Tank mates for geophagus red head tapajos

[Prakash 1902]

What are the dimensions of your tank?
It partly depends on this. Everything isn't about gallons-- real estate (in terms of tank bottom area) makes a difference and this should be a question before giving hard advice.

A number of geo species do just fine as male/female pairs in a tank-- if they're not too cramped. It can also help if they're not alone in the tank. It's possible for two males or two females to work, though it's true they'll tend to fuss with each other, all the more so if their isn't a larger, more dominant fish in the tank for them to worry about.

I'll say this-- on occasion what I see in tank size discussions in groups with international members is we have the luxury of comparatively less expensive tanks, equipment, fish, and sometimes more space to fit them in our houses in some countries than others. In effect we become spoiled and trained to see tank size a certain way, without understanding that in some places they're very adept at successfully fitting communities of fish in tanks some of us would deem to be too small. Like it or not, this is a fact of life.

That said, 41 gals is on the small side and may or may not work for what you're trying to do. Red head geos vary in adult size, some might max at 6 inches, but they can get larger. So, again, not a hard answer, depending on this and your tank dimensions. Depending on tank dimensions a pair of red heads may not work or you may be limited to adding some tetras or something similar, maybe a small pleco or catfish, or you may get away with a couple of smaller growing angelfish, or even a small growing cichlid or two.

My tank dimensions are height: 91cm, breath: 40cms and width: 40cms .. I have a pair of geo red head mid sized male is slightly matured than the female. Since the male is dominating I wanted to check if I could add another pair of geos to the tank.

 

[Prakash 1902]

Pics for your reference

 

[..puSkar..]

Set up is too sparse. I'd add some plants (fake/real) , driftwood and river rock to give it a realistic appeal. Then add in 6 or a dozen high bodied tetras to finish the stock. Such empty tank might stress out the cichlids.

 

[neutrino]

Pretty tight quarters, then, with those dimensions-- if I understand it by looking at the photo it's essentially close to 36" (90 cm) in length from end to end? Too small to add more geos. If it was a longer tank end to end and not as tall you might have a little flexibility to add something else (not another geo pair), but in there I'd stick with some tetras, a couple of small corys or a small growing pleco, maybe.

 

[jjohnwm]

I agree that tank footprint is an important element, but this is more important in larger tanks, which can be longer and wider by sacrificing some height. A 40-gallon tank can only give you so much area before decreasing height becomes a problem

That said, the dimensions you describe are about the worst imaginable way to arrange 40 gallons of water while trying to maximize the number of fish you keep. But looking at the photo shows that something is amiss, as you state a height more than twice the length or width, while the photo clearly shows that is not the case.

If your fish are truly a mated pair and not simply two fish forced into close quarters, I think you would do well to call yourself lucky and forget about adding anything else at all into that tank.

 

[..puSkar..]

I agree that tank footprint is an important element, but this is more important in larger tanks, which can be longer and wider by sacrificing some height. A 40-gallon tank can only give you so much area before decreasing height becomes a problem

That said, the dimensions you describe are about the worst imaginable way to arrange 40 gallons of water while trying to maximize the number of fish you keep. But looking at the photo shows that something is amiss, as you state a height more than twice the length or width, while the photo clearly shows that is not the case.

If your fish are truly a mated pair and not simply two fish forced into close quarters, I think you would do well to call yourself lucky and forget about adding anything else at all into that tank.

I think there's some confusion with the tank dimension. I think it's a 36*18*18 or a 36*16*16 tank, cause it's one of the most commonly seen tank sizes here in India.

 

[xenacanth9]

Set up is too sparse. I'd add some plants (fake/real) , driftwood and river rock to give it a realistic appeal. Then add in 6 or a dozen high bodied tetras to finish the stock. Such empty tank might stress out the cichlids.

+1

 

[neutrino]

I think there's some confusion with the tank dimension. I think it's a 36*18*18 or a 36*16*16 tank, cause it's one of the most commonly seen tank sizes here in India.

+1, at least that's what my eyes told me on how to line up the numbers, it doesn't look twice as tall as it is long...