Geo altifrons in 90g

[Angela A]

Hi, everyone,
I'm still pretty new to fish keeping and hoping for some input from more experienced keepers. I bought 3 juvenile Geos a few weeks ago, they were labeled surinamensis, but from the research I've done since, I believe they are actually Altifrons, and likely to get bigger than I first realized. I have a 90g tank, and don't have room for a bigger one. Most sources advise keeping a larger group in a larger tank. Is it unreasonable to try keeping just 3 in a 90 longer term? Tankmates are 5 angels, Rummynose, otos, and 3 pearl gourami who will probably be moved. Will they be to crowded even as the only bottom dwellers?

 

[211303]

I haven't kept altifrons before, but I have 6 orange head tapajos, a fish with similar temper, in my 90g tank. These fish are now 4-6inch in length. So far, they occupy their own territories and I even have a few spawns. Altifron doubles the size of tapajos.Whether you can keep alftifron in your tank depends on the tank dimension as they stay at the bottom. A full grown adult may find it hard to turn in a tank 18inch wide. Another thing is that keeping only 3 of them may result in aggression on the weaker fish, especially when they start spawning. They would need to be in a group of <5.

My suggestion is to get some smaller geos instead. If you have to keep the fish, buy some more juveniles and grow them out. Provide enough shelter for every fish and put in some schooling dither fish. Eventually, you would end up with breading pairs. Keep 1-2 pairs according to their actual temperment and sell the remainings.

 

[FluffySackson]

You fool! Don't you know that you're supposed to have at least a 900 gallon to keep such species for life! You evil, evil being! The minimum for a geo altifrons is a 300 gallon with filtered with 200 gallons of bioballs and 10 Eheim 2262s and 10 Fluval FX5/6s! But seriously, I suppose it's ok. Geos are not that aggressive to begin with, I suppose some extra filtration is in your best interests, though.

 

[peathenster]

I haven't kept altifrons before, but I have 6 orange head tapajos, a fish with similar temper, in my 90g tank. These fish are now 4-6inch in length. So far, they occupy their own territories and I even have a few spawns. Altifron doubles the size of tapajos.Whether you can keep alftifron in your tank depends on the tank dimension as they stay at the bottom. A full grown adult may find it hard to turn in a tank 18inch wide. Another thing is that keeping only 3 of them may result in aggression on the weaker fish, especially when they start spawning. They would need to be in a group of <5.

My suggestion is to get some smaller geos instead. If you have to keep the fish, buy some more juveniles and grow them out. Provide enough shelter for every fish and put in some schooling dither fish. Eventually, you would end up with breading pairs. Keep 1-2 pairs according to their actual temperment and sell the remainings.

Well said. I've kept and bred G. altifrons before. They really get too big for a 48x18 footprint.