Solo geophagus?

[Username6942098]

I was scrolling through kijiji and found an ad for a geophagus that was very beat up and stressed(from the pictures I could not tell which species). I will most likely be getting it for my 135 gallon (72"x18"x24) and I was wondering if I can keep it solo? I would like to get a bigger group but due to limited tank space I am unable to at the moment. Thanks in advance.

 

[Ansorgii]

Being solo sounds way better than where it is right now following your description. Most eartheaters prefer company, but some time alone to heal will definetely not do him bad. Some fish can also carry trauma (be excessively skittish or explossive) from being in a tank where they receive a lot of pain, so be aware of that and patient if you decide to take him in.

 

[duanes]

Although many Geophagines are social, some are not.
Those from the Geophagus brazilirnsis clade are some that are not.
So until you can determine which species it is, living solo is not a bad way to go.

Above is Geophagus iporsngensis, one of the braziliensis clade, found in cooler, southern waters near sub tropical Rio, and iis very similar in temperament to the loner cichlids of Central America.
It survives in harder alkaline water than the social, soft water geos of of Amazonia and northern S America.
Mine did well as a mated pair, in hard, 7.8 pH water and were quite aggressive, especially when spawning

 

[neutrino]

It can be done, even with the more social "surinamensis types." They are more comfortable in groups, as juveniles especially, and in a group you'll see more of their social behavior, but it's not such a necessity as some would have you believe-- as long as tank mates are compatible, not overly aggressive, etc., though some individuals can be more territorial as one or two than they'd be in a group of 5, 6 or more. As adults, being in groups is less important and, in fact, I've found with some species that things are more peaceful for a breeding pair to be separated from the group and in a tank with peaceful tank mates that won't compete for spawning sites, etc.

I find it a bit amusing some of the other species for which you very rarely see the 'need to be in groups' advice, yet in the wild they're just as social and group oriented. Heros species (severums) are a prime example of this.

 

[fisker]

The aggressiveness of geophagous fish can be readily determined by their breeding behavior: Ovophilic mouthbrooders are the most peaceful, followed by larvophilic ones.

Open-brooders are the most defensive.

 

[Username6942098]

Being solo sounds way better than where it is right now following your description. Most eartheaters prefer company, but some time alone to heal will definetely not do him bad. Some fish can also carry trauma (be excessively skittish or explossive) from being in a tank where they receive a lot of pain, so be aware of that and patient if you decide to take him in.

Will I need a group later on?

 

[Username6942098]

It can be done, even with the more social "surinamensis types." They are more comfortable in groups, as juveniles especially, and in a group you'll see more of their social behavior, but it's not such a necessity as some would have you believe-- as long as tank mates are compatible, not overly aggressive, etc., though some individuals can be more territorial as one or two than they'd be in a group of 5, 6 or more. As adults, being in groups is less important and, in fact, I've found with some species that things are more peaceful for a breeding pair to be separated from the group and in a tank with peaceful tank mates that won't compete for spawning sites, etc.

I find it a bit amusing some of the other species for which you very rarely see the 'need to be in groups' advice, yet in the wild they're just as social and group oriented. Heros species (severums) are a prime example of this.

I plan on keeping it with a severum and blind Oscar.