Who Gives A Fish Forums

I've got three geophagus fish in my tank, thinking of switching to sand from gravel. Also, blood parrot fish are on the way.

Hi Sam, I'm not experienced with Geophagus myself, but I'd definitely recommend switching to sand. From what I've read, they seem to naturally sift through sand for food or just as part of their behaviour. You don't necessarily need to go for pure sand, but something finer than your current gravel would be a good idea.

It's probably worth waiting to hear from some of the more experienced Geophagus keepers on the forum, though.

Your fish look great, by the way, and welcome to the forum.

Switching to sand is a no-brainer, get the finest sand you can find so they can sift through it with ease, just like they would in their natural habitat.

On a side note, those aren't Geophagus, they're Threadfin Acara - Acaricthys Heckelii. Lovely fish, but they do have a bit of a feisty streak, so be aware of that. They'll be okay with your parrot fish, but personally, I'd opt for a Super Red Severum - they're more predictable and less deformed, with that same vibrant orange color.

To achieve success with Threadfins, which share similarities with Geophagus, a minimum tank size of 20 gallons, or 75 liters per fish, is recommended. If you're planning to add more fish, a significantly larger tank is essential. A common mistake many inexperienced aquarists make is housing large fish in tanks that are too small.

graye wrote: ↑Mon May 20, 2024 9:39 am To achieve success with Threadfins, which share similarities with Geophagus, a minimum tank size of 20 gallons, or 75 liters per fish, is recommended. If you're planning to add more fish, a significantly larger tank is essential. A common mistake many inexperienced aquarists make is housing large fish in tanks that are too small.

My tank's 150 gallons