Gymnogeophagus balzanii temps?

[David R]

I've decided to keep my balzanii's separate from my other fish in a 3'x18"x18" tank so I can run them at a lower temperature. They've been kept at around 25C for the past 6 months or so, and its coming into summer here so I'm not going to give them a cool period just yet. So, to all those keeping balzanii's, what temperature do you keep them at during "summer", and what do you drop it down to for "winter", and for how long?

I'll try to get pics once they've settled down after having their tank rearranged.

 

[japes]

I'm keeping mine at 22 in Winter and 26 for the rest of the year. Not sure whether that's optimal though, I can't go too low because of their tankmates.

 

[duanes]

Not balzani, but Gymno paso pache, I'm keeping in a tank on the basement floor, at 65'F.
Had them in the pond this spring and summer where they bred. Air temps down to 45'F in spring.

Aggression seems to be tempered by cooler waters.
Just brought the adults and fry in at the end of Sept, pond temp was 60'F

 

[David R]

I've set the thermostat for 24C, and will let it get progressively cooler as winter approaches. I'm planning on keeping them with some sterbai corys, a small royal plec I'm growing out, and a school of some medium sized tetras (unsure which kind, any suggestions?).

They were pretty shy after the rearrange yesterday, but seem a bit more bold today. I'm going to add a few small crypts and dwarf swords to give them a bit more cover.

 

[dogofwar]

I keep my Gymnogeos on the bottom racks in my fishroom...no heaters. Probably 65-ish down there in the winter. They also get filled last (after the hot water has run out) on water change day...

They go nuts with the warmer weather in the spring.

 

[Felipe Cantera]

Hi!
Summer; the normall it's between +23 and +26 (even if we sometimes have collected them at +28/+30!!) and winter between +16 and +19 (even if the temp can go down to only +12 some days)

 

[TwistedPenguin]

Fishbase.org says 71.6-78.8 degrees (22 – 26°C). Here's the link: http://www.fishbase.org/Summary/spe...enusname=Gymnogeophagus&speciesname=balzaniiI checked fishbase for several of my fish awhile back and was surprised at how cool their natural temps really were. I believe Royal Panaques are 74-86 degrees, very broad range. Oscars were 72-78 and I know most people "heard from someone who heard from someone" they're supposed to be at 80 degrees.

 

[Tongue33]

I gave a pair to a buddy.. they bred.. they were about a year and a half old and did the death swirl and that was the end of them... An Angel breeder he knows told him they do not live much over a year and a half if there is no cooling period

I have also read that they go down to as low as 50 F.

I am getting some of the fry from those parents tomorrow and going to see how they fair. I am kinda torn ont he Parents though

 

[David R]

Finally got around to snapping a few pics, they're not great but good enough. There's 5 in the tank (will be 4 in about half an hour when I take the submissive male who is getting picked on) but these two seem to be quite friendly. Fingers crossed the cooler temps help trigger some action!

And back in April when I first got them;