Do geo grow-outs need sand?

[Mount_Prion]

Normally I do my grow-outs barebottom, but for growing some geos would you guys put sand?

Even if they don't need it to grow up, I'm sort of concerned that if they're raised without sand when I eventually put them into the sand bottom tank at a larger size, they'll have grown up without it and not really know to sift it. Or is that an irrational concern?

Thanks!

 

[doyboy]

I've kept my geos in a barebottom tank for the last 6-7 months until they was big enough to put in the main tank, the geos went in last week and the first thing they did was shift the sand and they havnt stopped since lol, felt bad not given them sandfor the last 6 months but it was simply a grow out tank so barebottom is a lot easier to keep clean.

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[joe jaskot]

I've kept my growouts in a bare tank also. Will have no effect on them as adults.

 

[Cichlaholics Anonymous]

No sand is fine as the others said..did so with my geo. steindachneri back in the day with no issues

 

[Decker504]

Some say they NEED sand, I've done it w/ sand and w/ gravel, but I converted the majority of my tanks to sand when we moved recently. The thought is gravel will damage their mouth when they sift, but I have a friend that breeds rare geos and he NEVER uses sand and has to many pairs and fry to talk about w/ NO ill effect.

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[darth pike]

You can always use a shallow potting saucer full of sand to let them do what they have evolved to do, but keep most of the tank bottom bare for ease of cleaning. Better than going all bare. It's what a lot of the pros do in say quarantine tanks.

 

[davey_c]

my geo's are in a grow out tank with gravel, not realy ideal as stated because the gravel can get caught in their gills while sifting but so far so good. i liked having them in sand previously because i loved watching them sift through it but bare bottom is no problem either. makes for easier cleaning with nothing left behind. i just prefer to use substrate and gravel for the extra bacteria so its realy personal preferance

 

[ryansmith83]

In my grow out tanks I used a few handfuls of sand. It's enough to barely cover the glass bottom. It's easy to vacuum and move around but it still allows them to pick it up and sift.