I have kept many Geophagines when in Milwaukee, but found the soft water varieties tended to get hole in the head as time went on because of the semi-hard water (general hardness 250ppm, pH 7.8, calcium alkalinity 100ppm).
I found the Geophagines best suited for my water were the steindachneri (red hump)clade from west of the Andes, and Central America (hard water types) or the Gymnogeophagines from southern S America, also used to hard more alkaline waters.
The red humps might find a 75 gal too small, they are very aggressive.
The Gymnogeophagines would do much better in a small tank like that.
Gymno quilero
below Gymno sp Paso Pache
I found the Geophagines best suited for my water were the steindachneri (red hump)clade from west of the Andes, and Central America (hard water types) or the Gymnogeophagines from southern S America, also used to hard more alkaline waters.
The red humps might find a 75 gal too small, they are very aggressive.
The Gymnogeophagines would do much better in a small tank like that.
Gymno quilero
below Gymno sp Paso Pache
I've been interested in getting a group Gymnogeophagines. What tankmates did you put in with them? i hear they need an overwintering "cool down" period and websites always advise getting fish that can withstand the lower temps and are from a similar region... but (frustratingly) they never give any examples!
Dont mean to hijack the thread or anything...
Dont mean to hijack the thread or anything...
For the above mentioned species it is usually best to keep 1 male with 3 or 4 females.
For soft water varieties in hard water, the addition of tannins seems to ward of some of the bacterial problems, as long as water changes are kept up.
IMO all Geophagines need to be kept in top quality water, with very low nitrates to be healthy, so frequent water changes are just a normal part of keeping them.
For soft water varieties in hard water, the addition of tannins seems to ward of some of the bacterial problems, as long as water changes are kept up.
IMO all Geophagines need to be kept in top quality water, with very low nitrates to be healthy, so frequent water changes are just a normal part of keeping them.
some other Uruguayan species that worked well with my Gymnos,(above Australoheros sp red ceibal, and a Uruguayan Crenicichla saxitillus pike cichlid)
I also used Uruguayan cory cats, and Buenos Aires tetras are also endemic to the more temperate waters.
Yes I didn't use heaters at all in my Gymno tanks at all, room temp was fine,
I allowed my house to get down on the 60sF (high 50sF at night) in winter and this did well as a cool down.
Agree about water quality, and water changes, but ..... IME, OH Tapajos are not often prone to HITH, and I have seen them kept here in hard water with pH 8.0 without issue. Large adult fish. Weidner also states; "A hardness up to 20 dGH and alkaline water (up to pH 8.0) will not prevent G. sp. Tapajos Orange Head from breeding successfully, and this species does no seem to be particularly susceptible to the skin lesions that commonly occur in Geophagus in harder water."
For a 75 gallon I would buy a group of juvies, let them pair off then keep one pair & rehome the rest.
For a 75 gallon I would buy a group of juvies, let them pair off then keep one pair & rehome the rest.
