Quote:
Originally Posted by jen.chris  Hi, does anyone own a gymnogeophagus Blue Neon Valentine?
I just got one and know what my LFS owner told me, but am having trouble finding much information online.
So I was just hopeing for tips, etc.
Here is what I do know:
Store owner said that it would get along well with my mollies, platies, corys and beta. That it would eat the platy fry and possibly tetras. To feed it flake food as well as sinking food. That it would get to be about 5 inches and be red (can’t remember if she said red on the tail or red on the whole body) with blue spots. She said I could get an M/F pair or just a single fish of one sex, that they’re outgoing fish and don’t need to be in groups. That it would live 5-10 years.
I've also read online that their is not much out about the species and that the best way to find out more information is from owners of the fish.
I did read about a 90day, gradual cooling 'season' for the fish, but that it was related to breeding, so will my one fish be ok w/o a cooling season if I have no plans on having more than one at a time/breeding them 
Thanks  |
Hey there I have not been around this site for a bit, and although this is an older post I thought I would give you some tips.
First of all your Gymnogeophagus n. sp. Blue Neon "Valentines" are cichlids, so it is your choice to house them with platys and such but be prepared for them to possible kill them off. Some of the bigger tetra's should be fine but again it really is hit or miss. Cory's will work also however if you plan on spawning the Gymno's when lights go out the cory will try and eat the eggs. They do not need to be in groups as they are egg layers and do fine a a pair. 5" sounds about right on size.
For food I would shy away from flake food as it is messy and will foul your water if you tend to over feed, having said that I do feed mine flake though maybe once a week. Get a high quality pellet and you are good to go, I usually say buy the best quality pellet you can afford.
As for the cooling down period. Yes you have to this. If you do not your fish will fade away a die way sooner than it should, this is true for any Gymno species. All my Gymno's last winter I cooled them for about 2.5 months. I dropped their tank temp from about 79degrees to around 61-62degrees for that time. When you do the cool down remember fish that are kept at that temp do not need to eat as often, I feed them once a week for the time period.
The cooling does play a key role in spawning however it is not the only reason. When you bring them out of it and warm the tank up it simulates spring and that helps to trigger them to spawn. But if you do not do the cooling period I will warn you you will not have the fish for long.
If you have any questions please ask and I will try and help you along.
Here are a few pics for you, sorry for the dirty glass on the first one.
Hopefully this helps you out some.
Brian
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