Geophagus and Discus?

[Sharkbait]

Saw a couple tanks with these cool guys in with discus.

Thoughts?

Is there a real difference, aside from colouration, from geophagus tapajo and geophagus altifrons?

Are they aggressive?

Do they work well with plants? Someone locally is selling fry for $2 each and thought I might try them out.

Currently have a 90 gallon planted.

[YSS]

Saw a couple tanks with these cool guys in with discus.

Thoughts?

Is there a real difference, aside from colouration, from geophagus tapajo and geophagus altifrons?

Are they aggressive?

Do they work well with plants? Someone locally is selling fry for $2 each and thought I might try them out.

Currently have a 90 gallon planted.

I have 6 altiferons in my tank with discus. They get along well and don't bother the plants. However, they dig a lot. I think 90G would be too small to house altiferons and discus. Also, if you have juvies, they will most likely keep your juvies from pigging out.

[Condor]

I have 6 altiferons in my tank with discus. They get along well and don't bother the plants. However, they dig a lot. I think 90G would be too small to house altiferons and discus. Also, if you have juvies, they will most likely keep your juvies from pigging out.

What size tank are you using for your fish?

Adrian

[YSS]

What size tank are you using for your fish?

Adrian

It's a 265G tank. 7x2x2.5

[William Palumbo]

I have a 125 Bio-tope with a group of 5 G. Altifrons in it. They completely ignore my Discus, and only interact with each other. It's great the way they sift thru, and stir up my sand. They keep it VERY clean sifting it thru their gills. A great fish...Bill

[Moon]

The dietary requirements may be a problem. Geophagus require a large amount of vegetable in their diet. A diet of BH is not recommended for Geos.
I had 10 Altifrons in a 100g tank. During feeding time they hogg all the food with not much left for the other inhabtants in the tank.

[William Palumbo]

Good point Moon. They do hog the BH, and everything else in the tank. Because of their appetite, they actually have my wild Greens going nuts for the BH as well. Something they really never did...Bill

[Condor]

It's a 265G tank. 7x2x2.5

Nice size tank!!

I have a 125 Bio-tope with a group of 5 G. Altifrons in it. They completely ignore my Discus, and only interact with each other. It's great the way they sift thru, and stir up my sand. They keep it VERY clean sifting it thru their gills. A great fish...Bill

I am thinking about putting together something similar...

The dietary requirements may be a problem. Geophagus require a large amount of vegetable in their diet. A diet of BH is not recommended for Geos.
I had 10 Altifrons in a 100g tank. During feeding time they hogg all the food with not much left for the other inhabtants in the tank.

Hi Joe!! Maybe a seafood mix would be better.

[William Palumbo]

A few pics of my 125...Bill

[Condor]

Wow Bill, those look really nice!

Adrian

[William Palumbo]

Thanks Adrian. i find myself watching them more than the Discus! As usual with me, my pics don't do them justice...Bill

[Condor]

Saw a couple tanks with these cool guys in with discus.

Thoughts?

Is there a real difference, aside from colouration, from geophagus tapajo and geophagus altifrons?

Are they aggressive?

Do they work well with plants? Someone locally is selling fry for $2 each and thought I might try them out.

Currently have a 90 gallon planted.

Here is a good site for geos...
http://eartheaters.qldaf.com/index.php?page=main

http://eartheaters.com/ used to be a great forum, but it seems the forum part has been down lately...

On the second page of this thread there is a great pic of geo's herding their young.
http://www.arofanatics.com/forums/sh...d.php?t=303507

And here is kind of an overview of the different geo species...
http://www.cichlid-forum.com/profile...ory.php?cat=31

Another good thread...
http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/fo...d.php?t=131170

Thanks Adrian. i find myself watching them more than the Discus! As usual with me, my pics don't do them justice...Bill

Sounds like a fun tank Bill. Nicely done too. Are those the first batch of small greens you bought from John to grow out?

[YSS]

Thanks Adrian. i find myself watching them more than the Discus! As usual with me, my pics don't do them justice...Bill

Yes, very nice set up. Altifrons are my wife's favorite fish. She loves the aqua neon glowing lips. I have 6 in my tank and they are huge. I should post some recent pics of the fish. But yes, they completely ignore other fish in the tank including cardinals and rummies.

[3dees]

hey Bill,
great looking biotope. I thought that altiferons get to be like 12". I am looking to add another fish or two to my 120 gal. biotope w/ 8 wild greens, 25 lemon tetras. do you think I can add a few?

[William Palumbo]

Thanks for the sites Adrian. Lots of different types, or locales for Altifrons. Not sure which one I have. I do hear about the neon blue lips as well, usually by women. It must be a female thing! Dees, it is true they can get a foot in length and bigger. My buddy showed me one he had traded for, and it was HUGE...show quality with those trailing fins, but his size was the exception, not the norm. As for putting a couple in your tank, I probably would try it. They look so much better in person, and are very interesting in the tank. I look at mine and wonder when full grown, how will they be in the 125. Too crowded? If need be, I will just keep 1 pair...Bill