Native water condition for Geophagus mirabilis

[jake37]

From what I've seen mirabilis 7-8 inches, sveni a bit larger, but both seem to have variable max size.

...Keep forgetting you asked which look better. Tough call, both very nice, matter of taste, maybe. Excellent specimens of mirabilis, I'd give an edge to mirabilis, but not by much and not all of them live up to it. Imo the main edge to mirabilis is they're rarer and much harder to come by. They seem to be available in the UK lately, haven't seen them anywhere in the US for a while. Both beautiful fish, but for that reason, if it was me and I could find mirabilis (and the price wasn't an issue) I'd jump on them. It seems like sveni have become a mainstay in the hobby, so not hard to find.

Were the sveni the same size; bit smaller or bit larger. Yea mirabillis has the edge on being less frequently seen - wetspot has them occasionally. It sounds like they are very similar in most ways.

 

[neutrino]

Sveni larger...

 

[jake37]

Sveni larger...

How much larger? Or just bulkier? You said mir were 6-8 does that mean the sveni are 8-12 ?

 

[neutrino]

Mainly length, sveni 8 inches plus (males).

 

[neutrino]

...Never heard of 12 inch sveni, more like up to (not always) 9 or 10.

12 inches is altifrons territory, another beautiful species, especially some locations.

 

[neutrino]

...Imo neambi are another beautiful species as adults. Haven't had them, on my list someday. TUIC has had them lately.

But then there are quite a few really nice looking geos.

 

[jake37]

...Imo neambi are another beautiful species as adults. Haven't had them, on my list someday. TUIC has had them lately.

But then there are quite a few really nice looking geos.

Pictures are certainly nice and it appears to be a bit smaller - i wonder if it is as peaceful as the alternative and how sensitive it is to water hardness.

 

[neutrino]

Pictures are certainly nice and it appears to be a bit smaller - i wonder if it is as peaceful as the alternative and how sensitive it is to water hardness.

Some say neambi are pretty aggressive, come to think of it. Don't know how much hardness they can handle.

 

[jake37]

Some say neambi are pretty aggressive, come to think of it. Don't know how much hardness they can handle.

The water I have will be fairly soft - around 50TDS (kh 1/gh2); the comment was more around understanding as mirabilis can handle hardish water quite well. Aggression would be an issue if i add dwarf cihilid.