Geophagus Tapajos | Growth Rate & Evolution

This video highlights our Geophagus Tapajos growth rate from about 1 inches to the 6 inches they are today. We also discuss details on growth rates and tips to make sure your fish are healthy and growing. This came from our own experience keeping Geophagus Tapajos, paired with research and discussions with other hobbyists.
Geophagus Tapajos are one of my favorite cichlids to keep, and if you are patient and willing to wait for them to color up - it is well worth it. With great water quality, a suitable tank size, appropriate tank mates, and a varied diet, your Geophagus should grow quickly!
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If you're interested in any of the products used in my 180 gallon aquarium, feel free to check out the Amazon affiliate links below.
Equipment:
Carib Sea Sand Substrate: amzn.to/37p2Kzf
Fluval Heaters: amzn.to/3e2PnYg
Fluval Aquasky Light: amzn.to/3dWBj25
FX6 Canister Filter: amzn.to/3dXbW0b
Seachem Prime: amzn.to/3rzPW2A
Food:
Xtreme Krill Flakes - geni.us/iTAWsN
Xtreme Big Fella Pellets - geni.us/9Cra
Xtreme Nice Pellets - geni.us/6ADcc
Thanks for watching, and we'll see you next week!

[@CichlidBros]

Some great food options for Geophagus that we have used for years: - Xtreme Krill Flakes - geni.us/iTAWsN - Xtreme Nice Pellets - geni.us/6ADcc

[@Vikingsroar]

Absolutely lovin' these beautiful Tapajos..! I just got 3 of them today (around 5") and placed them into a 75 gallon tank 🌊 together with 5 silver dollars, a flowerhorn and a parrot fish 🐠 can't wait to see their burst of colors 🎨

[@makesomewaffles8896]

Man that is some scary stocking, a flowerhorn with geophagus? How did that play out?

[@jillholler7983]

Cool to see the growth and transformation of these fish.

[@zsworld6609]

I have 6 in my 150. By far my favorite geo. I also have 3 red humps that are also quickly becoming a popular favorite

[@UKFishCam]

Never had geophagus but they look so cool and learning more about them has made me want one now!

[@CichlidBros]

I’d definitely recommend them! Thanks for watching

[@JuniorCrute-ht7ss]

I would put a pair of lusosso with a single male green severum cichlid 🙂

[@kiddt1999]

Awesome thanks!

[@myleskreher315]

Great video. I recommend mixing in some hikari vibra bites into their diet to make their red colors pop. Made a huge difference for my tapajos and winemilleri

[@Rexwizord]

Vibra bites you can always count on especially for cichlid

[@andrewc3634]

Just picked up 15 Geophagus Surinamensis to grow out can't wait to see them transform.

[@fishytales]

Colours are stunning!

[@CichlidBros]

Thank you!

[@marktopp745]

I’ve got a few Geophagus Altifrons and I’ve had a similar experience. When I bought them they were no bigger than the size of a British 10p piece. Sorry that would be less than 2cm. Now they have really grown and are now about 6-7 inches(20-25cm) Beautiful colours and really stand out fish.

[@GebosGarage]

My Altifrons is beautiful, too.... but he did not like being with the Tapajos... had to separate them after a year of being tank mates... both are beautiful fish but beating the crap outta one another... but doing much better now that they are separated. My Altifrons is truly a stunning fish, in my opinion. Of course, I could be biased because it's mine. LOL.

[@GebosGarage]

Mine fight... I have a Tapajos in with an Altifrons. They were fine for about a year together in a 150 gallon. I had to separate them as the fighting became so extreme. My red lost all his color (all of it) while the Altifrons became really beautiful! My red has finally gotten some color back, however (over months) of being separate in a 90 gallon. Anyway, you are raising beautiful fish. Love this video. Thanks for sharing!

[@CichlidBros]

Thanks for watching! Hope everything works out with your Tapajos and altifrons. I’d like to keep the latter at some point soon

[@trevorgregori9667]

Great looking fish. Excited to see mine grow up now. Thanks for sharing.

