Geophagus Pellegrini Setup

[minnnt]

Just bought a trio of Geophagus Pellegrini. Thinking of creating a bit of a biotape for these fish and was wondering what i should stock with them and how i should setup their tank?

I have a 270 litre, 4ft setup with sand substrate. There is 1 male and 2 females. If people think i can/should add another female then i will.

Looking for info on any Corydoras, Plecs, Catfish and Dithers that i could keep with them? Not particularly fussed about any other Cichlids though as i was these to take centre stage.

Thanks.

David.

 

[Wills]

Sounds good

First I went here
http/www.fishbase.org/summary/Geophagus-pellegrini.html

Searched on SF for San Juan
http/www.seriouslyfish.com/kb.php?t=ps&s=san+juan

And a general one for Columbia
http/www.seriouslyfish.com/kb.php?t=ps&s=Colombia

This one could do with being featured
http/www.planetcatfish.com/catelog/_species.php?species_id=919

If you search around Planet Catfish for the San Juan (Columbia), Rio Atrato and Río Baudó they turn up a few species you might find (or close alternatives) a whiptail, an Agenisous and a type of Whale Cat.

For me it has to include Emperor Tetras since it turns out they are also endemic from the San Juan as are these Geos and if you can find those Cories that turn up Maybe try to find that Whiptail - Wharf are really good with Whiptails so you could probably find something close.

I really wish I had as many tanks as you haha!!

Wills

 

[minnnt]

I only have 4, lol, this being my biggest.

I have rehomed my Jade Eyeds and Gold Sev which has left me with an Oscar and Green Sev, African Shovelnose, L001 plec and a Rainbow Snakehead to rehome... Then the Geo's will have the tank to themselves. Seriously considering just bagging them up and taking them to Wharf.

Will check the links now mate, thankyou.

 

[ZoddyZod]

never heard of them but after a quick search they look great!

do you live near a very decent LFS?

oh, bored of the new puffer set up already

 

[minnnt]

Richard at Wharf assured me they were Pellegrini... I thought they were Steindachneri, (due to their red humps!) but he said no... Wild caught Pellegrini from Columbia. Now i followed your link and they appear to be listed as Yellow Humps... Mine aren't Yellow! So was i right?

The Cory's look like a challenge to find May have to make do with some Metae, Panda or Skunk as they're pretty similar markings. I guess Agassizii could feature to replace the second one you linked to?

Emperor Tetra's should be pretty easy to do though!

Ok, so maybe not a PROPER biotape, but at least i know what can be kept with them.

What would you do Andy?

never heard of them but after a quick search they look great!

do you live near a very decent LFS?

oh, bored of the new puffer set up already

I'm about 10 minutes away from the best aquatic shop in the East Midlands ZZ. Very much a favourite of alot of members on here from near and far. I guess i am quite lucky. Their stock is pretty much excellent all year round, if a little expensive.

The Puffer tank is still going strong too!

 

[ZoddyZod]

as i've just read.....Wharf. Lucky you! No wonder you're continually tempted to rotate your stock.

 

[minnnt]

It can be a little daunting when i go. Especially when Wills keeps posting pics of fantastic fish he has brought from there.

 

[Wills]

Got to admit I dont know much about the Stiendachnari complex so cant tell you how to separate Stiendachnari from Pellegrini They will be separated into a different family eventually. All I really know is that true Pellegrini are quite a collectors fish as they are quite rare. I think Hamfist will be able to help you out with it though as he had some Stiendachnari a while ago

For me I would make it a real species tank to focus on the Geos I would really stock around them really simply. Big school of the Emperor Tetras, big school of Corydoras bilineatus (dont give up just yet - if your not opposed to recieving fish in the post Rare Aquatics might be able to get them for you?) Looking at a broader Columbia biotope you get Spotted and Marbled Headstanders as well which would work nice. The Spotted would go well with the cories and tetras where as the marbled would go better with further columbia options which include, Pink tailed chalceus, Pictus Catifish, South American Leaf Fish, Lima Shovel Nose and Bleeding Heart Tetras. Though not sure if the Limas would be too big or not? Davo would be good to pick his brains over the leaf fish if you like them. Not sure on the Chalceus either as they look great as youngsters but all the adults I have seen are not that good looking though they always look quite battered so not sure if thats due to the conditions they were kept in?

Lots to think about

Wills

 

[minnnt]

I like your first idea matey. Thanks! I am quite happy to recieve fish by post, probably a walk in the park for them really compared to them being shipped from wherever they come from.

Obviously Emperors will be easy to do. Will also look into the Cories then.

What about tank setup? What would be the best way to decorate it? Was considering a setup similar to yours? Obviously on a smaller scale.

Do you think 2 females will be fine with the 1 male or should i add another to make it 3 females?

May change the substrate to Unipac Senegal from Limpopo also.

http/www.youtube.com/watch?v=KPU2gBt2hbk

 

[minnnt]

Maidenhead aquatics at Crowlands

Will speak to my local MA to see if they can order me some in and how much they will be. How many do you suggest?

 

[Wills]

Im not sure really as the they are not a massive species so you might get away with 2 males I would def get more though as a trio as they grow up will not work too well. Im not sure on gender ratio but I have heard of Stiendachnary males being called "bulls" so its an interesting way of things working. With regular Geophagus (Surinimensis complex) its best to keep them as a group and genders only really really matter if its a pair or smallish tank for them. But Im not sure if Stiendachnary are hareem breeders rather than group spawners if you see what I mean? Since this is pretty specialist stuff I think I should be okay to suggest posting on the Cichlidae forum for advice on how to keep them in gender splits as if its wrong then it could be problematic later on. (Mods, if I am not okay to suggest this other forum please delete the suggestion)

Love that Video Great tank I actually like the way those plecs compliment the Geos, not sure if they are Rusty or Violet Plecs? Or are they just the same thing haha!!

If your after a similar set up to me its quite simple but stupidly expensive get down to your MA and get all the smooth river rocks, then go on greenmachine and spend £70 on twisty wood (I think my wood collection is around £100 atm though some of that was a second hand job lot so its probably more all together..... oh dear) And then an XXXL Java Fern on bogwood via Tropica rooted in the middle. Though I have to admit I am questioning if mine is the best set up for cichlids as I have been seeing some great journals recently that have had wood hung from the top that actually works better for Geos as it gives them all the floor space? Could be something to think about?

Wills

 

[minnnt]

I have observed 'Red Humps' at another LFS and they are indeed Bulls so with it only being a 48" tank i was reluctant to add another male as i really can't be doing with all the aggression and seeing one forced to the top corner of the tank. I have read that they don't have a particularly strong bond with each other even when breeding so maybe another female will be ok. (Although from the couple of video's i have watched on youtube they do look pretty bland!)

Even at this age in the LFS tank which was probably 3-4ft itself there was a fair bit of argy bargy going on so can't imagine another male working.

My first thought on the Plecs in the video was Rusty. There is also some kind of Panaque... unsure which one though. lol.

 

[Wills]

Is that the Cories at Crowlands? I would be tempted by massive swarms for the schools so maybe 10 Cories and 15 Tetras as a start? Depends how far you want to push the "inch per gallon rule" Since you have a few big fish and stocking small around them I would be tempted to up them to large numbers....

Wills

 

[minnnt]

Yeah it's the Cory's at MA.

Numbers sound good also!

 

[Wills]

Cool got to admit though Im still waiting on every fish I have ever requested from my local MA hahahha! One day though I will get lumped tons and tons of rarities haha!!

Lets get some pics up with these then