Geophagus sp pindare
A male Geophagus sp pindare ...
a pair with fry ...
and a ménage à trois, all brooding. PHOTOS: © Peter Robinson 2010. |
Scientific Name: Geophagus sp pindare.
Previous Name/s, Synonym/s: None.
Common Name/s: None.
Geographic Origin: Rio Pindare and Rio Pamalba.
Habitat: Fast-flowing, clear water with fine, sandy bottom and heavily vegetated banks with submerged roots and plants.
Diet: Insects, frozen and live foods interspersed with regular feedings of spirulina.
Gender Differences: .
Breeding: Substrate spawners and bi -parental lavaphilious mouthbrooders..
Temperament: Very peaceful.
Maximum Size: male 15cm.
Temperature Range: 26-30°C.
pH: 6.0 - 7.0.
Water Hardness: Soft.
Comments:
The Geophagus sp pindare was found firstly by Uwe Werner in Rio Pindare, on the West coast of Brazil, in 1994 and later in the Rio Pamalba by Schindler in 1999. The fish are in the same group as Geophagus surinamensis but has a much smaller range, I think the pindare is even more beautiful than either surinamensis or brachybrachus.
I found the pindare to be very peaceful fish; only at spawning time was there any sign of animosity and this was minimal, mostly positioning of the male to block intruders but no real aggression. I had three females and one male in a 43"L x 18" x 18" tank, they grew up together and spawned after conditioning.
The spawning pair selected the top of a terracotta flowerpot that was lying on its side, there was much interaction from one of the other females who kept trying to become involved with the fanning of the eggs but the male kept moving between her and the spawning site negating her advances. When the eggs hatched the spawning female began chewing the fry from the eggs and holding them in her mouth, the other female seemed desperate to join in and eventually she did so and began picking up the fry as well.
The third female showed no interest at all and was sulking up the far end of the tank. It ended up with 2 females and the male holding fry, something I have never seen before. I suspect the second female also spawned with the pair as there were over 200 eggs, a huge number for young breeders. It was incredible to see all three fish with throats bulging as they chewed to keep the fry moving in their mouths.
One important point; when feeding any of the Geophagus and Satanoperca species it is vital to feed spirulina to help avert hole-in-the-head, which is common in these fish.
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