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Cichlids
/ South America / Eartheaters / Red hump Eartheater
Red hump Eartheater
"Geophagus" steindachneri | Pictures
Synonyms: Geophagus
hondae, G. magdalenae, G. pellegrini
Physical description: Males have a large, characteristic hump on their forehead that develops with age.
The
body coloring differs depending on the population.
Common colors are gold, green, red, orange, and black.
The
body is marked with irregular black spots.
The hump may change from golden to red.
The fins are spotted with iridescent
scales.
The male has an orange spot at each corner of his mouth.
These serve as the equivalent of the
egg-spots of Lake Malawi Cichlids.
Size/Length: To 10" in nature, although tank-bred fish usually do not exceed 6" (15
cm). Females
are considerably smaller.
Similar species: "Geophagus"
surinamensis
Habitat: South America; upper parts of the Rio Magdalena and its tributaries in Columbia and
Venezuela.
S: bottom
Aquarium: A tank measuring 48" (122 cm) with a capacity of 50 gallons (190 L) is recommended
for adult fish.
Use a deep substrate of sand or fine gravel.
The back parts of the tank should be
planted with large, well-rooted plants.
Use wood, rocks, and caves for hiding places.
Water chemistry: pH 6.5-7.2 (7.1), 5-15 dH (8), 75-81°F (24-27°C)
Social behavior: Females are not territorial, while dominant males can be aggressive.
This species can be combined with medium-sized
fish of the upper swimming levels, and other Eartheaters.
Pairs may become aggressive during spawning season.
Keep
one male with several females.
Females perform matriarchal duties, while males often form harems.
Suggested companions: Catfish (Loricarids, Pimelodids, Doradids), characins (Silver Dollars, Headstanders),
cichlids (Eartheaters, Cichlasomines).
FOOD: Live; crustaceans,
Tubifex, insects larvae; pellets; tablets; chopped
meat.
SEX: Males are larger and more colorful with an egg spot at each corner of the mouth.
Males
also have a characteristic hump on their forehead.
Breeding techniques: Use the recommended water values and a temperature between 77-82°F (25-28°C).
Depending
on the size of the female, from 30-150 bright yellow eggs are laid on a previously cleaned stone, following a brief
courtship.
The eggs are immediately taken into the female's mouth along with the sperm of a male.
The
eggs are mouthbrooded for a period of 15-20 days.
The female should not be fed during this time as she may accidentally
swallow her brood.
The large fry are easy to feed with dry and small live foods.
Breeding potential: 6.
Breeding is not difficult.
Remarks: Several different coloration/geographical populations are known to exist.
Sexually
mature from 2.8" (7 cm).
Difficulty of care: 4.
A robust and peaceful Eartheater.
Recent articles about fish
Overfishing may hurt Amazon forest trees
(2/5/2008) Overfishing is reducing the effectiveness of seed dispersal by fish in the Brazilian Pantanal, reports Nature. The research suggests that fishing practices can affect forest health.
Scientists find fish that literally lives in trees
(10/17/2007) Scientists have found a fish that literally lives in trees, according to research published in The American Naturalist and highlighted in New Scientist Magazine.
Piranhas originated when Amazon was flooded by seawater
(12/4/2007) South America's piranha family of fish -- notorious as eaters of flesh -- can be traced back to a single ancestor which dispersed when the Amazon was flooded by seawater some five million years ago, report researchers from the Institut de Recherche Pour le Developpement (IRD). Today piranhas are exclusively freshwater fish found from the Orinoco River basin in Venezuela to the Parana in Argentina.
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