Geophagus Temps.

[amaruq]

Ok I been doing a lot of reading on these guys. Personally love tham and want to make the happiest place for them. Have the Jurupari and Norte

Now I am a bit confused. I have read they need a cold water tank....65-70 degrees. They have to have it cold for atleast one month????But i also read where no heater and they are happy clams???? Then I read that you can keep them at the higher temps (75-82) but the life span is shorter like a year????

I asked a so called expert and got a confusing answer???? Only lower temp for a month?

So what do i do? Would it be better to make a cold water tank? (no heater and water at room temp) or do i keep the heater and lower tank for a month? I don't plan to breed.

[BC_Kron]

I keep all my SA tanks 80, with a ph6.2, and I use peat to soften the water. The main thing is consistency. Geophagus, IMO, do not handle changes well. They stress easily, and are very sensitive to nitrates. They are a very social fish when happy, but tend to dart and hide if they are stressed or if water quality is declining.

If there is anything you want to know about Satanaperca, contact Lee Newman. He is "THE MAN" when it comes to Geophagus types, and has published numerous articles on them. I've pm'd you his email address. He loves to talk shop and will gladly answer all your questions. (not sure he would appreciate it if I posted it here for the world to see)

[amaruq]

How do you use the peat moss and where do you get it.

this is my readings

no 3-0
no 2-0
ph- 7
kh-40
gh-60

How am I doing?

[GaryofMontreal]

jurupari are Satanoperca, from the warm waters of northern South America. They must have at least 26 year round, or they are ich magnets. They are happier at 28-29. I have a related species of Satanoperca that spawned yesterday at 28.9 c (love those digital thermometers).

Gymnogeophagus come from the south. You've got a fish with a trade name "norte" that suggests northern Argentina, which means it won't need the same cold period southern Gymnogeophagus are supposed to need (down as low as 12 for winter). I keep mine at 18 all winter. They haven't spawned since the temp dropped below 22. This is my first winter with them, so I don't know if this will work or not. Their winter is our summer, and I don't know how good their body clock is. We'll see.

The thing is, both your fish are Geophagines, but they aren't Geophagus. One's tropical and the other's probably temperate. I wouldn't keep them in the same tank.