Gymnogeophagus balzanii

Description

Gymnogeophagus balzani is an eartheater cichlid from the southern reaches of South America. Sometimes known as the Argentine Humphead, males develop exceptional (if not comical) nuchal humps that give them a distinct, blunt-headed appearance. Like many other Gymnogeophagus, it actually prefers cool temperatures (Below 78 fahrenheit) and thus does not explicitly require a heater. They do not mix well with other cichlids, but a male and a group of females work well together given enough space. Good tankmates are larger schooling fish that do not require high temps, such as Buenos Aires tetras or giant danios.

These are juveniles around 1-1.5″ long. They only show traces of their mature colour right now, but they’re putting on size and colour fast!