Red Head Tapajos ( Geophagus sp.)
Country of Origin: 🇺🇸USANeed a cool fish for your American Cichlid tank? Check out Red Head Tapajos!
They:
- Are relatively peaceful and are suited for larger aquariums ( 75 gallon and up)
- Beautiful when they are in schools of 3 or more
- Have a nice red color on their head they develop as they get bigger.
Red Head Tapajos
General Background
The Red Head Tapajos is scientifically known as Geophagus sp. This Cichlid is small and peaceful, with its roots in Brazil’s Rio Tapajos River in South America. The fish obtained its name from the name of the river where it originates.
The beautiful fish species is rare yet popular among aquarists. They add a bold red color and bling to aquariums, making them perfect for interior décor. The fish love areas with low lighting and warm, acidic, soft, and clean water when sifting food in sand.
The fish have a habit of eating soil and thus need a sandy substrate in the aquarium or fish tank. They sift sand through their gills to sieve out food particles for consumption. However, they do not like gravel, something that can cause choking in the fish or cause them not to eat.
Tapajos love living in schools of at least 4 fish, but you can only keep a pair for breeding purposes. The fish can grow to a maximum adult size of 6 inches.
The captive fish breed thrives in soft water with a pH range of 5.0 to 7.5 and a temperature range of 700 to 820F. Despite their origins, Tapajos have become popular in the aquarium and aquaculture business.
Tankmates
Red Head Tapajos get along well with most Cichlids that have their origins in South America, including larger tetras and catfish. They love living in large groups, including community tanks. However, they are commonly bred in biotope or species-specific aquariums. They can also be kept with other Cichlids.
When choosing tankmates for the Tapajos, size is important because they can live peacefully with larger fish species. Popular tankmates for the Tapajos include the Keyhole Cichlid, L333 Porto de Moz, and Red Spotted Severum fish.
Feed
Red Head Tapajos fish thrive on live plants such Anubias with attachments to driftwood. Apart from live food, the fish also feed on pellets, flakes, and frozen food.
FAQs
How many Red Head Tapajos can I keep together?
Tapajos love living in schools of many fishes. You can keep the fish species in a group of five or more in your aquarium.
What type of fish can go with Tapajos or Severums as tankmates?
The best tankmates for Red Head Tapajos (Severums) include Pearl, Blue, Moonlight, and Kissing Gourami fish species. Avoid smaller fish species such as Croaking, Honey, or Dwarf Gouramis because they may get killed and eaten.
DOA Policy
While this is a rare occurrence, it can and will happen from time to time. Fish are live animals and we cannot ensure that every one will arrive alive or remain alive. We do ask that if your fish arrives dead (DOA), submit a picture of the deceased fish that is in the bag within 2 hours of the delivery time of your fish. We will work quickly with you to resolve the problem.
We will offer replacement fish for any losses, but do not offer refunds at this time. We can replace fish but shipping costs is the responsibilityof the buyer. If you put the fish in your tank and it dies or is not acting properly, please contact us, with pictures,within 24 hours. We will again, do everything in our power to resolve the issue and ensure that you have a great experience with these fish.
Shipping Policy
Most Shipments will be UPS Next Day Air unless otherwise noted. Processing fish for your order can take up to 2 business days. This is to ensure your fish and healthy, happy, and ready to be put in your tank when it arrives. We ship fish on Mondays- Wednesday (excluding holidays) to ensure fish arrive before weekends. This allows us to completely prepare the fish for shipping and ensure they are healthy prior to arrive at your door. All fish will be shipped with oxygenated water and specific additives in the water to ensure they maintain their health and stability during shipment. Depending on the species of fish and current weather conditions, the fish may arrive with a heat pack or ice pack to maintain the optimal temperature which further ensures the health and safety of your fish. All costs of shipping (postage, packaging,heat/ice packs, etc.) are included in the Shipping fee. We ship to only the continental United States.
FAQ
"The fish I received do not look like the fish in thepicture. Why is this?"
- We typically take photographs of one or two fish when we initially get them in. Since we have a large quantity of most of the various species of fish, it would be understandably impossible to provide a picture ofevery individual fish with a specific species. For some of our more rare orlarger fish, the picture listed may be the actual fish that you are receiving.If this is the case, it will be designated by ?WYSIWYG?, meaning ?what you see,is what you get?.
"What happens if my fish arrive dead?"
- While this is a rare occurrence, it can and willhappen from time to time. Fish are live animals and we cannot ensure that everyone will arrive alive or remain alive. We do ask that if your fisharrives dead (DOA), submit a picture of the deceased fish that is in the bag.We will work quickly with you to resolve the problem. We will offer replacement fish for any losses, but do not offer refunds at this time. We will reship any replacement fish at the buyer's expense. If you put the fish in your tank and it dies or is not acting properly, please contact us, with pictures, within 24 hours. We will again, do everything in our power to resolvethe issue and ensure that you have a great experience with these fish.
"What if I'm not home when the fish arrive?"
- We will always provide you with a tracking number. While the fish are packaged to survive about 72+ hours within the shipping containers, we do ask that you make arrangements to arrive home to inspect your fish as soon as possible after they are delivered to your home. Itis always suggested to provide an area for the delivery person to place the boxthat is out of direct sunlight or extreme temperatures.
"What do I do with my fish once I've unpacked them?"
- Like you would with any new fish, let the entire bag float in your tank for 15-30 minutes. This allows the temperature withinthe bag to adjust to the same as your tank and will reduce temperature shock onthe fish. After this time, you can add all of the fish and water that is in thebag into your tank. The products used within the water for shipping will notharm any existing fish within your tank and actually makes the transition foryour new fish a bit easier. After this, expect your new fish to take a few daysto become fully adjusted, this includes hiding, floating at the top, sinking tothe bottom, and not eating. After a few days, your new fish should be acting aswimming like they normally would. At this point, enjoy your aquarium!
"I want to return my new fish because x,y,z?"
- Unfortunately, we are unable to accept returns.We do recommend contacting us via email with yourorder number and as much information as possible. We will try to assist you inresolving whatever the issue may be.
I have had the fish for a few weeks and they are doing great!
These are beautiful fish and are a great addition to my community. They were shipped quickly and safely. The price for the fish and the shipping rates are very competitive.