Gymnogeo Tank!!!

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abarilot

abarilot

Fire Eel
MFK Member
Mar 4, 2009
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By the Beach!
I posted a thread a week or so ago called El Norte Tank and since I've last posted I've altered my scheme a little bit. I'm trying to mimic Northern Uruguaian so temperature will range from the 80s in the summer to 60s in the winter. The tank dimensions are 36"x15.5"x25"tall, I'll have a eheim 2076 for filtration, and lighting has yet to be decided. I'm in the process of setting up the tank and then I have to wait for it to cycle so any convincing suggestions might make me add to it!

Here is the new list for my 60g tank:
5 Gymnogeophagus n. sp. "Sequeira"
5 Gymnogeophagus labiatus (sorry dont know collection location)
6 Corydoras paleatus

I know the tank will eventually be overcrowded but I'd like to get breeding pairs out of them and then sell the remaining ones back to my fish shop. So what are good sex ratios for the gymnogeophagus (1male to 2females, 1 male to 1 female)?

Btw sorry if you've seen this on crc already!
 
G sp sequiera is in the Rhabdotus group and a substarte spawner, they bred in pairs, G. labiatus are mouth brooders with a male holding a territory and breeding with any female that is ready, group spawn them. Put in lots of rockwork to give them places to make separate territories. Ken
 
fishfarm;3087613; said:
G sp sequiera is in the Rhabdotus group and a substarte spawner, they bred in pairs, G. labiatus are mouth brooders with a male holding a territory and breeding with any female that is ready, group spawn them. Put in lots of rockwork to give them places to make separate territories. Ken
Click to expand...

Thanks Ken! So when they all are full grown would you recommend just having 1 pair of the Sequiera and the full group (5) of the labiatus? Or would you do something else? Anyone else with experience can chime in too!!!
 
Depends on how many males you get of the rhabdotus. I try to keep one pair per tank. I also have several tanks of multiple grow-outs...

A group of the labiatus will be good company for the substrate spawner. Sometimes males can fight so I try to keep one male and multiple ladies.

What's interesting (to me at least) is that different varients of gymnogeos have very different personalities in terms of aggressiveness, tolerance toward conspecifics (males, especially), and ability to "hang" with other cichlids.

I'd consider a group of tetras to provide some action and to counter the shyness of the gymnogeos. Buenos aires, serpae, black, even blind cave tetras would work. Medium barbs would work as well but would be less authentic... I also use goodeids.
 
dogofwar;3089156; said:
Depends on how many males you get of the rhabdotus. I try to keep one pair per tank. I also have several tanks of multiple grow-outs...

A group of the labiatus will be good company for the substrate spawner. Sometimes males can fight so I try to keep one male and multiple ladies.

What's interesting (to me at least) is that different varients of gymnogeos have very different personalities in terms of aggressiveness, tolerance toward conspecifics (males, especially), and ability to "hang" with other cichlids.

I'd consider a group of tetras to provide some action and to counter the shyness of the gymnogeos. Buenos aires, serpae, black, even blind cave tetras would work. Medium barbs would work as well but would be less authentic... I also use goodeids.
Click to expand...

Thanks again!!! So as of right now I already have three males of G. sequiera, or at least that is what I believe, so once the tank is set up I'm going to try a find 2 females to put it the tank. As for the G. Labiatus I'm just going to my best in trying to pick 1 male and then 4 females. They are all juveniles right now so its going to be kinda hard to tell who is what sex :( So the stock list will stay the same but once everyone gets older I'm just going to have 1 pair of the sequiera and 4-5 labiatus with 1 male and a couple of females.

As for tetras I didnt know the serpae would work so i might get a small school as well. Its funny cuz my lfs has multiple kinds of gymnogeos, geos, and satanoperca but not that big a variety of tetras.... well i guess they have neons, cardinals, black skirts, and a couple other but no BA tetras and no goodeids.

Well now I have a good idea and I think it is time to start the ball rolling! Last night I bought a huge piece of drift wood and now its time to go buy sand, vinyl, more drift wood, and clean the tank! If anyone has anymore comments let me know and I'll update the tank once it is up and running!
 
I'd go with black tetras vs. neons or other small ones.

Gymnogeos aren't really good hunters but I caught one of my larger male labiatus eating a 1" baby hap...

My local Petsmarts have Buenos Aires tetras so they're not "rare"...maybe your LFS can order a dozen or so for you...

Matt
 
I asked about the BA tetras today cuz I went and bought sand, a heater, and lighting, and they said they get them in every now and then...so I guess we'll see. I'm in no rush cuz tomorrow or saturday Im painting the back black and then the cycling process begins!!! So I still have up to 6 weeks before I could even start to put the fish I want in. But if they dont have BA tetras in I'll try some other lfs cuz San Diego is huge and has to have someone with them...right?
 
This is a bit of the cichlid topic but I have a quick few questions about the BA tetras. Can you cycle a tank with them? I also read that they can munch on plant so have you seen this? Thanks
 
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