Origin: Paraguay, Uruguay and Argentina
Size: Males: 8 inches Females: 6 inches
Water: The species naturally occurs in pHs from 6.0 - 7.5 and general hardness of around 10dGh.
Best viewed in HD. (Click Play, bottom right hand side of video, click on settings, click HD)
Sex: Males grow slightly larger, have a much more prominent forehead. The females are smaller and have a more orange to yellow color belly.
Care: Gymnogeophagus balzani is an interesting species to keep. They are a relatively peaceful species although males can become increasingly intolerant of other males in their territories as they mature.
Temperature: Gymnogeophagus Balzani likes a slightly lower temperature than many of their more tropical cousins and will except temperatures as low as 70 degrees.
Aquarium: Gymnogeophagus balzani would be best housed in a reasonably large tank with other peaceful Geophagus Species.
Best viewed in HD. (Click Play, bottom right hand side of video, click on settings, click HD)
Youtube video by: Diogo Lolpes
Breeding: Gymnogeophagus Balzani is a mouthbrooder. The female can lay up to 500 eggs at a time usually on a stone or any other flat location. Once she lays her eggs the male will go behind her and fertilize the eggs. Once the courtship is complete she will pick up the eggs in her mouth and hold them until the babies are born. Once they are freeswiming she will spit them out if there is no danger so the babies can eat at which time you can feed them newly hatched brine shrimp. At the first sign of danger she will instantly put them back in her mouth. She will do this until the babies are no longer able to fit in her mouth.
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