They'll need a few days to sort out a pecking order now that they've been moved to a new tank. They'll settle down. The female could have had a falling out with her potential mate before they could spawn.
Red Head Tapajo or Altifron
- Thread starter Dego510
- Start date
Could be the move upsetting things if they were actually a mated pair. Or, don't know whether you bought an established group that had already been together in their current combination, but it could also be that she's been separated from her former mate.
Ime with red head tapajos, new pairs may bicker off and on for a while, often settling into a good pair in time. But that depends on the pair, tankmates, etc. They could also eventually decide they don't like each other, though most of the time they eventually work it out ime. Also, females bickering or an outsider female harassing the pair isn't unusual when there's extra females ime.
Ime with red head tapajos, new pairs may bicker off and on for a while, often settling into a good pair in time. But that depends on the pair, tankmates, etc. They could also eventually decide they don't like each other, though most of the time they eventually work it out ime. Also, females bickering or an outsider female harassing the pair isn't unusual when there's extra females ime.
If and when a pair forms, should I reduce the group? Or will the remaining 3 learn to live peacefully in the 125G with the pair?
Keep them all. Geophagus are usually kept in groups of 6 or more, its best for them. I never had problems with Geophagus aggressivity. Sometimes you can see small fights between males, but without any harm done.
Your call or preference, really, or you can adjust to how they're doing together. I've done it both ways. Often, when you have odd (extra) females, they tend to fuss around competing with each other or trying to be one of the pair, but a good or dominant pair can deal with this ime and it doesn't necessarily disturb them much-- maybe if the odd female out was too large or aggressive it might be more disruptive.
In any case, a lot of people tend to take the advise to keep geos in groups, which is valid while they're juvies, and repeat it for adult pairs, after which it's no longer necessary (for pairing type geophagus species). It's not that different from discus, which are more comfortable in groups when they're small, but are just fine as a pair once they mature. But for whatever reason, it's common to think of keeping discus as pairs only, but some don't realize geos are content that way also.
A lot of it is just what people are used to. A lot of people keep single severums or severum pairs, but you can easily keep them in groups, including a spawning pair or pairs when the tank's large enough. People may not think twice about keeping single angelfish, but they also prefer being in groups while they're young. So, people have gotten used to the idea of keeping geos in groups, which makes them more comfortable while they're young, and they don't realize adult pairs don't really care-- as long as the other fish in the tank have compatible temperaments.
Anyway, if it was me I'd wait for a definite pair to shake out from your group, then go from there.
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I started out with 2 pairs of redheads and a pair of dicrozoster in my 135g. Once I figured out which pair was dominant, I rehome the other pair to my brother. They seem to be fine and still breed. I guess it's up to a personal preference.
