Mystery Geo

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dent20

Candiru
MFK Member
Mar 25, 2008
531
1
48
Iowa
Geo1.jpg

Bought this guy and a female from an LFS as an unknown Geophagus species a few weeks ago. He's in the three to four inch range. The owner, who is quite knowledgeable, bought them from a guy he knows who was selling them as wild caught Geophagus Brasiliensis. Now of course I've read how several geos have been lumped under that name, but basically his point was that he didn't think this looked like the more standard Geo Brasiliensis. So I thought I'd post it on here and see what you folks think. I thought I'd try them and see how they turn out. Hard to guess as to what size they'll end up though.

Geo1.jpg
 
I guess that's pretty much all they can be called, but if you Google Geophagus Brasiliensis, you'll find a few dozen fish with similar markings and different shapes and facial markings.
 
It's either 'Geophagus' brasiliensis or something related, like sp. Bahia Red or 'Geophagus' iporangensis. The former two are fairly large-growing fish and can be quite pushy and aggressive. The latter is a smaller-growing fish. If it grows over 4" or so, it's not iporangensis. They are basically a mini brasiliensis.
 
That's what interests me. I have four Iporangensis that I'm growing out. Yes, they have a similar color pattern on the fin, but the shape of the head and the color pattern on the face is quite different. I've seen Bahia Reds that I thought were bland (one I owned) and others I thought had incredible color. I think these will end up looking more like a traditional Brasiliensis if there is such a thing.
 
Head shape looks more brasiliensis to me. My iporangensis where closer to their adult colors and body shape when they were that size where as yours definitely look more juvenille.
 
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