Eartheater HELP!!!!!!

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
I have been keeping eartheaters for some time in community set ups with smaller fish and am struggling to get a relaxed combination going on.

I write this out of frustration as I am currently sitting next to my 100g set up and watching my fish just chase each other around continuously and its driving me mad.

The stock consists of the following mix of eartheaters

Satanoperca Leucosticta x1 at 7inch
Satanoperca Jurupari x1 at 3inch
Geophagus Orangehead Tapajos x2 at 3inch
Geophagus Altifrons x2 at 5inch and 2.5 inch

The problems seem to be between the smaller fish. The small altifrons chases both orangeheads and the jurupari, one orangehead chases the other (bad) and also 'fronts' the bigger altifrons. No one bothers the large Leucousticta. I have a dwarf pike in there also and some corries and tetras to create distractions but nothing is working.

There was a time when this mix of fish got on fine for about a month and now its complete agro!

Any advice?


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At those small sizes, the red heads, the small altifrons and the jurupari should be kept in groups of 4+ of their own species. The issue I believe you're encountering here is competition. You have all four species that are in competition for the same resources and space, so they are attempting to chase the others out. Unfortunately, there is no where for them to go.

Do you have plans to upgrade in the future? If not, I would think your tank is going to be too small for all those fish to live together peacefully.

As a general rule of thumb, earth eaters need groups of 4+ of their own species to feel comfortable and thrive when they are young. Once they hit about 1/2 to 2/3 their ultimate size, you can drop them down to singles or pairs. The red heads are generally a very passive fish (even for a geo) and it will likely end up being bullied by all the other species you have there at adult sizes (take this with a grain of salt since each cichlid has its own personality). The red heads max out at 6-8" depending on gender while the others tend to hit 10-14". Earth eaters can be really hard on one another if kept in too small a group at young sizes. They also can be rough with similar looking species or species that use the same portion of the tank if they are feeling crowded (since you have a 100 gallon, I will assume it is either 4-5' long, so they might be feeling a little cramped).

Having said all this, I would recommend narrowing down your stock. Either drop the smaller fish to keep 2-3 of the larger guys or drop the larger fish and boost the numbers of the smaller guys.

S. leucosticta are hard to come by and since it sounds as if it's not being picked on or doing an of the aggressive behavior, I would keep it along with the large altifrons and maybe the jurupari.


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I dont have the opportunity to get more orangeheads as they are pretty rare where I am from so i think i am going to have to get rid of one of each. (The smaller aggressive altifrons and the trouble maker orangehead) as they are actually the two starting the trouble all the time. The others are suprisingly peaceful to each other including the larger altifrons.

I think that is going to be the first step to decrease aggression.

I have never kept other Geophagines such as Biotodama Wavrini or Guianacara Geayi are they of similar tempremant?

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I dont have the opportunity to get more orangeheads as they are pretty rare where I am from so i think i am going to have to get rid of one of each. (The smaller aggressive altifrons and the trouble maker orangehead) as they are actually the two starting the trouble all the time. The others are suprisingly peaceful to each other including the larger altifrons.

I think that is going to be the first step to decrease aggression.

I have never kept other Geophagines such as Biotodama Wavrini or Guianacara Geayi are they of similar tempremant?

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Either species of Biotodoma are very peaceful. But they stay small (3-4") and would likely hide all the time with such larger tankmates as the Satanoperca and altifrons.

Guianacara are pushy. Not aggressive, just pushy. I have four stergiosi from Rapps that I've had for 6 months or so and I love them. In that time I have seen plenty of chasing, but not a single nipped fin. They are a "dwarf" species that max out at 6". Mine are a solid 3.5-4" (2m/2f) and their growth rate over the last few months has been quite slow. They aren't shy and never have been (even after being added to their 55 gallon home from the shipping bag). And they have never been afraid of larger or more aggressive tankmates (kept with 5" heckelii, 4" Rotkeil sev and aggressive equal size cutteri when they were 2-2.5").


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The Gymno quilero (AKA Rio/Arroyo yerbalito) do best in unheated tanks, and the males look there best after a cool down. I keep mine on the floor of an unheated basement in winter, where the water temps get down in the low 50sF high 40sF.


And I agree with Mythic Figment, my Guianacara are pushy, and don't back down from any threat, but as far as dangerously aggressive, they are not.

 
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