[@CichlidBros]

Thank you!

[@eues803]

Very nice video, What a big transformation that yr fish had, they now are looking Stunning and they will still get more color.

[@CichlidBros]

Appreciate that. Thanks for watching!

[@drewsta005]

Great video! Have always enjoyed the look of geos. Very informative

[@CichlidBros]

Thank you!

[@ronderfulaquariums2978]

Love this tank

[@DopamineSchizo]

love geophagus

[@seansquill8773]

Got 5 in my grow out tank now. They are about 2-2.5 inches and are going into a 75 later this week with all their tank mates. 3 Sevs , electric blue Acara, and a school of beautiful rainbows.

[@CichlidBros]

Gonna be an awesome tank!

[@johnjfairfull1894]

Fantastic fish! Would love to hear about the Firemouth and the Eliotti Cichlids! I am very new to cichlids and this channel is teaching me lots! Thanks for the videos!

[@CichlidBros]

Thanks for watching, and glad it’s been helpful! Here’s a video we did on the Firemouth! kzbin.info/www/bejne/bnumf5-GhLqNpKs

[@WONDERFULREPTILES]

perfect TANK nice GEOPHAGUS TAPAJOS GOOD JOB

[@sih3725]

Great video 😊 came here because I just bought 10 2 days ago and they were crazy small like yours and they have doubled in size in just two days so I was coming to see if that's normal since they will eat constantly easy 6 times a day! Looking at the comments I found why mine are growing so fast already though 😎

[@CichlidBros]

Glad it was helpful!

[@delheskins528]

Another superb video, I've got the red headed geos and superb little fish I'd love to see a video on your true parrot Mines about 10" now and he's truly a centre piece of the tank A very under rated fish

[@CichlidBros]

Thank you - suggestion is noted!

[@just8bits29]

Do you think seachem onyx sand would be good for them? I bought a bunch over a month ago and I don't think I can return it now but I want to be sure!

[@jagdeeplitt8009]

Great video very informative. What kind of substrate do you have in the tank?

[@CichlidBros]

Thank you! It's carib sea sunset gold sand

[@souza4691]

I love geophagus and severum

[@snoopysrc]

Cichlid Bros you got a new sub

[@CichlidBros]

Thank you - much appreciated!

[@jonasfarias2567]

Beautiful😍

[@shailesh606]

Beautiful,do geophagus enjoy high flow rate from filter as my filter has high flow rate should I change it or is it ok

[@CichlidBros]

Thanks! I have high flow rates, and they seem to do well with it

[@shailesh606]

@@CichlidBros Thank you

[@danchen6600]

Hi! i love your videos i wanted to ask, would it be possible to hv one severum and some grophagus in a 55 gallon?

[@CichlidBros]

Yep. Might be a bit tight once the severum is an adult, but should work

[@Lulu-gb7it]

I recently bought some red head tapajos So I thought. It's about 4 inches long trailers but no red head. Is this normal. Does the head only get red in certain situations

[@irmscher2007]

Great video. How many redheads would you recommend for a species only 350L tank with and external and internal filter?

[@d33p.]

Que tal, buen video. Tengo una duda. Es la misma especie el geophagus red tapajos y el geophagus sumenarensis?

[@yannickfuster8498]

Hello. Wonderfull geophagus tapajos ! Do you know if this fish is peacefull to live with discus ? My discus are calm and pacific. I'd like to add a fish to play in the sand. My aqua is a 1000 liters and 2m50 for long. I don't know if i buy corydoras or geo tapajos. Thank you for your help 😊

[@CichlidBros]

Usually can go together if the tank is a good size

[@mellowsohype]

Super cool. I’m trying to build a SA community tank in my 75 gallon. Do tapajos have to be in groups or can I have a solo in the tank along with with something along the lines of a Severum, Parrot, EBA and maybe a couple plecos?

[@CichlidBros]

I would recommend either just one, or a group of 5 or more. I think that setup could work well!

