A point in the right direction

[TrophJunkie]

I think I posted this in the wrong place before. So if a mod sees this can you delete the other one, please?

Hello. Recently I've been trying to research as much info about Geophagus and its subspecies as I can. However, I'm not getting too far. Can anyone recommend a good website to me so I can make the best decisions on which one would suit the tank size if any? I just want to do what's best for the fish and don't want to stuff them into a glass box they don't fit in.
Thank you in advance.

 

[Gourami Swami]

Hello, I would say you are on the best website already!
Geophagus come in all sizes, I would say there are some small subspecies which could be kept in as small as a 40 gallon, and some get large enough to require more like a 180 gallon!
What size tank do you have/ how big can you go? I'm sure people here would be happy to help you out with advice.

 

[TrophJunkie]

Hello, I would say you are on the best website already!
Geophagus come in all sizes, I would say there are some small subspecies which could be kept in as small as a 40 gallon, and some get large enough to require more like a 180 gallon!
What size tank do you have/ how big can you go? I'm sure people here would be happy to help you out with advice.

I have a 40 breeder. I've been doing nano fish for a long time. I want to step it up in size and see how with some larger fish personalities without going big big.

 

[Hybridfish7]

I have a 40 breeder. I've been doing nano fish for a long time. I want to step it up in size and see how with some larger fish personalities without going big big.

Not sure if actual geophagus would fit in a 40, but you can try gymnogeophagus, mikrogeophagus, or biotodoma

 

[TrophJunkie]

Not sure if actual geophagus would fit in a 40, but you can try gymnogeophagus, mikrogeophagus, or biotodoma

I was thinking Biotodma or Guanacara. Would you recommend one over the other?

 

[Gourami Swami]

40 gallon I would say is still the smaller end of the scale, would go with mikrogeophagus ideally. Could probably do Biotodoma, or other dwarf cichlids like keyholes, kribensis. Guianacara tend to do well in groups, get a little bigger, and would be better off in a 55-75 imo.

 

[TrophJunkie]

40 gallon I would say is still the smaller end of the scale, would go with mikrogeophagus ideally. Could probably do Biotodoma, or other dwarf cichlids like keyholes, kribensis. Guianacara tend to do well in groups, get a little bigger, and would be better off in a 55-75 imo.

Thanks for the suggestion but I have never had good luck with Rams.
Are there any small mouth-brooding American cichlids?

 

[Hybridfish7]

Thanks for the suggestion but I have never had good luck with Rams.
Are there any small mouth-brooding American cichlids?

Bolivian rams are drastically hardier than the actual ramirezi rams. Gymnogeophagus like terrapurpurra are smaller mouthbrooders that in my opinion would do fine in a 40.

 

[Toiletcar]

IME, m. Ramirezi is pretty hardy. My son’s seem to tolerate a higher ph. Even spawn regularly. Really nice looking little fish. You can’t go wrong w/ them or the Bolivian rams.

 

[duanes]

A 40 breeder might work for a compatible pair of Guianacara temporaril , for a while, but I would consider it a bit small.
To get pairs, I started with 20 juvies in a 75 gal, auctioned of 10, but even with 10 and a few M gypherum got aggressive in that footprint, quickly moved them to a 125, where they spawned.


aove is an interesting chart defining species,

Above a female guarding a spawn in a 125.
Eggs are hard to see, dark green easily blending in with algae, and were placed on the underside of log

the adult above is about 7", too large for the small territory of a 40 breeder,