Geophagus Steindachneri

[MFM]

I just have a few questions on how to keep these and whether they are hard to breed or not?

I was wondering is they can live in a tank with a pea gravel substrate?

Is there anything special to do to get them to pair up?

I might order 2 small pairs and raise them together and try to get a pair....LMK what you think and please give your opinions and suggestions.

Thanks

 

[bbortko]

Never kept them but when my jarapari was small he would suck on pea gravel and spit it out instead of filtering it through his gills like he does now that he has sand so I don't imagine the substrate to be a problem

 

[Aasikki]

Hi there!!

G. steindachneri would love to have as fine and round sand as possible. They do, like all the eartheaters, search food from sand by filtering it in their mouth.
Sometimes males are so eager that instead of keeping a pair would be good to keep a harem, 2 or even 3 females for one male. I don't know how is the water in your country, but in here, in the middle of nowhere they are quite easy to breed, nothing special activities is needed. Normally just new water, high-nutrition food and 2 grades warmer water makes them spawning... pH range: 6.5 to 7.0; dH range of 5.0 to 15.0... I've got them to breed in pH 6.8 dH around 10, +28C... But i think it does not matter, i've heared that's so easy for them anyway.

 

[MFM]

Never kept them but when my jarapari was small he would suck on pea gravel and spit it out instead of filtering it through his gills like he does now that he has sand so I don't imagine the substrate to be a problem

Thanks, I will just stick with the gravel...

Hi there!!

G. steindachneri would love to have as fine and round sand as possible. They do, like all the eartheaters, search food from sand by filtering it in their mouth.
Sometimes males are so eager that instead of keeping a pair would be good to keep a harem, 2 or even 3 females for one male. I don't know how is the water in your country, but in here, in the middle of nowhere they are quite easy to breed, nothing special activities is needed. Normally just new water, high-nutrition food and 2 grades warmer water makes them spawning... pH range: 6.5 to 7.0; dH range of 5.0 to 15.0... I've got them to breed in pH 6.8 dH around 10, +28C... But i think it does not matter, i've heared that's so easy for them anyway.

Thanks for the advice, I am sure they will be able to breed then. It sounds like they are as easy as severums to breed. Maybe I will get one male and a few females.

What size should they breed at? I would get them around 3 inches or so...

BTW, I am in the USA

 

[Sarah88]

geos need sand, i definitely wouldn't recommend them on gravel at all, and yeah they are "schooling" fish and need large groups to be happy not just 1 or 2

 

[unkle_billy]

steinies are awesome and one of the easiest fish to breed out there. just be careful about what other fish you keep them with as they are feisty

 

[JK47]

This species in particular need to be kept in groups with multiple females to each male. They need to spread the aggression around conspecifically or the male will constantly harrass the female/compete in low numbers. As indicated above sand is a requirement. The gravel can damage the gill rakes geos have for sifting sand through their gills. Get a group, load up on sand and you won't regret it. I keep sand in non geo tanks as well because its so much easier than sand.

 

[Nemesis]

Hi there!!

G. steindachneri would love to have as fine and round sand as possible. They do, like all the eartheaters, search food from sand by filtering it in their mouth.
Sometimes males are so eager that instead of keeping a pair would be good to keep a harem, 2 or even 3 females for one male. I don't know how is the water in your country, but in here, in the middle of nowhere they are quite easy to breed, nothing special activities is needed. Normally just new water, high-nutrition food and 2 grades warmer water makes them spawning... pH range: 6.5 to 7.0; dH range of 5.0 to 15.0... I've got them to breed in pH 6.8 dH around 10, +28C... But i think it does not matter, i've heared that's so easy for them anyway.

This species in particular need to be kept in groups with multiple females to each male. They need to spread the aggression around conspecifically or the male will constantly harrass the female/compete in low numbers. As indicated above sand is a requirement. The gravel can damage the gill rakes geos have for sifting sand through their gills. Get a group, load up on sand and you won't regret it. I keep sand in non geo tanks as well because its so much easier than sand.

I agree with both these statements. And the good thing about having multiple females to one male, is that it's not uncommon for the male to spawn with multiple females at the same time

 

[MFM]

Well...I dont think I can switch to sand right now, so maybe I will wait or put them in the 30.

 

[Sarah88]

y not? i mean its a lot of work but you can get pool filter sand for cheap and as long as you rinse it well it works great, its what i use in all my tanks since i converted from gravel and i love it, dont think i would ever go back to gravel, i understand though, when i switched my 120 to sand it was frikin back breaking stuff and would definitely take some inspiration for me to get motivated to do something like that again haha