Gymnogeophagus questions

[toddnbecka]

I'll be receiving 2 pairs of "Catalan" this week, and am considering some "El Norte" as well. I presume they're named by collection site?
They would be housed in separate tanks, though one or the other would be sharing a 75 growout tank with some Australoheros oblongum juvies that are just old enough to pair off and spawn.
I've been told that the Catalan are pairing fish, while the El Norte are harem spawners. Is this correct? It seems more likely to me that both species would spawn in a similar manner since they're from the same general geographical region.
At what size do they mature and pair off?
Does a spawning pair (or harem) need to be moved into their own tank?
Aside from Australoheros, are there any other fish suitable for tankmates?

[abarilot]

Both G. sp. "Norte" and "Catalan" are in the Rhabdotus complex from northen Uruguay and they are both form pairs. From what I've gathered Norte are also known as "Sequiera". Glad to see you arent going to put them in the same tank, cuz it would be a shame mix the genes if they paired off.

Not sure about exact size but would somewhere around 2.5 to 3 inches I believe. I wouldnt worry about moving the pair from the tank until the fry hatch. Then I'd move both the fry and female to a separate tank and allow the female to hang with them for about a month, then move her back to the main tank.

As for tankmates what are you looking for? Both Corydoras paleatus and aeneus are from the region. Bleeding heart, serpae, Buenos Aires, and blackskirt tetras can handle the temp swings but not sure which ones live in Uruguay. There are also a couple of species of crenicichla that will live peacefully with your gymnos and australoheros. Check out Felipe's site as he is the main guide for people who collect in Uruguay.

http://aqvaterra.com/cichlids_other_fishes.php

[toddnbecka]

I have some Akysis catfish and BN pleco's that will work for cleanup, was mainly wondering whether dithers would be necessary/desirable. IME having other fish of some sort in the tank helps strengthen the pair-bond and encourages the parents to protect their brood rather than eat them. I found with the chanchito's it was better to move the parents after the fry were free-swimming.
The chanchito's are so easygoing it's hard to believe they're cichlids. They form a very strong and stable pair-bond, and take excellent care of the fry until they're preparing to spawn again. I have little idea of what to expect from the Gymno's, though I don't think they'll be holy terrors or kill each other.
Don't Crenicichla eat live food almost exclusively?

[FishfarmUSA]

All the Uruguay Crenicichla will eat pellets, Even wild caught fish within a week of being caught. Don't mix the two rhabdotus types in the same tank as they will hybridize, They are a little more aggressive than the Gymnogenys complex, but not to the point of killing each other and will make excellent tankmates for your Austrolheros. Ken