New here and new to geophagus tapajos. Need some advice please.

[tlindsey]

I also worry about putting in new fish which can bring in a illness or something... I don't have aeans for quarantine right now either.

Are the Geo Tapajo's out and active more ?

 

[philipraposo1982]

No they are not.. I am hoping with time they will be? I don't know..

 

[peathenster]

Some dithers may help, especially those that occupy top-middle part of the water column. They do well with angels, festivums, etc in a tank that size. Looking very good btw.

 

[philipraposo1982]

Is dither fish the only way? I really don't want to add other fish. Trying to keep a low bio load, don't want to introduce any disease or fungus from new fish. I wanted a species only tank.

 

[Stanzzzz7]

Try a good covering of floating plants.
A group of silver hatchet fish would work well and be right out of the way of the geophagus.
The bio load created by a small shoal of tetras would be next to nothing.I would not be concerned with bio load at all.
If you do want a species only tank then floating plants are your best bet.

 

[philipraposo1982]

Let's say I was going to do lemon tetras, how many would you suggest? Keep in mind I don't want the bioload to be effected too much but I still want enough to make my.geos happy.

 

[Stanzzzz7]

About 8 should do it.

 

[philipraposo1982]

Well I think I will give me geos a bit more time, maybe a month or two first and see how the do. If no progress is made I will look into adding some tetras as dither. Worried about bringing in pathogens and such.

 

[peathenster]

Is dither fish the only way? I really don't want to add other fish. Trying to keep a low bio load, don't want to introduce any disease or fungus from new fish. I wanted a species only tank.

"A species only tank" is not natural. You are not doing the fish any favor. Think about how to create the most comfortable environment for them, both in decor and in tank mates. It's a small ecosystem and everything should serve a purpose.

 

[Stanzzzz7]

Cichlids in the wild will use the behaviour of schooling species as an indication of safety from predators.If there are no characins about then there may be a predator lurking and the cichlids will hide.