Input for Geophagus Sveni

[shiver905]

I'm in the process of setting up a 6 foot 125g.

I'm looking to get some input from **LONGTERM geo keepers. (Sveni)

Give me some tips or some things I need to know for them.

Some decisions I'm currently making-
Canister filter such as 1x fx6
Or 2 massive sponge filters. -(Yes i had a canister leaks in the past)+ power head

Black sand or pool filter sand- black for color pop.

Thoughts on my nitrate control process-
Nitrate control will be done Via water changes- Id like to do 1x month 25% water change direct from tap + Conditioner added directly to tank.
Nitrate control will be large number of house growing from the surface of the water.

Stocking- 5-7 Juvenile svenis
- 10 Corydoras
- 1 Apisto Mcmasteri

I'm open to suggestions- Not looking for large fish to add bioload.

 

[duanes]

I have kept about a dozen species of Geophagus over the years, although, sveni is not one of them.
The closest to sveni I´ve kept is G altifrons.(below)

To me a once per moth 25% water change, would seem quite paltry.
I base water changes on the build up of nitrate concentration in the tank, and for me that means if nitrates hit minimum 5 ppm, its time for a water change, no mater if the concentration hits 5 ppm in 5 days or 2.
Geos normally come from waters where nitrates are non-detectable.
Where I have been collecting G crassiblabris lately, in Panamanian rivers below, I test for nitrates in each locarion

The flow rates in these rovers is fairly strong, so I use a 1500 gph pump to create similar rheophyllic conditions.

 

[bkfamus]

I've kept wild caught G. sveni from grow outs to adults.. started in a 180 w/ 2 FX6s, no additional aeration, 75-80% WC every 4-5 days. Eventually moved them to a 210 w/ Sump w/ I think 1500 GPH pump, w/ no additional aeration same WC schedule. Nitrates never go above 5 PPM.

IMO they're compatible w/ non territorial cichlids (like P. scalare, B. cupido or B. wavrini, C. maronii and Apistogramma), and of course tetras and plecos / whiptails.

Juvies:

Adults:

 

[Toby_H]

I've started groups of Sveni twice in the last few years. Each time started with 6+ small fish in a mature tank. Each time I experienced severe die off within the group. While there was the potential for "mini cycling" as BB colonies adjusted to the new stocking, any ammonia/nitrite spikes should have been quite limited. I cautiously drip acclimated them over hours both times.
I have 3 left.

Based on my limited experience and ample reading, they seem much more delicate than the CA Cichlids I'm more accustom to keeping. Even more so even than Geo Tapajos.

Nearly all natural streams, rivers & ponds have 0 nitrates, but I don't believe that necessarily sets the required standard we need to aim for.

I also use Pothos and other house plants spilling into aquariums. They (Pothos more than most others I've tried) work quite well for Nitrate & Phosphate control. That said, water changes do more than just remove Nitrate, Phosphate and other pollutants plants consume. As much as I want plants to remove the need for more frequent water changes, they don't.

I hope you have better luck than I Have. Sveni are darn beautiful fish. My misadventures with them have resulted in me deciding to do Tapajos (again) next time. They're not as pretty, but the extra hardiness makes it a fair trade off for me.

 

[LBDave]

I've only recently kept one sveni for a few months with SD's and Congo Tetras. He is thriving. My water is very hard. PH 8.1+.
So far so good. I've had difficulties with multiple geos in the past (pecking order) and have had much better success when there is just 1.

 

[duanes]

Since the Rio Tacantins (where svenii is endemic) varies from a pH at the low end of 6 in the rainy season, to high of only 7.2 in the dry season, it´s no surprise that that a pH of 8, might create stress due to osmotic pressure.
And the bacteria that inhabit hard, higher pH water could have a significant effect on its health over time.
Since red head Tapajos are becoming a mass bred species in Florida ponds, that may be one of the reasons, it (as a species) has become more resilient to the harder water it encounters in the US.

 

[bkfamus]

I've kept and bred wild caught pyrocephalus in the same 7.2pH water as the wild caught sveni I kept. No issues with either..

 

[phreeflow]

I’ve had several groups of various geophagus, gmynogeophagus, and satanoperca over the years and the sveni have always been one of the least least problematic in temperament and were near bulletproof. They were also one of the most beautiful.