geophagus brasiliensis and sand

[josue25]

do geophagus brasiliensis realy need sand ?

will the die if i dont keep them with out sand

 

[Loves severums]

they don't need sand but if u don't want them to hurt there mouth then you will need sand.

 

[peathenster]

I don't have any experience with them, but I'm under the impression that they are not really sand sifters. Phylogenetically G. brasiliensis and a few other related species (e.g., G. iporangensis, etc; the so-called "G. brasiliensis complex") are actually fairly distantly related to your "normal" Geophagus (e.g., G. altifrons, etc). I don't think they'll get hurt without sand.

 

[Modest_Man]

They're fine without. I used pea gravel and the male dug and dug all day in it for several years no problem...

 

[josue25]

thanks for the input guys

 

[HiImSean]

brasiliensis are not much of sand sifters compared to real geos, you'll be fine

 

[manlyfish]

they don't need it but alot of fish perfer sand

 

[josue25]

i have bare bottom tank with geos and severums but i dont want to have gravel
and was asking if sand with eartheater would i have to vacum the aquarium