are even ideal for the community tank.
What Fish Can Live With Ruby Clown Cichlid?
Guppies, platies, dwarf Gouramis, Silver Dollar, emperor tetra, etc. are the few peaceful fish that can happily live with Ruby Clown Cichlid.
Conclusion
The Ruby Clown Cichlid can make a stunning and entertaining addition to a community aquarium. Their bright colors, signature spots and playful behavior really stand out. While they have basic care needs, their hardiness makes them suitable for beginners if provided with good water conditions, proper nutrition and tank mates. Do plenty of research before getting one to ensure you can meet its needs. With the right setup, Ruby Clowns can thrive for years, delighting aquarists with their beauty and activity.
Happy Fish Keeping!
