Gymnogeophagus cool down question

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abarilot said:
I'd let them settle in for a day or two before you feed them. I feed bloodworms to get my WC gymnos to eat. Let see some pics once they settle in :D
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I have dropped a few NLS pellets in the tank and those have disappeared, so they seem to be eating, they just don't like to do it while I'm watching. LOL

I will definitely get some pics up in a few days once they color up.


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I my experience i have had GG Balzanii and they require cooling periods as well, from what i notice their growth rate was pretty slow when constantly maintained at 80 degrees plus and very dormant but when you unplug the heater and let the tank cool down they become more active...never really kept them long enough to observe them.

I recently acquired 4 GG Sp. El Norte and they have been in a steady 80 degree water temp and seem to be doing fine, its only because i dont have space and also have 9 WC Angels in the same tank...lets see how it goes
 
Goodeids and other livebearers work great...as well as tetras like Buenos Aires and Black that can take cooler temps. White clouds and danios as well, when the Geos are smaller.

Red tail goodeids (Xentoreca eiseni) are some of my favorites..and are happy down to the 50s!

Matt
 
dogofwar said:
Goodeids and other livebearers work great...as well as tetras like Buenos Aires and Black that can take cooler temps. White clouds and danios as well, when the Geos are smaller.

Red tail goodeids (Xentoreca eiseni) are some of my favorites..and are happy down to the 50s!

Matt
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Sweet. Thanks for the help, Matt.

So I am having trouble pulling up much (any) info on the Norte species. I have no idea if the little bit I have been able to acquire is even accurate. Here is what I have so far:

- from the northern parts of Uruguay
- don't like the mid 50s to low 60s cool down like species of the southern parts of Uruguay (unsure of temp to keep them at)
- can possibly reach 5-6"
- substrate spawners
- are aggressive when compared with other Gymnos


That is literally all I know about them. LOL Please feel free to correct any of the info above if its wrong and I would absolutely love to learn more about these guys and their care needs. At the moment they seem to be taking the NLS pellets I offer (I assume because they won't eat in front of me and when I come back an hour or two later, the pellets are gone). The tank is unheated and sitting in the low 70s and high 60s for now, but it's not exactly cold here in Florida. LOL


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I believe that what is sold as G. Norte is actually what Felipe calls Gymnogeophagus n. sp. "Sequeira" (http://www.aqvaterra.com/cichlids_gymnogeophagus_n_sp_sequeira.php)

They're from North Central Uruguay east of Salto.

They are substrate spawners. I would definitely cool them down in the winter - Salto gets down to the 30s in the winter...It's 102 there today. These are really adaptable fish. They just need a time of cooler temps.

5-6" is a big one but possible, eventually, for a male...but years.

I've kept and bred a group of Norte (Sequeira) in 2'x2'x1' (30g) tanks as well as 36" 30g tanks. Less aggressive than moutbrooding Gymnogeos...and way less aggressive than say convicts and Central Americans.

They'll be just fine how you're keeping them. Some dithers will make them less shy. So will time to settle in! I've had some Gymnogeos who were really sociable and beggers. Others have been shy. They're never going to be glass bangers, though!

Enjoy them!

Matt
 
dogofwar said:
I believe that what is sold as G. Norte is actually what Felipe calls Gymnogeophagus n. sp. "Sequeira" (http://www.aqvaterra.com/cichlids_gymnogeophagus_n_sp_sequeira.php)

They're from North Central Uruguay east of Salto.

They are substrate spawners. I would definitely cool them down in the winter - Salto gets down to the 30s in the winter...It's 102 there today. These are really adaptable fish. They just need a time of cooler temps.

5-6" is a big one but possible, eventually, for a male...but years.

I've kept and bred a group of Norte (Sequeira) in 2'x2'x1' (30g) tanks as well as 36" 30g tanks. Less aggressive than moutbrooding Gymnogeos...and way less aggressive than say convicts and Central Americans.

They'll be just fine how you're keeping them. Some dithers will make them less shy. So will time to settle in! I've had some Gymnogeos who were really sociable and beggers. Others have been shy. They're never going to be glass bangers, though!

Enjoy them!

Matt
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Thanks a bunch for all the info. The four I have are only 2-2.5" and I have them in a 40 for now. I am definitely excited to grow them out and see them color up. :) I will get some dithers for them as well and hopefully they will come out a little bit. :)


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Agree with Matt about the high elevation dithers. I use Xenatoca eiseni with Gymno balzani and quilero in unheated tanks all year round, have also used Z tequilla, and even rosy barbs (they can take low temps, and are found north into China) or goldfish. There are also cool water corys from Uruguay C erhardti.


 
duanes said:
Agree with Matt about the high elevation dithers. I use Xenatoca eiseni with Gymno balzani and quilero in unheated tanks all year round, have also used Z tequilla, and even rosy barbs (they can take low temps, and are found north into China) or goldfish. There are also cool water corys from Uruguay C erhardti.


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I have called around and can't find any Xenatoca species.

I may stick with something a little more common since they are easier to find. So I understand that serpae and Columbia tetras will work as well as rosy barbs and most livebearers. What from this list is going to be most common to their natural environment (water parameters)?

I have heard panda cories are a good bottom dweller to keep with them. Any other relatively easy to obtain cory? Or maybe a small catfish (don't like plecos)?


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Salt and pepper (C. paleatus) are a good and authentic choice for bottom-dwellers...and widely available.

It's hard to find goodeids at LFS. I'd bet that you can get some on Aquabid or from a fish club.

Rosy barbs are a great choice - hadn't thought about them! Uruguayan tetras aren't available in the hobby. Closest is Buenos Aires. Others than can withstand cooler temps can work as well.

Matt
 
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