Synspillum and geophagus winemilleri/Altifrons

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Jack Dempsey
MFK Member
Feb 28, 2011
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In a 125 gallon (6'x18"x18"), would these work?

I'm thinking of getting 6 synspillum and about 10 geo winmilleri/altifrons at 1-2"' and growing them all out together. I'll probably widdle it down to 3 synspillum as they grow out and keep a big group of geophagus.

Do you guys think it has a chance? Or will the synspillum probably not work with the earth eaters?
 
Yes, I will likely widdle down the numbers more once fully grown. But I figure a good starting number is 6 syn and 10 winemilleri/altifrons. In the end, I'll likely have half or less of each species compared to my starting point, but we're talking a couple years before they get to adult sizes.

I'm more interested in if the syn will be too aggro for the geophagus. I figure with a 6'x18" footprint, the syn will have plenty of room to not pick on the geophagus too much, but just want to see what others think. This will be my first time with both of these species.

Also, on growth rate, will the syn grow too fast compared to the geophagus? Should I consider getting larger geophagus and smaller synspillum?

And sorry about the measurements. It is a 125. It's taller than 18". But the footprint remains 6'x18".
 
Well my syn is growing pretty fast it's been a month and already put on atleast a .5" its noticeably bigger and taller. yea i heard they get pretty aggro. 6 is a lot of any cichlid imo. If you must go multiples at the start id say only 3.
 
I'm always worried about weeding out the runts/ones with deformities/bad genetics ones. So I tend to overstock initially when buying juveniles. I wouldn't think that 6 syn @ >2" and 10 geophagus @ >2" would be too much for a 6'X18" footprint, especially if I'm widdling down stock quickly as they grow. But if it'll still be too much initially, I may consider starting with 4 syn @ >2" and 8 geophagus @ >2", and widdling down from there. I'll also have a tank divider handy, and with a 6 foot tank, I should be able to split up any bad behaving syn quickly before getting rid of them permanently.

Ultimately, I'd like to end up with 2 synspillum (not a pair, so no breeding. Likely both male) and as many geophagus as seem logical at full size. So the question remains...Will a couple Syn coexist with geophagus in a 6'X18" footprint if grown out together???
 
Anything Vieja-ish (the latin names are always changing) are pretty aggressive to con-specifics. I have a 180g (6x2x2) that I have many Vieja in and they're fairly aggressive to one another. My Syn is the unquestioned boss of my tank.

I think Runitis has given you very solid advice. I'd start with 1-3 Syns, and 5 geos. Depending on your Syns attitude you may end up with 5 dead geos in short order. I'd try to get the geos larger than the Syns if possible. Get the smallest possible Syns you can. The sooner they're all in a tank together the better your odds of success will be. Syns have tiny little razor teeth (at least mine does) that are likely going to shred your geos fins if nothing else.
 
Dang. I may end up ditching the Synspillum idea then.

I just haven't been able to find a suitable tank mate for the geophagus that I like. Most people keep severum with them. But for some reason, that is one fish that I can't stand.

Oh well. The search continues. I may end up with just a bunch of fillament barbs or denison barbs with the geophagus.
 
My altifrons grow so fricken slow its unreal. I think the sysnpillum would grow way to fast to be sutible. Maybe if you could get the geos larger iit may work while full grown. I've been thinking of adding sysnpillum to my tanks and have been doing some research myself.

I have kept my altifrons with blue acara severums uaru parrots oscars rams ebjd loaches no loses yet

Good luck!
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