[@scotp6362]

I just lost my 4 year old male Electric Blue Acara. I still have a full grown female Blue Acara in a 75 gallon tank. They had been breeding but never made it past two weeks with the babies. I want to get 5 or 6 Geophagus Tapajos. The largest ones I can find on line are about 2”. I am also contemplating getting 5 or 6 Electric Blue Acara as well. One of my LFS has baby electric blues around 3/4 inch. Do you think my Blue Acara female is too big to put the little geophagus or little Acara in with her? Would you grow all of them out in the 75 or start them in smaller tanks like you did in this video?

[@acuariombr]

excellent video, greetings from Spain like 262

[@CichlidBros]

Thank you!

[@MrAggriffin3]

They get HITH very easy and it appears the fish focused at the 2:00 mark has the start of either a parasite on his head or HITH?

[@CichlidBros]

No that’s not HITH. I haven’t had any issues with mine, and they’re all doing well 4 months since the video

[@rfo23]

I’m looking at getting a group for my 90g. Along with Acaras and Severums. What water parameters are best? Ph, kh, gh, temp? I’ve kept African cichlids for almost 20 years. I’m making the switch to South Americans.

[@cheasong1]

Would love to see a video profiles on tropheus

[@kingarghagaming8310]

Love from India.. really nice set up and awesome fish you have...I want some Tips about "Electric blue acara" Bcz I have two

[@justinbonnette3784]

Can u do a video on uarus

[@joshhopper6109]

Good looking group. I wanted to order some but my local stores can't get them... Have you ever thought about doing rainbows or discus? I'm growing a few rainbows now they are looking great.

[@rayaquatics1]

Nice

[@rafatorres1420rt]

Are they hardy ? I'm trying to put them with a jack Dempsey and firemounth and some other large cichlids,

[@CichlidBros]

Sometimes. I usually say add with caution when putting with slightly more aggressive Central Americans

[@dannyhernandez434]

One of my favorites. I have 3 now in my 125 gallon. How many fish in total in your 180g? I currently have 13 in my 125 and I’m currently waiting on my 180g tank so I will like to know how many fish I could have in there give or take? I currently have Geos, Severums, Chocolate, electric Blue Acara and a Common Pleco.

[@CichlidBros]

Nice! I currently have 18 in my 180, but some of that number will depend on the type of fish you keep. Since I have an Oscar, Chocolate, True Parrot that get large, I’m probably maxed out long term

[@AZI3623]

South American Cichlids are pretty hardy unless they don't fight with each other and get injured. I might be wrong but that's my experience.

[@Hatchy_Auto_Engineering]

My geophagus looked nothing like these, and they were supposedly tapajos. Mine were a bit bulkier and developed bumps on their head and killed eachother. Like all cichlids, just be careful with what you get, and try to get them when theyre a little bit bigger too

[@SuperMadmemo]

Maybe your geos are some hybrids. I heard that they cross over other geophagus and the hybrids will be very aggressive and other looking.

[@rafatorres1420rt]

Beautiful fish and awesome videos , where did you get them ?

[@CichlidBros]

Thanks! I got the Tapajos on aquabid.com about 3 years ago

[@tinadoyle3803]

Would 3 be ok in a 65g tank with 4 key hole chiclids be ok ?

[@CichlidBros]

Yep, most likely!

[@thegoodbadandtheugly8431]

I have geo really small baby altifrons. What is the growing rate? I have these and Ellioti. Can you do video I baby altifrons

[@Pdh24]

Hi chiclid bros what's the acara at 1:34 top of screen many thanks

[@CichlidBros]

Hey there. It’s a cichlasoma bimaculatum

[@Pdh24]

@@CichlidBros hi thanks .apart from port acara what other fish look similar I have 3 that I'm having trouble figuring out 100% .I'm torn between 1 being either port or 2 spot. (like the one in video/got sold to me as a blue acara .the shop now atually has blue acaras in stock.)and the other 2 being 2spot or brown acara .got sold to me as brown acara .but as a whole the bigger looks like a port at times but they all look very alike all these acaras alone can have slightly different colourshades. I'm really hoping they are black acaras they can be hard to come by here in the uk got them at the price of a cheaper fish

[@iqbaljumani4717]

Omg Good

[@legsian]

superb, am think of getting some now, but i only got a 125 litre tank, not sure the coversion into gallons is, am in england uk here, any tips please, great video you guys do, greetings from england uk, stay safe guys.

