Gymnogeophagus

[youseshan]

Do all members of the gymnogeophagus require a cool down period or is it just the balzani's? I love the looks of most of the species but I don't want to have to resort to no longer having my tropically to keep one


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[Leptoe]

To be on the safe side I would treat all Geos the same way.

I SO WANT BALZANIS!!!!

 

[youseshan]

Yeah that's the one I'm looking at too but the balzani's are also the ones that I've specifically read about needing that cool down period. Shame...I would have liked to try at least one type of this species!


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[duanes]

Balzani actually need less of a cool down than the others, most of the others come from further south, meaning even cooler winter temps.
I just brought mine in for the winter, night air temps here have been in the low 40s, and my water temp has been less than 50'F by early morning. They look much healthier after the cool down. And I don't use a heater at all inside for the winter.
The photos are of Gymno yerbalito and Australoheros ceibal, I just brought inside last week.

 

[youseshan]

Balzani actually need less of a cool down than the others, most of the others come from further south, meaning even cooler winter temps.
I just brought mine in for the winter, night air temps here have been in the low 40s, and my water temp has been less than 50'F by early morning. They look much healthier after the cool down. And I don't use a heater at all inside for the winter.
The photos are of Gymno yerbalito and Australoheros ceibal, I just brought inside last week.

Wow man they are gorgeous!!! Now let's say I was to get a balzani, what would be a healthy median temp I could keep to make sure he is healthy as well as fish I may want to put with him (tropicals) and for the cool down period how long does that last? Will they give you signs that they are ready for warmth again? Lol and would 60 be cool enough for that? 60 is about the low that my tanks will reach without a heater turned on...


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[dogofwar]

As Duane said, Balzani (particularly the aquarium strain ones) need less of a cool-down than the Gymnogeos (including Balzani) from Uruguay.

I tend to keep most of my new world cichlids at 74-76 throughout the year in my basement fishroom. The Uruguayan fish are on the bottom rack / floor and get down to maybe the mid to low 60s in the winter, which seems fine. Most tropical fish will not appreciate being kept in the low 60s...but Uruguay isn't tropical!

Matt

 

[duanes]

Like Matt said, Uruguay isn't tropical, I tried to keep balzani at a constant temp a number of years ago, and found they really didn't fare very well at all. If you get the Brazilian balzani it may work, but I think a separate temperate tank would be best.
There are plenty of fish that would also do well with them, Buenos Aires tetras, bristlenose plecos and some of the cory cats such as the ones that Matt caught while in Uruguay would also be great. Even rosey barbs would work (also almost temperate), they can easily take 60s.
I have an unheated tank, just for Uruguayans that is one of my favorite tanks.
It has the Gymnos, Ceibals, and Uruguyan pikes.

And another tank for higher altitude Mexican live bearers, juvie Gymnos and bristlenose.

,

 

[youseshan]

Thanks for the info guys I really appreciate. As soon as I can find more room ill work on setting up a separate tank. I really would like to own at least one or two balzani some day! They seem like great fish


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[Allan01230]

Yes they all need that cool down. I tried valentines and Balzani and yerbito and they need cool down. It sucks as I left them at constant temp 74 degrees and lost all of them wothin six months. Afriend of mine threw some in with his goldfish in an outdoor pond and in Michigan it went to almost freezing but an aereator stop the pond from freezing over. It was against the house next to the porch but still got in the high thirties and all the Balzani lived through the winter with the goldies. These guys (gymnos) love cold water.