question about Gymnogeophagus gymnogenys

[andrewgoalie]

Can I put other fish in with Gymnogeophagus gymnogenys
Like other earth eaters or other fish
Please let me know what I can add with my Gymnogeophagus gymnogenys (p.s. I have 2 breeding pairs of Gymnogeophagus gymnogenys) id also liks to have the tank lightly planted
Thanks

 

[dogofwar]

Yes, although the fish you house with them should be relatively peaceful and - unless you want to set up a different tank for them in the winter - capable of handling a winter cool-down to sub-tropical temperatures.

I keep my Uruguayan eartheaters with goodeids, swordtails and mollies and other livebearers and cold-hearty tetras (black tetras, bloodfins, etc.).

You should not keep them at tropical temperatures all year.

Matt

Can I put other fish in with Gymnogeophagus gymnogenys
Like other earth eaters or other fish
Please let me know what I can add with my Gymnogeophagus gymnogenys (p.s. I have 2 breeding pairs of Gymnogeophagus gymnogenys) id also liks to have the tank lightly planted
Thanks

 

[andrewgoalie]

Ok what fish could I keep with mine?

 

[fug202]

Matt answered your question to some extent by indicating what he keeps with his Uruguayan eartheaters (Gymnogeophagus). To add to his list, you could keep others that belong in this genus (e.g., G. labiatus, G. merodionalis etc). In addition to these, I keep a female Geophagus brasiliensis in my Gymno tank, as well as Australoheros sp. 'red ceibal'. The latter may become too aggressive at some point, but for now they are fine - my male G. gymnogenys dominates the tank, and the Australoheros seem disinterested. The brasiliensis digs a lot, so it is not well suited to a planted tank. Salt and Pepper corydoras (C. paleatus) also can tolerate lower winter temps.

Ian

Ok what fish could I keep with mine?

 

[duanes]

Like the others above, I also keep my Gymnogrophagus with Australoheros "red ceibals", the Uruguayan Corydorus erhardti, Xenatoca eiseni, and some Uruguayan Crenicihla pike cichlids. I would not keep them with tropical species of Geophagus, but the more subtropical species of smaller braziliensus group that can handle cooler temps, like iporangensis, yes.

I have heard Buenos Aires tetras work well.


eiseni

Gymno balzani with Corydorus erhardti

 

[fug202]

Here are some of the fish I keep currently in my unheated 125 gallon Gymno tank:

Gymnogeophagus gymnogenys "Quilero"


Gymnogeophagus labiatus "Rio Olimar"


Gymnogeophagus meridionalis


Geophagus brasiliensis (complex)


Australoheros sp "red ceibal'


Chaetostoma formosae (rubberlip pleco)


Corydoras paleatus (salt and pepper cory)


Scleromystax sp (macropterus ?)


Otocinclus vittatus

 

[Words]

Here are some of the fish I keep currently in my unheated 125 gallon Gymno tank:

How do your Brasiliensis handle the cooldown period? What temps do you get down to?

 

[fug202]

How do your Brasiliensis handle the cooldown period? What temps do you get down to?

It's my understanding that G. brasiliensis (which is likely a species complex) has a distribution the extends quite far south, including Uruguay, and thus some populations at least experience cooler temperatures in the winter. There is a thread over on The Cichlid Room Companion (~2011, south american cichlid forum) about it. Anyhow, my tank cools down to the low to mid 60s in winter. My G. brasiliensis handles it without any difficulty, just like the Gymnos.