Questions about Brasiliensis?

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
6

6 bar

Plecostomus
MFK Member
Dec 26, 2007
560
38
61
Antelope Valley
My LFS has some 3"ers for like $6.

Got a couple of questions:
1. What is their growth rate?

2. I know they are earth eaters, but how much earth sifting can I expect? I used to have satanoperca daemon, but they didn't really move my gravel around. If I were to get some, I just wouldn't want them to completely reconstruct my tank like some of my cichlids do, creating some mounds of gravel and a bunch of barebottom spots in the tank.
 
They don't really act like Geophagus do, or Satanoperca either. The gill arch that is modified in most eartheaters is very basic in these fish, so don't expect much to really any sand sifting. And they are much more aggressive than the most eartheaters as well. While they wouldn't seem aggressive to central americans, for a south american they can be rather rough. Mine took out a silversaum twice it's size.

Which is why they aren't considered Geophagus anymore, and are currently orphaned and awaiting reclassification (the gill arch reason, not the aggression reason).

As for growth, I bought mine at 4" and traded it back after losing the silversaum and royal pleco to it, so can't help there.
 
I would have to agree with the aggression part. Mine has taken out a few fish in my tank over the last year and a half. They also seem to be quite con-specific aggressive as well. He is a bottom feeder but I would not say a sifter at all. They will even compete quite well at the top around feeding time. Mine was a complete dick to the new Paratheraps who was twice his size but they eventually worked it out. Growth wise I would have to say they are on the slow side. We got him a year an a half ago and he's barely grown a 1/2 in in size...Severum purchased at same time has grown 2 inches plus for comparison.

Hope this helps.
 
mine seems to be aggressive at times to my super red but everything calmed down and they seem to be doing well. i haven't seen much growth in mine and i have had him for a couple months and he was 2.5" when i got him.
 
I have a Geophagus "Bahia Red" which is very similar to the brasiliensis. He went from less than 3" to about 6" in less than 4 months. He isn't particularly aggressive (in with an oscar and severum), but he did kill his mate soon after I got the two of them.
 
japes;3683206; said:
Bolded the problem.
Click to expand...


I'm sorry I'm not sure what you mean. Please clarify?:)


Man, I'm second guessing getting these guys now. I want to have a community tank a with brightly colored SA/CA cichlids, but I will not risk the lives of my current stock for any other fish.
 
The braziliensus group is from southern Brazil, which is a bit cooler than the normally kept Amazon tropicals. And I believe at tropical temps the braziliensus group are more aggresive than normal, and also grow faster.
I find temps low at 70s F, (or even high 60s) keep them more docile.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
MonsterFishKeepers.com
Top Bottom