Salvini and Geophagus

[BroncosChic]

Hello! First post My beloved 9 year old Jack Dempsey recently died I thought i did research and decided to order a Salvini and Threadfin Geophagus for 55g. Now reading through forums, the Salvini sounds like it may be way more aggressive than I thought and may kill the Geophagus. My Jack Dempsey was very mean, had to be by himself, did I get a jerk fish AGAIN? I have Eheim Cannister filter and sponge filter and yes I realize I may have to get a bigger tank eventually.

 

[fwprawn]

How big is the tank?
If they are the only two fish in there, yes, one will end up dead - if you get more fish to "mix it up" then aggression will be distributed more-or-less, and give the other fish a better chance at cohabbing.

But, yes, the salvini is known to be a more aggressive fish than the Geo.

 

[David R]

It sounds like a bad mix to me, two very different fish in a fairly small tank. The threadfins (that aren't actually a Geophagus BTW) can grow to a good 12", and while they can be fairly aggressive as adults when breeding, I still wouldn't want to mix them with nasty CA cichlids. If it isn't too late IMO you'd be best to change your order, cancel the threadfin and get a group of young salvini and let them pair up naturally and thin the others out as required. A pair of sals in a 55g would be much better, and you may be able to add a few bottom dwellers and/or schooling midswimmers depending on how your tank is set up.

 

[BroncosChic]

Oh man, I should've checked this place before I ordered.

 

[newworld]

Salvini is one of the most aggressive fish I've owned....

 

[ehh]

Bad mix.


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[BroncosChic]

The fish is labeled as an Threadfin Geophagus (Acarichthys heckelii), not sure if there was confusion. Information seemed to indicate compatibility but I read about some Salvini horror stories in forums and got worried.

 

[ryansmith83]

Acarichthys heckelii are in the Geophagine tribe but they are not actually Geos, hence the different genus name. They grow rather large and probably wouldn't do well long-term in a 55 gallon. An 8 - 10" fish in a 13" wide aquarium doesn't seem ideal.

Salvini are aggressive for their size and probably won't do well in such close quarters with the A. heckelii.

 

[BroncosChic]

I was hoping they would do okay for awhile, until I got a larger tank. They will be 1.5"-2" not sure how fast A. Heckelii grow however.

 

[ehh]

Salvini are aggressive for their size and probably won't do well in such close quarters with anything

fixed ;-)