Geo Red Head tapajos

[ethanhunter34]

Hi

I just picked up 4 geo red head tapajos around 4 to 5 inch.. I don’t notice any red in there head.. Does it color up as they mature? At first I thought if these are really tapajos . By looking at other pics they seem like they are. Can anyone confirm they are?

 

[bbortko]

How long have you had them, might just need to settle in and get comfortable.

 

[ethanhunter34]

Got them yesterday.

 

[bbortko]

Give them a week or two, should color up nicely.

 

[stiker]

Yes, they are Geophagus pyrocephalus (formally sp. tapajos).

Give them some time to settle in, the colouration they gain once settled/ older will largely depend on quality of the fish.

This species has been mass produced for the aquarium trade for a long time now and due to this quality is very hit or miss. Especially if you can’t view the parents, or if you didn’t get them from a reputable source who can list the lineage (F0, F1, etc)

 

[neutrino]

They have a tendency to mute their colors on black sand. Grayish bodies, washed out red on their heads, just as these are. I've seen it often. I've seen them get used to it and brighten up after a while, but they may stay a bit more muted than on lighter sand.

 

[duanes]

They have a tendency to mute their colors on black sand. Grayish bodies, washed out red on their heads, just as these are. I've seen it often. I've seen them get used to it and brighten up after a while, but they may stay a bit more muted than on lighter sand.

Agree, although the red tends to show up more as they edge toward maturity, black substrate is not their normal habitat color, so to meet your expectations about natural color, providing a natural scenario is a plus.
Most cichlids are chameleons, and instinctually blend, and adapt to the colors of their surroundings.
Here are some shots I took in S America of the type substrate you might find them in, in nature.

 

[ethanhunter34]

Thanks for the info. I might just put another 20lbs of white sand and remove some black sand