Question About My Geos

[Long Island Fish Guy]

I have a male and female Geo "Red Hump". The female is about 3 inches and the male is about 2.5 inches. The female has been in the tank for about a month and the male was just added 2 days ago.

They are in a 125 with other SA cichlids, Silver Dollars, Pleco and Hoplo Catfish.

They have spent no time together whatsoever. When they're together, the female chases the littler male away. Will this change? I was under the impression that these Geos "shoal".

 

[duanes]

I have usually had success with Geophagines in shoals of 6 or more. It allows them to pick partners, and when ready to spawn the pair break off, from the shoal.
For me, just male and female never amount to much (just 2 is not a shoal), and of course my males (I'd sometimes keep 2 with 4 or more females) were usually larger than females.

 

[tlindsey]

I have usually had success with Geophagines in shoals of 6 or more. It allows them to pick partners, and when ready to spawn the pair break off, from the shoal.
For me, just male and female never amount to much (just 2 is not a shoal), and of course my males (I'd sometimes keep 2 with 4 or more females) were usually larger than females.

^
This

 

[Long Island Fish Guy]

I have usually had success with Geophagines in shoals of 6 or more. It allows them to pick partners, and when ready to spawn the pair break off, from the shoal.
For me, just male and female never amount to much (just 2 is not a shoal), and of course my males (I'd sometimes keep 2 with 4 or more females) were usually larger than females.

What size tank would you recommend for 6 of these Geos? I can't stock 4 more in my 125 and I can't exactly get a tank of this size to add lol..... Could I put them in a 29 or 40 breeder?

 

[duanes]

Any 6ft tank is good for a shoal Geo's, when you go smaller you severely cramp them.
Geo's move as shoals over large areas of real estate, grazing the substrate.
To me a 29 or 40 breeder would only work when they are very young juvies.
If you really want to keep a shoal, the 125 (assuming its the 6ft tank) is perfect.
If spawning them is the goal, relocating the other fish would be what I would do.
I have had some success keeping the smaller Geophagines, such as Gymnogeophagus in small tanks like 75s, but not the larger species.

 

[neutrino]

Any 6ft tank is good for a shoal Geo's, when you go smaller you severely cramp them.
Geo's move as shoals over large areas of real estate, grazing the substrate.
To me a 29 or 40 breeder would only work when they are very young juvies.
If you really want to keep a shoal, the 125 (assuming its the 6ft tank) is perfect.
If spawning them is the goal, relocating the other fish would be what I would do.
I have had some success keeping the smaller Geophagines, such as Gymnogeophagus in small tanks like 75s, but not the larger species.

+1

Here's my add-- doesn't matter the type of fish, the point of a shoal is protection in numbers or, with some species, it's a social thing. Either way, no numbers and you probably don't see the behavior. You may see pairing behavior or you may see two individuals that get along and hang out together, even from different species, but this isn't shoaling behavior.

How many fish it takes to see shoaling behavior can vary. The urge is so strong in some tetras, they'll do it with 3 or 4, even though they're not as comfortable or they won't be as tight as in larger groups. But a lot of cichlids shoal only in decent sized groups.

 

[Long Island Fish Guy]

+1

Here's my add-- doesn't matter the type of fish, the point of a shoal is protection in numbers or, with some species, it's a social thing. Either way, no numbers and you probably don't see the behavior. You may see pairing behavior or you may see two individuals that get along and hang out together, even from different species, but this isn't shoaling behavior.

How many fish it takes to see shoaling behavior can vary. The urge is so strong in some tetras, they'll do it with 3 or 4, even though they're not as comfortable as in larger groups. But a lot of cichlids shoal only in decent sized groups.

I see what you're saying. Kinda unrelated, but my 2 Hoplo Catfish are best friends with my Oscar. The Oscar rarely shows aggression to any fish in the tank. My Hoplos actually swim all over him while waiting for food, eating, or just being social.

I think most fishkeepers would see this as odd behavior but it has become very normal for me. It's funny to see this Hoplos rubbing up this big fish that really doesn't let anyone mess with him. He loves his Hoplos!!!

 

[neutrino]

That's interesting. I've had some odd couples before or the odd fish of a different species that hangs out with a group, but that's kind of different.

 

[Stanzzzz7]

Hoplo's do this because they clean small parasites off other fish in the wild.
They used to do it to my old green terrors who would happily let them search the surface of their bodies looking for something to eat.

 

[Long Island Fish Guy]

Hoplo's do this because they clean small parasites off other fish in the wild.
They used to do it to my old green terrors who would happily let them search the surface of their bodies looking for something to eat.

I questioned whether or not I should even get them.... Now I want more! Such great fish!