Dithers for a Gymnogeophagus (cool water) tank?

[Dan F]

My G. balzanii have been very timid since I moved them out odf my SA community tank into a tank of their own. As winter approaches the tank (in an insulated garage, minimum of about 55 degrees) is getting colder. What kind of dithers will survive temps this low?

Thanks for any advice!

 

[rich_one]

Buenos Aires tetras can handle it, I believe, so long as it doesn't dip too much cooler than that. And while not "dithers", red ceibal centurions would do well in that setup also.

-rich

 

[clgkag]

paleatus cories would also work.

 

[fishfarm]

Stay away from the larger species of Austrsloheros, though A. sp.Red Ceibal should be OK as they stay small, Buenos Aires and Serpa tetras are both native species, there are lots of other tetras you could use, ut doubt you'd find any availalble, The paleatus type cories from Uruguay as well as any Ansistrus from southern locals, I know the Aqua Blancas race has been bred by several folks. Cichlasoma dimerus would work too. Ken

 

[Nemesis]

If your not looking to keep it a strictly SA setup, I've always liked Odessa Barbs...

 

[Dan F]

Buenos Aires tetras can handle it, I believe, so long as it doesn't dip too much cooler than that. And while not "dithers", red ceibal centurions would do well in that setup also.

-rich

I was thinking that they might work, and they are not terribly hard to find. The Red Ceibal would be cool if I could find some locally.

paleatus cories would also work.

Definitely going to get some.

Stay away from the larger species of Austrsloheros, though A. sp.Red Ceibal should be OK as they stay small, Buenos Aires and Serpa tetras are both native species, there are lots of other tetras you could use, ut doubt you'd find any availalble, The paleatus type cories from Uruguay as well as any Ansistrus from southern locals, I know the Aqua Blancas race has been bred by several folks. Cichlasoma dimerus would work too. Ken

Serpae Tetras are another not so hard to find tetra - you say they could be found in the same areas as balzanii? If I went with Serpae Tetras and paleatus coydoras it would be a plausible biotope then?

If your not looking to keep it a strictly SA setup, I've always liked Odessa Barbs...

My wife likes your idea best, so who knows? I actually hadn't thought about barbs, but they are pretty cool-looking and available at The Wet Spot. If I can get the wife to go up there they also have some wild Guianacara Geayi that I have been wanting...

 

[aclockworkorange]

Dan, I believe WS has every species mentioned in this thread.

 

[duanes]

There are some livebearers from northern Mexico of the genus Xenotecia and Zoonotechia (spelling?) that might work, I have tried X eiseni and Z tequilla with Gymnogeophagus rio Yerbalito with good results.

 

[Dan F]

Dan, I believe WS has every species mentioned in this thread.

I wouldn't doubt it! I'm not sure how complete their online stock list is, but they don't have any Australoheros or Buenos Aires Tetras right now (according to their website, at least).

There are some livebearers from northern Mexico of the genus Xenotecia and Zoonotechia (spelling?) that might work, I have tried X eiseni and Z tequilla with Gymnogeophagus rio Yerbalito with good results.

I'll look into these as well, thanks!

 

[abarilot]

Besides the ones listed above I have kept my gymnos with zebra danios, white clouds and harlequin rasboras. Also if you happen upon Cr. minuano they are a great small pike to share a tank with gymnos