Gymnogeophagus Tankmates

[JK47]

It's been a while since i have been in the cichlid scene. I recently picked up a pair of Gymnogeophagus gymnogenys 'Yerbalito' and am curious on good options for tank mates that can handle the cool down period or other good options as tankmates? For now its x8 Corydoras panda.

What are you guys keeping with your gymno's?

 

[bradleyagregg]

I kept Buenos Aires tetras when I had some Gymnos. They can handle the cool water. There are a few others but the Buenos Aires are cheap, easily had, active, and quite nice looking. If you go outside of South American species there are lots of other options.

 

[duanes]

I have used other Uruguayan cichlids, such as Australoheros sp, and Uruguayan pike cichlids.
Uruguayan corys like C erhardti, and many of the high altitude Mexican live bearers such as Xenatoca eiseni.

 

[koltsixx]

Sorry no experience with Gymno's but I can suggest some fish that can tolerate cool down periods. Many tetras, danios and barbs can tolerate fairly cool water. Leopard Danios and Rosy Barbs would make for an attractive display imho with your Gymnogenys. The Danios sticking more to the top and the Rosys staying mid with the Gymnogenys should create a nice level of activity at all water levels and I think color wise would make a nice display. I have to ask where do you get your gymno's? The only gymno's I find are balzanii and always fairly small sized and I'm dying to get my hands on some Labiatus of any size but never seem to be able to source them.

 

[duanes]

Here's the Gymnogeophagus part of the available list at Wet Spot tropical fish
Gymnogeophagus
balzani 1.5-2" $6.00 6 for $30.00
Gymnogeophagus sp. "Blue Neon" 1.5-2" $7.00
Gymnogeophagus sp. "El Norte" 1.5-2" $7.00
Gymnogeophagus sp. "El Norte" 3" $15.00 1 ONLY
Gymnogeophagus gymnogenys "Yerbalito" 1.5" $8.00 6 for $42.00
Gymnogeophagus labiatus "Rio Olimar" 1.5" $7.00
Gymnogeophagus meridionalis 1.5" $7.00
Gymnogeophagus tiraparae "Rio Yi" 2" $8.00 6 for $42.00
Gymnogeophagus tiraparae "Rio Yi" 3" $30.00 1 PAIR

 

[koltsixx]

Here's the Gymnogeophagus part of the available list at Wet Spot tropical fish
Gymnogeophagus
balzani 1.5-2" $6.00 6 for $30.00
Gymnogeophagus sp. "Blue Neon" 1.5-2" $7.00
Gymnogeophagus sp. "El Norte" 1.5-2" $7.00
Gymnogeophagus sp. "El Norte" 3" $15.00 1 ONLY
Gymnogeophagus gymnogenys "Yerbalito" 1.5" $8.00 6 for $42.00
Gymnogeophagus labiatus "Rio Olimar" 1.5" $7.00
Gymnogeophagus meridionalis 1.5" $7.00
Gymnogeophagus tiraparae "Rio Yi" 2" $8.00 6 for $42.00
Gymnogeophagus tiraparae "Rio Yi" 3" $30.00 1 PAIR

Thank you duanes I really appreciate the info. Funny thing is I used to check Wet Spot's lists from time to time but it's been a long while since I have and it was before I started becoming interested in Gymno's. I used to check his list looking for rare cats like Belodontichthys truncatus and Dinema. It's very cool that they have gymno's because I was worried about not being able to find them since most of the sources I usually get my fish from never or barely ever have them on their lists.

 

[JK47]

I have used other Uruguayan cichlids, such as Australoheros sp, and Uruguayan pike cichlids.
Uruguayan corys like C erhardti, and many of the high altitude Mexican live bearers such as Xenatoca eiseni.

Thank youbfor the suggestion Duanes! (As well as the others). Question on the crenicichla. Are there any Uruguayan creni's that are considered dwarf/can handle the cool down? I have only kept large Crenicichla species and have been exclusively rays for so long I am back to rookie cichlid keeper mode

 

[JK47]

Here's the Gymnogeophagus part of the available list at Wet Spot tropical fish
Gymnogeophagus
balzani 1.5-2" $6.00 6 for $30.00
Gymnogeophagus sp. "Blue Neon" 1.5-2" $7.00
Gymnogeophagus sp. "El Norte" 1.5-2" $7.00
Gymnogeophagus sp. "El Norte" 3" $15.00 1 ONLY
Gymnogeophagus gymnogenys "Yerbalito" 1.5" $8.00 6 for $42.00
Gymnogeophagus labiatus "Rio Olimar" 1.5" $7.00
Gymnogeophagus meridionalis 1.5" $7.00
Gymnogeophagus tiraparae "Rio Yi" 2" $8.00 6 for $42.00
Gymnogeophagus tiraparae "Rio Yi" 3" $30.00 1 PAIR

^ this is correct and where I got them. Nice thing aboit living 20 minutes away from a The Wet Spot.

 

[duanes]

Any of the Uruguayan location Crenicichla should be able to handle somewhat of a cool down.
The saxatillis I had, topped out around 7" over a couple years, and spent winters in a kiddy pool in my unheated basement, with other Uruguayan cichlids, where temps dropped to about 50'F. Growth seems to slow to a crawl during the cool down.
If you look up some of fishfarm's (Ken Davis) travel threads to Uruguay here on MFK, you can see photos of many of the Crenicichla he has caught, mine were wild, and came from him.

 

[JK47]

Any of the Uruguayan location Crenicichla should be able to handle somewhat of a cool down.
The saxatillis I had, topped out around 7" over a couple years, and spent winters in a kiddy pool in my unheated basement, with other Uruguayan cichlids, where temps dropped to about 50'F. Growth seems to slow to a crawl during the cool down.
If you look up some of fishfarm's (Ken Davis) travel threads to Uruguay here on MFK, you can see photos of many of the Crenicichla he has caught, mine were wild, and came from him.

Awesome, thank you sir