Red Head Colony Update and Questions

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TheLorax

Gambusia
MFK Member
Aug 6, 2011
108
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Houston, TX
I successfully moved my colony of 7 Red Head Geophagus Tapajos to a 55g tank. They look great and have way more space now. I just noticed that the part of the floor I put the tank on is tilted, so the back is about 1 inch higher than the front. I am moving out in 3 months, so how bad is this?

Also, I got my geos in August and they were about 1". They are about 2.5-3.5" now, when can I expect spawning? This is the first time I buy a colony of one species in an attempt to breed them. I have high hopes, since my fish are F1 and are really nice specimens (IMO). Any advice on setup, etc to encourage breeding would be greatly appreciated!

Full Tank Shot:
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Older Photo:
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I got mine from Rapps in Dec 2011. they spawned 3 months later. His are known for young spawns. they never went more than 1 month between spawns since that. I only have 1 female though.
several eaten spawns later, she swapped males. Now, for the first time being in a tank alone, the couple are alone with their 3 week old fry.
Do lots of big water changes.
 
I've had tank-raised SAs go as early as 6 months old. That'd put them well in the range of possible spawning activity. Some fish take up to a year or so, and sometimes the females mature earlier than the males resulting in infertile spawns.

If I can make a suggestion... Geos can be a bit nervous when they're in a tank by themselves and they may not want to spawn out in the open. If I were you, I'd add some vertical pieces of driftwood or a couple tall plants (if you don't want live, silk will work -- you may have to anchor them with a rock to keep the geos from digging them up) and then get some large, smooth river rocks or stones for them to spawn on. They will gladly spawn on the tank bottom or an overturned clay pot or pleco cave, but big, flat stones usually seem to be their preferred site. Sometimes just making them a little more comfortable will encourage spawning. That's not to say that geos won't spawn right out in the open because I've seen them do it, but a little privacy to make the pairs feel safe and secluded may encourage them.

As for the tank being unlevel, it may or may not be a problem. The easiest remedy is to go buy some wood shims, empty the tank, and them shim the low part until it's level. I'd use an actual level to check the tank rather than eyeballing it. Remember to check that it's level both ways -- front to back and end to end. If the tank is unlevel in such a way that the whole thing is twisted, you could end up with cracked glass.
 
Thanks a lot for the help! These fish don't seem too shy, they come right up to the glass and look at me, unlike the fish in my other CA/SA tank. But I will have to find more decorations, especially flat rocks. I like the idea of a couple live plants, but I've never done them and I don't think I have enough light, unless there is a type you recommend. I also figure I'd need to get rid of the BNP if I start seeing eggs. What kind of severum is that in your pic? It looks so different and cool.
 
Ryan is right, geos may be too nervous to spawn in the open, even if they aren't acting 'shy'.
mine spawn in a certain location, which is in a corner sort of blocked off from the main tank by assorted fake plants. they've used both slanted slate rock and ones laying flat on the bottom, and later move wigglers to craters the female digs in the sand.
don't worry if they (or tankmates) eat their first few tries. they have to practice doing everything.

they are really fun to watch.
 
TheLorax said:
Thanks a lot for the help! These fish don't seem too shy, they come right up to the glass and look at me, unlike the fish in my other CA/SA tank. But I will have to find more decorations, especially flat rocks. I like the idea of a couple live plants, but I've never done them and I don't think I have enough light, unless there is a type you recommend. I also figure I'd need to get rid of the BNP if I start seeing eggs. What kind of severum is that in your pic? It looks so different and cool.
Click to expand...

Sometimes the fish prefer a little privacy for spawning even if they are calm and active otherwise. Sometimes they don't care and spawn right out in the open. Either way, some nice round rocks or flat stones for them to spawn on would be a good idea.

Plecos do eat eggs sometimes but it's up to your fish. I've had good pairs who've defended their eggs from plecos and those that seem to get lazy and let the plecos sneak in at night.

The fish in my avatar is a female mouthbrooding severum, Heros severus.
 
IME with red head geos they're fine in a species tank if there's a group of them and scaping is to their liking. They are also compatible with a number of other species, but you'd be limited what you could put with a group of red heads in a 55 imo. Mine are also no problem with small tetras.

As far as spawning, ime they're particular about spawning sites and may spend time cleaning more than one spot before settling on one to lay their eggs. So it may be best to offer them more than one option. Although I have various driftwood in my tank, mine always select a rock or piece of slate to lay eggs and are not secretive so much as they prefer a spot they can easily defend, which usually ends up being at one or the other end of my tank, but still quite visible.

At least in your photos it looks like yours like to hang near the bits of wood you have there and the suggestion to add to your aquascape is a good one. My main breeding pair has a combination of a decent amount of driftwood, couple rocks, and couple slate pieces against the back of the tank, in a 75 with some tankmates. Few plants also, but as mentioned mine like to dislodge them if they're not anchored pretty well. Won't tear them up like some cichlids but they'll try and move them around.

As far as plecos, keep the plecos small enough and the red heads have no problem keeping them away from their eggs ime (I have a green phantom that's grown to four inches so far and a queen arabesque with mine). Other than that, clean water and good quality feeding always part of the formula for breeding success ime.
 
Thanks for the advice, guys. I will definitely add larger flat rocks and more driftwood or plants. I only have one 4" pleco, so hopefully that should be okay. And I'll put that mouth brooding Severum on my wish list.


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They spawned! I haven't changed anything, but a pair has taken over a corner, and the female laid eggs on the back glass today. The male has been guarding that 1/3 of the tank pretty aggressively :) guess they just needed more space. The huge water change that goes along with switching tanks probably didn't hurt either.


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