Armand, thanks for more pics. I've got some balzani in a 300 gallon stock tank with some hyacinth and lilys, so they should feel right at home for the summer. I'd much rather get some serpae tetra for the tank than the buenos aries. Didn't realize so many people went down there. Seems like it'd be a blast. Thanks for everyone's help.
G. balzani biotope question
- Thread starter evojoey
- Start date
Although the dithers help, I find balzani are much more comfortable with lots of cover in the form of sunken logs, floating plants, rocks, etc. When growing mine out in a fairly bare and bright tank, mine were easily spooked.
I have tried Hyacinth, but they do very poorly inside, even next to sunlit windows.
Since I have moved them to a more cover filled tank, the balzani are much more comfortable, and spend more time out front.
Armand's photos seem to suggest I should provide even more cover.
I have tried Hyacinth, but they do very poorly inside, even next to sunlit windows.
Since I have moved them to a more cover filled tank, the balzani are much more comfortable, and spend more time out front.
Armand's photos seem to suggest I should provide even more cover.
I agree! What a great looking tank Duanes!
Those etroplus canarensis look awesome. And the nauchal humps on those balzani are soooo coool.
So what I gather, the more wood and coverage the merrier!
I'd give them some tangles and some open area.
I'm actually surprised more folks don't go to Uruguay. I've been three times and can't wait for my next trip (probably next year)
Matt
I'm actually surprised more folks don't go to Uruguay. I've been three times and can't wait for my next trip (probably next year)
Matt
Most of the others are temporary tankmates just for the summer.
As 6bar mentioned, Etroplus canarensus (India), some young Ptychochromis sp Tarantsy (Madagascar) there is a lone juvie Nimbochromis livingstoni (Africa), some young Australoheros red ceibals (the only geographically correct cichlid tankmate), a juvie Tilapia zillii (old world) and half dozen Uruguayan Corydorus erhardti, all other fish are much smaller than the balzani.
As 6bar mentioned, Etroplus canarensus (India), some young Ptychochromis sp Tarantsy (Madagascar) there is a lone juvie Nimbochromis livingstoni (Africa), some young Australoheros red ceibals (the only geographically correct cichlid tankmate), a juvie Tilapia zillii (old world) and half dozen Uruguayan Corydorus erhardti, all other fish are much smaller than the balzani.
I'm actually surprised more folks don't go to Uruguay. I've been three times and can't wait for my next trip (probably next year)
Matt
I'm surprised too! It's not too expensive and just a blast!!! I've been twice and if I had more tank space I'd try to go again this year
Bella Union has different - more tropical - fish than most of the rest of Uruguay.
Instead of a chanchito (Australoheros), there are actually Cichlasoma (acaras) there (filling the role of mid-sized ominivore). In this case, C. dimerus (picture below). I've never caught a chanchito there. There are lots of fish that I've ever only caught at Bella Union.
What's really interesting is maybe 20-25 km away (south east as I recall), we collected a place called Zanja Honda (see also below) that had a different (golder) acara, a facetum (big, brown) Australoheros and a scitulus Australoheros (smaller, red breasted) chanchito. We found a few Apisto. combrae there a Gymnogeo. gymnogenys (not found in Bella Union). Same/similar Gymno. High Dorsal North, though. No balzanii in Zanja Honda.
Every little pond or stream is a mystery. That's one of the amazing things!
Matt
Instead of a chanchito (Australoheros), there are actually Cichlasoma (acaras) there (filling the role of mid-sized ominivore). In this case, C. dimerus (picture below). I've never caught a chanchito there. There are lots of fish that I've ever only caught at Bella Union.
What's really interesting is maybe 20-25 km away (south east as I recall), we collected a place called Zanja Honda (see also below) that had a different (golder) acara, a facetum (big, brown) Australoheros and a scitulus Australoheros (smaller, red breasted) chanchito. We found a few Apisto. combrae there a Gymnogeo. gymnogenys (not found in Bella Union). Same/similar Gymno. High Dorsal North, though. No balzanii in Zanja Honda.
Every little pond or stream is a mystery. That's one of the amazing things!
Matt
Matt,
Do you think I should remove the hanging branches in my tank and instead make them into tangles or should I just add tangles to the floor and leave the hanging branches?
I love those pics of Zanja Honda!