[@SuperMadmemo]

Your 125 liters are to small for them. One pair need minimum 240liters Volumen.

[@legsian]

@@SuperMadmemo I have a 240litre so no worries ok

[@SuperMadmemo]

@@legsian Bravo

[@richardandrews4076]

What temperature do you find best for these fish ?

[@CichlidBros]

I keep my tank at 77 degrees

[@richardandrews4076]

@@CichlidBros thank you 🙏

[@tinadoyle3803]

What are you feeding them ?

[@CichlidBros]

- Xtreme Krill Flakes - geni.us/iTAWsN - Xtreme Nice Pellets - geni.us/6ADcc

[@snoopysrc]

what cichlids would you recommend for a 20gallon tank?????

[@CichlidBros]

Apistogramma or Shell dwellers would be good options!

[@snoopysrc]

@@CichlidBros please dont bash me but i am getting a blood parrot for a 20gallon i really like the fish and its personality i have add

[@sumantradattabhowmik2526]

In my 5ft tank I have 30 parrot fish of 4” size.. Can I have 5 1” size Tapajos? Will they grow or be scared of parrots all the time..

[@kenji8014]

Sir how many males do you have?. ... I'm planning to breed them so I need to control male's population

[@doyleanderson5357]

what is ph in your tank/thxs

[@JuniorCrute-ht7ss]

I would put a pair of lusosso with a single male green severum cichlid.

[@tail66]

I have 2 Tapajos. after about 16 months they are under 3"

[@TXmommy210]

Can 1 of these fish be kept in a 55 community tank?

[@CichlidBros]

I think that would work well in most cases

[@gavinkiely5467]

Am I crazy to think that I could keep some giant vallis plants with these guys?

[@GreenCanvasInteriorscape]

If you put some rocks near the base of the plants I don't think that they would dislodge it, bells are pretty resilient

[@iliketofish6966]

do you think 1 geo can live with 2 baby oscars the geo is about 2 inches bigger

[@CichlidBros]

I think that would be fine. Just keep an eye on the Oscars attitude. Most of the time it’ll work out

[@binky2301]

What are your tap water conditions like?

[@CichlidBros]

High PH and hard water. I’ve just kept water parameters consistent and they have thrived. Helps that they were tank raised 👌🏻

[@binky2301]

@@CichlidBros Thanks, that's what I have here and mine seem fine. I did have a batch that hexamita ripped through and killed in days despite treatment...

[@Minhluong116]

I had a jack Dempsey I raised him 1 and half years old in 20 gallons tank he really big now he so naughty keep pulling all my decorations move around the tank what can I do !!!

[@wolverineballer3376]

Nothing

[@jamel_cap]

so handsome 😍 😍 😍 😍

[@roystevenson1297]

hi ur KZbin channel is great question can you put peacocks full grown in a 60gal show tank and full grown haps how big do peacocks gets mad haps

[@Chan-fi9bu]

Naughty fish and bosses lol but absolutely beautiful

[@NoAnonima]

👀👀

[@fisharefwends]

I want some but they are pricey here

[@HalfManHalfCichlid]

Mine like yours are showing very little of the red forehead. Beautiful fish nonetheless

[@coopcfishing1361]

Do you think I could put these fish with a full grown Oscar

[@Chan-fi9bu]

My doesn't have red head, in fact got orange head lol

[@CichlidBros]

Both are common names - nothing was said incorrectly in the video. Regardless these are Geophagus tapajos, recently changed to Geophagus pyrocephalus

[@akvarist1849]

hi jack accless you look a lot like😊

[@oddbhan]

Really great looking fish, but I think I have to stop watching your videos. You have given me a serious case of MTS. I was perfectly happy with my Mbuna tank until recently, but now I want geophagus, oscars and severums as well. Need more tanks.