Fishician®Diet
Omnivore – cichlid pellets, frozen brine shrimp, sifts sand for invertebrates and detritus
Aquarium species profile
Geophagus
Geophagus brasiliensis · South America (Eastern Brazil, Uruguay, Argentina)
Minimum tank75 gal
Adult size10"
Care levelModerate
TemperamentSemi-Aggressive
Temperature68–82°F
pH range6.0–7.5
Compatible tank mates
Large peaceful South American cichlids, large catfish, large tetras
Tank mates to avoid
Small fish (will swallow), very aggressive cichlids
Care notes
'Eartheater' cichlid — constantly sifts mouthfuls of sand filtering out food, then spits the sand back out. Requires a deep sandy substrate (3+ inches). Fascinating behavior. Pair-bonding substrate spawner with biparental care.
Check the whole aquarium. Tank size alone does not establish compatibility. Confirm adult size, water overlap, social grouping, territory, diet, and the individual animals before stocking.