Gymnogeophagus balzanii in tropical temps?

[dreamandscheme]

i picked this little guy up yesterday thinking care would be the same as a geo . the sites i seen states temps at 70-78 but after reading a few of the threads here i'm kinda worried the tank was at 80 but i have since lowered it to 78, the tank has a ntt dat so i cant lower it too much. my question is has anyone kept these guys at tropical temps? and is a wintering period necessary if i'm not breeding? thanks

 

[fishticuffs]

Don't worry about it we have a bunch of different Geo's and keep them all around 76-82 depending on the season.

 

[Nemesis]

They can live at regular temps year long, but it may shorten their overall lifespan.

 

[duanes]

I tried to keep balzani and a few other Gymnos in tropical temps and found they were prone to disease and aggressiveness. Although balzani might accept those temps depending on where it originates. Temps in the low 70s and high 60s seem better. Here is a pic on my Gymno sp after a rerst don in the 50s for a few months

 

[blinkmaster]

duanes, what species is that?

 

[dreamandscheme]

during a "wintering period" what temp do u drop it to? can i transfer the fish to seperate tank during this period?

 

[peathenster]

Ken told me it depends on the fish. Wild caught ones yes. Tank bred not so critical.

 

[MonteSS]

I think more important is that they really need a sand substrate.

...Bill

 

[abarilot]

I've had the same experience with my gymnos as Duanes. Before I cooled down my labiatus and nortes their colorations were not all that spectacular, but after leaving them at house temp (got down into low 60s) their spring coloration has been fantastic! If you have the resources (aka tanks and filters) I definitely recommend letting the temp drop during the winter. Btw not sure if you knew this but gymnos can handle a temp swing of the 40s to the 90s in the wild.

 

[duanes]

The species in my pics is Gymnogeophagus sp (gymnogenys) Paso Pache. I keep them in unheated tanks in the basement in winter, water temps as low as 48'F, and I like to put them in a pond in summer, where they have spawned. Night time air temps in June here in Milwaukee, drop into the 40s at times with no ill effect. At this time they are in an unheated tank in my living room, temp around 68.F, housed with Austrraloheros red ceibal that have just spawned.