Which geophagus should I try?

[bbortko]

I have a 72"x30"x25" tank filtered by a 75g sump with Laguna maxflo 2900 pump. Current stock is 3 sd, 5 clown loaches, 2 psittacus, 2 severum, 1 crenicichla Venezuela, 1 polleni, and 4 IT datnoids. I'm thinking about getting rid of the datnoids, may keep 1. I miss the action of geophagus but know the pike, and psittacus aren't going to work with some species. Any suggestions? Always liked hump headed ones but steinies might be too small, what about pelligrinni or the crassibillis?

 

[DarylMac]

I've seen some bug make Steinies. It'd be the females you'd probably have to worry about.

 

[xraycer]

Jurupari

 

[bbortko]

Jurupari
View attachment 1244530

 

[bbortko]

I had one years ago, no where's near as nice as that one though, and they're a great fish but aren't they a little too peaceful?

 

[Kayzee]

 

[Alexxxxsv14]

How about some altifrons ? Even some albino ones I saw some awesome albino heckeli at my lfs the other day

 

[bbortko]

How about some altifrons ? Even some albino ones I saw some awesome albino heckeli at my lfs the other day

I'm considering altifrons, since they're easy to get I'll probably wind up with them. I have kept Heckelli in the past, great fish but looking for something new.

 

[xraycer]

I had one years ago, no where's near as nice as that one though, and they're a great fish but aren't they a little too peaceful?

I suppose, but they can fend for themselves.

My red headed tapajo is a beautiful fish and can be a bit of a punk

 

[ryansmith83]

My lugubris pikes tended to ignore geos. The pikes absolutely hated my psittacus, though. Constantly opening their mouths and having stand-offs with him.

G. altifrons are nice if you want something flashy with long trailers. If you're looking for something not so common, Rapps is selling Geophagus sp. 'Caqueta' which is deep bodied and kind of has the same coloration as G. balzanii.

I'd think any of the larger eartheaters would be fine. As long as you don't introduce them so small that the pike could eat them, if your pike is a good size. If a severum can hold its own, the geos should be about the same.