Help me pick my next earth eater group

[Mythic Figment]

So I am torn between getting two different species of fish when I only have space for a group of one of these. I am looking for something I can breed to make a tiny bit of money back on (no I don't believe in making tons of money off this hobby, but I would like to sell some fish just to say I have experience with it).

Next up is a group of four Geophagus argyrostictus from Snookn21 (aka John) here in Florida available now. These seem to be the easiest choice as far as breeding goes.

Lastly is a group of Biotodoma from Wetspot in a few months. I know wavrini have never been bred in captivity, but I know that cupido haven't had much success in breeding.

So if you were me, what would you be more drawn to? They are both close on my wish list.


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[bbortko]

Is breeding your main focus? What size tank and overall vision for this tank. Never kept argyrostictus but had cupdios in the past. They're a fun and friendly little fish, worked good in a semiplanted tank with angels and tetras. The geos woild be a better option if keeping with sevs or acara.

 

[Mythic Figment]

Is breeding your main focus? What size tank and overall vision for this tank. Never kept argyrostictus but had cupdios in the past. They're a fun and friendly little fish, worked good in a semiplanted tank with angels and tetras. The geos woild be a better option if keeping with sevs or acara.

Breeding is a big factor I am considering. If I get the cupido, a group of 6-8 would go into one of my 75s. If I get the geos, I am going to hunt down a 6' tank and have six of them and keep them with two notatus severum and a chocolate cichlid. I would probably syphon off fry into a 20 gallon long once they hit the free swimming stage with the geos, but would give both species a crack at parenting since either species will be wild.


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[jonclark96]

I'd go with the geos.

 

[Evenstarms]

I tend to like more rare/ harder to find fish. I have 5 Argyrostictus that I got from John a year or so ago. I really love them. They have a lot of yellow and blue in them. I would go with them.

 

[Mythic Figment]

I tend to like more rare/ harder to find fish. I have 5 Argyrostictus that I got from John a year or so ago. I really love them. They have a lot of yellow and blue in them. I would go with them.

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They are what I have been leaning towards, but it was recommended to me by a couple people to skip them because they are apparently very aggressive with one another, even to the point of leaving scars one person said.

Yours look pretty big (guessing 4-5"). How do they act for you?


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[Evenstarms]

They are all between 4 1/2 and 5 1/2 inches. They are in a 180 and they act like most other goes I have had. They chase each other around a bit and ignore everyone else. I heard they can be more aggressive but mine don't seem to be. They are my favorite fish along with my satanoperca acuticeps.

 

[Mythic Figment]

Okay, so here is the information I have gathered, plus a choice update. PLEASE give any personal experiences you have with any of these species and/or correct the information I have gathered if necessary.

I have widened the selection to the original four choices I started with:
Retroculus lapidifer
Satanoperca acuticeps
Geophagus argyrostictus
Biotodoma wavrini or cupido

Here is what I have for info:

R. lapidifer:
8-10" Earth eater that does best in groups of 4+, but can be kept alone with some cases of shyness developing in singles. A source reported to me that their lapidifers are aggressive and relentlessly chase each other in a 6'. They did not recommend them for this reason. Would plan to keep 4-5 in a 6' tank.

S. acuticeps:
6-8" Earth eater that does best in groups of 6+ due to reports of aggressive conspecifics. Not recommended to me for aggression reasons. Difficult to breed and raise fry without soft water, which I lack an RO unit. An internet article lists acuticeps and daemons as species that can randomly come down with bloat, followed by a period of decline in health and death after a few days. This reading worries me since there was no cause listed or cure mentioned. Would plan to keep 4-6 in a 6' tank.

G. argyrostictus:
6-7" Earth eater that does best in groups of 6+ due to aggressive conspecifics. A source reported to me that their argys are so aggressive with each other that they leave scars on one another and in rare circumstances, kill one another if not in groups of 8+. Breeding seems to be the easiest among the four species represented here. Would plan to keep 4-6 in a 6' tank.

B. cupido and wavrini:
4-6" Earth eaters that do best in groups of 4+. The most peaceful species represented here. Breeding seems to be difficult without soft water. Would plan to keep 4-6 in a 4' tank.

My biggest question concerns aggression and how aggressive these fish really are? If there is a way I can work around the aggression, I will do it. I just don't want a group of fish that are so aggressive they will just pick each other off and leave me with one.

My other concern is acuticeps and this mention of random bloat related death. How often does this actually occur?


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[Mythic Figment]

They are all between 4 1/2 and 5 1/2 inches. They are in a 180 and they act like most other goes I have had. They chase each other around a bit and ignore everyone else. I heard they can be more aggressive but mine don't seem to be. They are my favorite fish along with my satanoperca acuticeps.

OMG you have half my earth eater wish list! LOL

Read the comment above and give me your feedback on acuticeps if you don't mind.


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[Evenstarms]

I have only had the Acuticeps for 2-3 months but they are growing nicely and are around 3-1/2 to 4 inches now. I have four of them and plan to add at least one more. I am lucky in that I only live about 15 minutes away from the Wet Spot in Portland and they have them right now. I do not see them being overly aggressive towards each other. Occasionally they have a little scuffle but it is always very mild and they get along fine most of the time. I suppose this might change when they get more mature. I love them.