Red Stripe Eartheater (Geophagus surinamensis)

With its long, delicate fins, colored a beautiful bright red and adorned with opalescent blue spots and stripes, the Red Stripe Eartheater makes for a spectacular addition to the home aquarium—a fish that would look just as natural on a coral reef as it does in its native habitat in South America. You’ll find this species in the river systems of Suriname and French Guiana, where it occurs in clear or blackwater streams with sandy bottoms.

As it’s common name indicates, this cichlid sifts the substrate for edible morsels, which might include anything from insect larvae to small shrimp or even bits of plant and algal matter. They’ll engage in this behavior regularly in captivity, so it is of some importance to choose a substrate that will not cause them any issues. Fine-grained sand is the best choice, though their constant rooting around has the potential to cloud the water with suspended particles if there is inadequate mechanical filtration. Larger gravels are also appropriate, though this will, of course, prevent their natural digging behaviors. Smaller gravels, which are often used in planted aquaria, are not recommended, as these could easily be swallowed and lead to digestive issues.

The maximum size for G. surinamensis is said to be 12”, though most aquarium specimens tend towards smaller dimensions of around 6-8”. The species does best if kept in groups of around a half-dozen or more, meaning that a fairly substantial aquarium is called for to house these as adults. If kept in smaller numbers, it is not uncommon for the dominant male to become fairly belligerent towards any smaller individuals. Males and female are not easily sexed, except when in breeding condition when the female will have a visible ovipositor. Captive breeding is quite common, with the eggs laid upon a smooth flat surface. After around three days, the young hatch out and are brooded in the parent’s mouths until ready to fend for themselves.

The peaceful nature of the Red Stripe Eartheater makes it a fantastic choice for a community aquarium, able to be safely mixed even with the smallest of tetras. On the other hand, aggressive fishes are known to harass this species. Many aquarists have kept G. surinamensis with freshwater stingrays, though it’s not uncommon for specimens to go missing at night when the rays are actively hunting. And, needless to say, this is one fish that is best kept out of a planted aquarium, as they will undo any attempts at aquascaping.