Who Gives A Fish Forums

Getting three geophagus fish for my tank. Thinking of changing gravel to sand, is that a good idea? also getting blood parrot fish soon

Hi Sam, I'm no expert, but I've heard geophagus fish do well in sand. Apparently, they like to sift through it for food or just as part of their natural behavior. You might not need to go for 100% sand, but it should be finer than what you've got now.

Would be good to hear from some other members who've kept geophagus before.

Great choice on the fish, by the way, and welcome to the forum.

Definitely switch to sand, and make sure it's fine enough for them to sift through their gills as they do in the wild. I'd recommend a really fine-grained sand for this.

By the way, those aren't Geophagus, they're actually Threadfin Acara - Acaricthys Heckelii. Lovely fish, but be aware they can be a bit more aggressive than your typical Geophagus or Satanopercas. They might get along with your Blood Parrot, but personally, I'm not a fan - I'd opt for a Super Red Severum instead, they're more predictable and have that same vibrant orange color without the deformities.

For success with those Threadfins, which are indeed close to Geophagus, a 20-gallon tank per fish is a must - that's 75 litres per fish. If you're planning to add more fish, a really big tank is essential. A common mistake many make when gaining experience is housing large fish in tanks that are just too small.