New tank, looking for recommendations on geophagus
- Thread starter Sonofthunder
- Start date
Braziliensus are much hardier, and tolerate much more varied water conditions and temps.
Southern Brazil is almost sub-tropical so water temp fluctuations down into the high 60s is not a problem for them.
I kept a pair in an outside stock tank in Wisconsin and they spawned at temps around 66-68".
In they natural range, they are sometimes found in brackish water estuaries, so harder water is also not a problem.
As said above, they can be aggressive, and get large (over 12") ,so housing them with other cichlids can sometimes be problematic, they are also more predatory, and unlike many other Geo's, eat any fish that will fit into their mouth..
Below, a young pair of G. iporanguense (part of the Braziliensus clade) square off against a Paratilapia.
Southern Brazil is almost sub-tropical so water temp fluctuations down into the high 60s is not a problem for them.
I kept a pair in an outside stock tank in Wisconsin and they spawned at temps around 66-68".
In they natural range, they are sometimes found in brackish water estuaries, so harder water is also not a problem.
As said above, they can be aggressive, and get large (over 12") ,so housing them with other cichlids can sometimes be problematic, they are also more predatory, and unlike many other Geo's, eat any fish that will fit into their mouth..
Below, a young pair of G. iporanguense (part of the Braziliensus clade) square off against a Paratilapia.
I had both sorts, i think Brasiliensis are a bit hardier and can also handle low temperatures (South South American Cichlids). But they can be bullies, especially when they breed.
And they breed a lot! To me they are the wet equivalent of rabbits ;-) They wil also dig in the sand more then red heads to create a pit for themselves and their fry. And they will eat fish that fit in their mouths and will probably kill small fish.
But despite of all that, i still regret selling them
I'd test your water to know what pH you're actually dealing with at your house. Water in your aquifer is one thing, water from your specific local water plant could be lower. If water from the tap in your area/neighborhood is actually over 9, I'd have to think a lot of homes have water softener units.
I bred and raised red head geos, they're comfortable with moderate hardness and pH up to 8 with no health issues-- even a bit higher, though they may not live as long. I wouldn't do them at 9, not unless I wanted to adjust it lower-- which I've done in the past, doing black water discus tanks in New England. Brasiliensis would make it a one geo tank (as adults) imo, or a compatible pair, and change or limit your choice of tankmates. All of which is fine if that's what you want.
Most goes are a good fit with severums, Brasiliensis less so, depending on tank size and individual fish. Depending on type of severum, you could potentially do more than one. 5' long tank, right?
Red head Tapajos geos generally get 6.5-7 inches (males) ime, now and then a little bigger. Females smaller.
I bred and raised red head geos, they're comfortable with moderate hardness and pH up to 8 with no health issues-- even a bit higher, though they may not live as long. I wouldn't do them at 9, not unless I wanted to adjust it lower-- which I've done in the past, doing black water discus tanks in New England. Brasiliensis would make it a one geo tank (as adults) imo, or a compatible pair, and change or limit your choice of tankmates. All of which is fine if that's what you want.
Most goes are a good fit with severums, Brasiliensis less so, depending on tank size and individual fish. Depending on type of severum, you could potentially do more than one. 5' long tank, right?
Red head Tapajos geos generally get 6.5-7 inches (males) ime, now and then a little bigger. Females smaller.
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Coming together slowly. Got the stand painted and installed a rock wall. Now to pick up some pool filter sand and start collecting driftwood.
What would be some good top-dwellers to complement the geos at the bottom?
What would be some good top-dwellers to complement the geos at the bottom?
To get a 125 in the living room I had to promise to get rid of 6 other tanks.
No matter how guilt free, you will always be a suspect of something.
When they have nothing else to fear or anguish over, it will become you.
A spouse is the first target of opportunity.
When they have nothing else to fear or anguish over, it will become you.
A spouse is the first target of opportunity.
Since the OP brought up top dwellers (what I consider dither fish), the idea of the Geophagus braziliensus might not work, this group can be quite predatory, so at adult size may eat most average size dither fish.
With this in mind, the species in the Gymnogeophagine genus might be better, in hard water, wouldn't need heaters, and are inept at predation of average size top dwelling fish.
Below
species Rio Yerbailto
,
Paso Pache
balzani
With any of the above I have kept Uruguayan Corys, and Buenos Aires tetras as geographically correct tank mates. and cool water high altitude Mexican live bearers as non-geographically correct species.
With this in mind, the species in the Gymnogeophagine genus might be better, in hard water, wouldn't need heaters, and are inept at predation of average size top dwelling fish.
Below
species Rio Yerbailto
,
Paso Pache
balzani
With any of the above I have kept Uruguayan Corys, and Buenos Aires tetras as geographically correct tank mates. and cool water high altitude Mexican live bearers as non-geographically correct species.
