Geophagus Red Head

[H1br1an]

I recently bought to Geophagus from my LFS, although there was no sales ticket, they advised that they are Geophagus Redheads although I’m not too sure that they are.

They have also been sold as a male and female pair, although they seem to be living on opposite sides of the tank, with the slightly larger one chasing the other now and again. There is a comparable size difference between the two.

they were both pretty dull in colour when I picked them up, but I was told they would colour up once they are in a better environment, there doesn’t seem to have been much change in colour though, which given the size of them I would of hoped to have seen at least a small amount of colour.

I’ve attached some photos & would appreciate if anyone could shed some light on to what type of geophagus they are. Whilst I have kept many other types of cichlids, it’s my first time having geos!

It was very challenging to get a picture of them both together, but from what the LFS advised, in the last photo, the male is on the left & the female is on the right.

 

[duanes]

https://hosting.photobucket.com/albums/i97/dstuer/geogymno/altifrons%20complex/.highres/054.jpg?width=320&height=320&fit=bounds

https://hosting.photobucket.com/albums/i97/dstuer/geogymno/altifrons%20complex/.highres/004-3.jpg?width=320&height=320&fit=bounds

Hear are a couple shots of young Geophagus pyrocephalus (AKA Geophagus "red head" Tapajos), there are many in the complex, shifting out which are which can be daunting, as the differences can be subtle, one river to another.
They get large, the one below from the same complex, is about 12"

https://hosting.photobucket.com/albums/i97/dstuer/geogymno/altifrons%20complex/.highres/image001-42.jpg?width=320&height=320&fit=bounds

 

[phreeflow]

Can’t say if they’re a pair but those are Tapajos geos. They look small so just give them time to color up

 

[neutrino]

I'd say pyrocephalus (former red head tapajos). Even without much color the striped tails, lower fins, and bars indicate it. Fins in a bit of rough shape and it's a species that tends to darken up or look dull on black sand. While some fish pop on black sand a lot of geo species dull down, fools some people into thinking they didn't get the species they thought they were getting and fools some into guessing the wrong species.

 

[SilverArowanaBoi]

I recently bought to Geophagus from my LFS, although there was no sales ticket, they advised that they are Geophagus Redheads although I’m not too sure that they are.

They have also been sold as a male and female pair, although they seem to be living on opposite sides of the tank, with the slightly larger one chasing the other now and again. There is a comparable size difference between the two.

they were both pretty dull in colour when I picked them up, but I was told they would colour up once they are in a better environment, there doesn’t seem to have been much change in colour though, which given the size of them I would of hoped to have seen at least a small amount of colour.

I’ve attached some photos & would appreciate if anyone could shed some light on to what type of geophagus they are. Whilst I have kept many other types of cichlids, it’s my first time having geos!

It was very challenging to get a picture of them both together, but from what the LFS advised, in the last photo, the male is on the left & the female is on the right.

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To me they look like Geo Redhead Tapajos, just juvenile. I have an adult geo rh tap that looks very similar to those but has a more pronounced color.
This is what they should eventually turn out to look like:

Mine:


Not mine:

 

[Kevin@TUIC]

it is certainly G. pyrocephalus (red head tapajos). Though in rough condition at the moment, it will heal up now that it is in a home tank, provided the 'home team' accepts it. The condition of it is pretty typical of what brad new arrivals look like when shipped from wild SA exporters and definitely from Florida or Asian fish farms when they pack several to a bag for shipping. Though, here at TUIC it would never, ever be made available in that condition. If it was a lfs, they likely just received it shortly before you found it. Keep it warm & well fed and it will grow its tail back and color up in a few weeks.

 

[H1br1an]

Thanks for all your comments & help everyone. They are already colouring up & settling into the tank. They are even getting on well with the Svenis!