So I'm reading a little bit about geophagus and gymnogeophagus and it says the gymno's need a 3 month cooling period? Is this the same with geo's? It says they need a cooling period of around 60-66 degrees. Just looking for some info. Thanks guys
Geo cooling period?
- Thread starter specialized002
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geos dont need it. gymnos come from a cooler climate (subtropical) where the water temps can drop. geos come from tropical temperature waters and shouldn't have a cool down. most people with gymnos how do the cool down just keep the tank unheated. mine dropped to 68F this winter
i dont think they'd fair too well in an unheated tank. it'd be best just to heat it even if you have gymnos in it
ok, but they said that it will reduce the gymno life span by some time if they don't get their cooling period
I haven't kept them for long enough to determine for myself the need for or extent of a cool period but if you view the cool period as a time for regeneration, then I consider that Gymnogeophagus still breed at 66º+ in the wild and in captivity, so I think the cool period needs to be lower than that.
This winter my "cool period" was 54-55º for 4-5 weeks, for all the Gymnogeophagus and uruguayan pikes. They don't feed much at those temperatures and aren't very active, but as soon as the temps come up they return to normal very quickly. Right now their tanks are 62-66º, I plan to keep them their until it gets too warm outside to do so.
I wouldn't keep any true Geophagus below 76º.
This winter my "cool period" was 54-55º for 4-5 weeks, for all the Gymnogeophagus and uruguayan pikes. They don't feed much at those temperatures and aren't very active, but as soon as the temps come up they return to normal very quickly. Right now their tanks are 62-66º, I plan to keep them their until it gets too warm outside to do so.
I wouldn't keep any true Geophagus below 76º.
so what are your thoughts on keeping geos with gymnos? I don't plan on breeding them at all, where do gymnos originate from?
When I tried to keep Gymnos with tropical species, they did not thrive.
You could for part of the year, but like Ed and the others I have used temps in the 50s for a cool down with good results. They are from totally different climates than Geos and best treated as such.
You wouldn't live in a house that was too cold for Gymnos! So, unless you have them in an unheated shed or basement that gets verrry cold it would be unusual for them to need much heat.
I agree with cchhcc there is no need for heat in a Gymno tank. They come from southern Brazil south to Uruguay. At times in Uruguay their waters ice over. I keep mine outside from May-October in Milwaukee, and air temps can easily drop into the 40s at night as late as June, my Gymnos spawned in the pond. Here;s a male with fry a couple summers ago.
