New tank, looking for recommendations on geophagus

[james99]

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.

How did the polleni/Geo mix work out? Was it temporary or long term? I saw a brasiliensis in a store recently and was pretty interested.

 

[RD.]

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.

+1 I have kept captive bred RH Tapajos at pH values of 8.0-8.2 with no issues. I would have to rethink everything at a pH value of 9.0.

I saw a brasiliensis in a store recently and was pretty interested.

Brasiliensis is a name that is used to cover various species, one would really need to see a pic of the fish in order to offer much in the way of advice. As an example, G. iporanguense that Duane showed above are IME small and fairly pissy in a community setting, other species such as G. sp. "Red Bahia" the males can easily top out at a thick 10+" in TL, and some older dom males will form nuchal humps. IME they are a large, and in charge type of fish, and do not do well in a community setting with smaller species. The former with polleni, doable, the latter with polleni, not so much unless the tank is 200+ gallons, and even then I would personally pass on the idea.

 

[duanes]

How did the polleni/Geo mix work out? Was it temporary or long term? I saw a brasiliensis in a store recently and was pretty interested.

As you can see by the photo, they were at each others throats most of the time, and when the Geo's spawned I removed the "Andapa".
"They" (the royal they) seem to be in the process of breaking down what were mostly sold as brasiliensis, (a number of those in the complex) into a number of different species. Evenven way back in the Weidner book they suggest at least 5 separate species, and there has been talk about giving the complex a new Genus name.
They are a great hard water Geo, but not good in communities.
If it were me, I'd buy a bunch of juvies, figuring as adults the tank would only have enough space for a comparable pair.

Gymnogeophagines would work much better in a community setting, and they do well in harem settings with about 1 male to every 3 or 4 females, and dithers.
Below was my Uruguayan 125 gal community tank, with Gymnos, Australoheros "red cabal", and Uruguayan Crenicichla.


Check out the winter water temp.

When the GYmnos would spawn I'd remove carrying females to a separate tank.

 

[RD.]

…….. an older thread from several yrs ago on the sp. "Red Bahia".

'Geophagus' sp. "Red Bahia"

Just wanted to share a photo of this guy. He's 5, maybe 6" and growing fast. Anyone else keeping this fish? Pics are welcome. Thanks for looking.

www.monsterfishkeepers.com

 

[Sonofthunder]

Found plenty of driftwood down on the Missouri River last night. Floodwaters are receding.

 

[adamsfishes]

Holy crap that's the mother load!

 

[Sonofthunder]

The tank is coming along. Hopefully will find some nice rocks tomorrow. Any thoughts on the aquascaping? I think some plants would be nice but I'm afraid the geos will tear them up.

 

[mrrobxc]

Sveni are beautiful but everyone has them. Everyone has red heads too. Personally, a good medium sized one that’s rarer, like a mirabilis, or something from the pacific slope like Crassilabrus or Alto Sinu would be good.

I imagine it’s a five foot tank so I’d avoid winemilleri, altifrons, abalios. Pindare would work in a larger school since they are smaller.

Check aquabid and pick one you like!

 

[Ogertron3000]

The tank is coming along. Hopefully will find some nice rocks tomorrow. Any thoughts on the aquascaping? I think some plants would be nice but I'm afraid the geos will tear them up.View attachment 1383458

It's coming along well. I had lots of java fern and Anubis with my red head geos and there was no problem with them ripping them up so you could give it a try.

 

[Sonofthunder]

Picked up some nice holey limestone today from a nearby creek. But then I got to thinking that the limestone might harden the water for the Geos. What are your thoughts on this? The tank looks a bit bare at the moment and I think I needs a little something more.