My Geophagus - What To Do

[Wills]

Hi as a few of you know I had a bit of a problem with one of my fish getting an infection after a house move a few weeks ago. I tried treating him with Maracyn which I got from the USA but he didnt make it

This means I am now down to just 2 of my Geophagus sp.Tocanins which are an Altifrons Variant. I also have 1 Satanoperca Daemon.

So my long term plan was to get 3 Satanoperca Daemons and then up the numbers of the Geophagus sp.Tocantins to 4. I thought I would be able to get hold of the same strain as the breeder was from Sheffield, however after finally tracking him down after searching for him for months it turns out he has sold the parents on and the female has since died in a filter crash

Now I am kind of stuck as what to do? I want to keep them all in groups as Geophenes should be but I have no idea how to get hold of these again - apart from importing them my self which is not realistic haha. So what would you do? I think my options are

a. Just keep this "pair" and add more to the Satanopercas - genders yet to be determined and keep the Tocantins gene pure

or

b. Add 2 more Altifrons from different strains such as sp.Orrinoco or sp.Rio Xingu etc etc - and then distort the Tocantins gene if they bred


When I say that the sp.Tocantins geos are a variant of Altifrons they are quite different species but closely related so could easily breed but are likely to be different species when someone sits down to properly describe them to science.

The particular variant I have are white geos with a very round body and red fins and spots with spots forming into stripes in the tail with one mid lateral spot that is eye sized. (or at least thats what they should look like as adults)

Thanks Wills

 

[rdp50734]

I would go with option A IMO.

 

[kizno1]

Hmm that really is a tough one. If it where me i would wait and see what sexes they turn out to be if there a male and a female you might get more anyway. If there 2 females you could maybe ask if the person thats female died still has the male and then breed them. I wouldnt personally cross them if theres alot of difference i think it would be best to keep the 2 type pure.Are there any similar sized and coloured geos that could work with them that would be less likely to cross?

 

[hamfist]

Personally, I think the need to keep geophagines in groups is over-emphasized. I have kept them happily as singletons and as twos or threes. I also have heard of many, many other people with similar experiences. Many of the other cichlid species we commonly keep are apparently also found as shoal fish in the wild but also happily live in tanks as singletons (angelfish for example). We aven't got a bee in our bonnets about those other species so why have we for geophagines ?

I'd say if your fish are happy, feeding well, growing and generally giving all the signs of being "happy" then keep them as they are.

So much depends on whether you have a desire to breed them or not. If you intend to breed them, then don't mix the "tocantins" with anything else they might hybridise with.
Certainly it would seem to be just fine to add some satanopercas to your singleton if you were keen to give him/her some company (if you feel he/she needs it).

 

[Wills]

Thanks guys

I think I will stick with just these two for now and up the Satanoperca - I like Kiznos idea of keeping some of their kids with them, I have seen this done in the past with good success and its a nice effect given.

Hamfist I do agree with you on the fact that there are further species of fish that should be kept in groups but are not. But Geophenes in my opinion are quite a high priority to do so with but again I can see how they work out in pairs etc. Though there are more reports of successful breeding of Geophagus in groups rather than single pairs.

Wills

 

[Liam50]

is minx not selling daemons?

 

[Wills]

is minx not selling daemons?

yeah but massive ones I need young ones to grow on into my next tank, wish I could take those 2 though

 

[Liam50]

is minx not selling daemons?

yeah but massive ones I need young ones to grow on into my next tank, wish I could take those 2 though

yeah i just saw your other thread with the lil 2incher i think they may just be a little bit to big.

 

[Wills]

http/eartheaters.qldaf.com/index.php?page=altifronstocantins2

this is what they should look like as adults - quite different from regular geos as you will see

Wills