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L# Freshwater Species
 L# Cichlid Central
  L# Geophagus
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SubscribeGeophagus
glittergirl_2002
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Small Fry
Posts: 2
Kudos: 1
Votes: 0
Registered: 09-Oct-2006
female usa
Hi! I have a geophagus in my tank who is about 3.5-4inches long. I also recently added a German Ram after the person at the local said they'd be fine together, after all my geo had alway been fine with his 3 cory tank mates. So I added the ram. After that my geo has turned into a bully! I'm worried. It looks like my little ram is scared to lay his head down somewhere because of my geo. SHould I get my ram another partner? Also, I have a 55g tank with a ram, geo, 3 albino cories, 1 gourami (I'll probably move him), and I think I'm going to get maybe a tiger pleco, and definetly probably 4 discus. Will all these species be compatiable. I've never seen my geo act like this. Before i added the ram he was a big scaredy cat. Surely he won't bother the discus will he? Please write back.
Post InfoPosted 10-Oct-2006 22:21Profile PM Edit Report 
zachf92
**********
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Big Fish
Posts: 343
Kudos: 255
Votes: 233
Registered: 31-Dec-2005
male usa
EditedEdited by zachf92
What species of Geophagus is this? Most species of Geophagus are peaceful, but as with a lot of cichlids, they can be territorial towards other newly introduced cichlids. The same situation happened to me, only my new cichlid was the Eartheater, and the bullies were my rams, constantly chasing my Eartheater out of their territory. After about 2 days, though, things started to settle down, and the rams were no longer territorial towards him. Hopefully, the same will happen to your ram, and no harm will be done, but if matters do happen to get worse, you could buy a divider and seperate the ram from the geophagus until the ram becomes more accustomed to his surroundings.

Should I get my ram another partner?

Its not necessary, but if you want to, then fine, but if the new one is not of the opposite sex and/or they don't pair up, they may fight.

Will all these species be compatiable.

they should be compatible, but you may be pushing the stocking limit. Im guessing that the discus will also be okay, as they occupy the upper layers of the aquarium, while Geophagus' tend to stay near the bottom. But first, if you don't already know, find out what species of Geophagus you have, and you can do so by looking at the cichlid profiles on http://www.cichlid-forum.com/. Also, you may want to get 3 or more albino cories, as they prefer to be kept in schools.

And BTW, welcome to Fishprofiles
Post InfoPosted 11-Oct-2006 03:17Profile Homepage PM Edit Delete Report 
glittergirl_2002
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Small Fry
Posts: 2
Kudos: 1
Votes: 0
Registered: 09-Oct-2006
female usa
I couldn't actually find my geophagus on there...or at least one that I thought looked like him. When I bought him I was "told" that he was a geophagus surinamis. That he was an eartheater and that he'd only grown about 5". He doesn't have the long pelvic fin (the fin right under the body kinda by the gills, that forks) like some them show in the picture. He has tiger like dark grey stripes on his gray body and irridescent little circles that run in horizontal lines down his body that you can see very well when the light reflects on him. He has a black spot on the side of his body, and there is irridescent spots (not stripes on his dorsal and tail fin. Also, I've noticed a slight tent of red on the edges of his tail fin. Do you by any chance know which kind he is? I want to make sure he doesn't grow 10-12" Thank you so much! oh btw I was thinking about trying to find mr. german blue ram and mate and getting a pair of golden rams. Would that be fine in the mix? (set aside the stocking limit because the fish I add are still up for debate. I'm just trying to see if 46"-48" of bottom space is enough and if that'd be bad)Also, how can you tell the difference between a bolivan ram and a german blue ram. Because my blue ram doesn't look so blue at the back...do you think he might actually be a bolivan?
Post InfoPosted 11-Oct-2006 04:52Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
zachf92
**********
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Big Fish
Posts: 343
Kudos: 255
Votes: 233
Registered: 31-Dec-2005
male usa
EditedEdited by zachf92
He doesn't have the long pelvic fin (the fin right under the body kinda by the gills, that forks) like some them show in the picture. He has tiger like dark grey stripes on his gray body and irridescent little circles that run in horizontal lines down his body that you can see very well when the light reflects on him. He has a black spot on the side of his body, and there is irridescent spots (not stripes on his dorsal and tail fin. Also, I've noticed a slight tent of red on the edges of his tail fin. Do you by any chance know which kind he is?

Many Geophagus species look almost identical when they're juveniles, so its hard to tell. Your geophagus could very well be a surinamensis, as it takes geophagus' quite a long time to color up and grow the long fin extensions you saw in the picture.

I want to make sure he doesn't grow 10-12"

i'm afraid to say this, but most geophagus species grow to be around 10", but in your 55g, he'll probably grow to be around 7 or 8".

how can you tell the difference between a bolivan ram and a german blue ram. Because my blue ram doesn't look so blue at the back...do you think he might actually be a bolivan?

Its quite easy to tell a blue ram from a bolivian ram. Blues are mainly blue and yellow, while bolivians are usually less colorful and have a yellow belly. also, blues have red eyes.
if you need anymore help, here is a picture of my bolivian- http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f187/zachf92/ramrevised.jpg
Post InfoPosted 11-Oct-2006 12:15Profile Homepage PM Edit Delete Report 
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