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No federal permit to keepRedhump eartheater
Geophagus steindachneri
Fishes › Cichlids (Cichliformes) › Cichlidae (Cichlids)
The redhump eartheater (Geophagus steindachneri) is a species of eartheater cichlid from freshwater habitats in northwestern South America.
Intro from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Care at a glance
Species-specific aquarium care
- Tank: At least 36 in long and 15 in front to back for one adult (adults commonly reach about 7.8 in / 19.8 cm).
- Water: Freshwater.
- Temperature: 75–79°F (range recorded for this species).
- pH: 6.5–7.
- Hardness: 5–15 dGH.
- Layout: Uses both the bottom and open water: give open swimming space plus cover near the substrate.
- Diet: A substrate browser: offer sinking foods and let it sift the bottom; use soft sand if it digs. FishBase classes it as a herbivore.
Calculated from this species' own FishBase record: tank size from its typical adult length and swimming zone, water values from its recorded ranges. The group guide below fills in general care.
Care guide
Species care notes
- Tank: a base of at least 47 × 18 in (roughly 64 US gallons); space needed is rated “large tank”.
- Water: a fairly wide range, from slightly acidic to slightly alkaline, 68–86 °F, pH 6–7.5, 2–12 dGH.
- Behaviour: temperament fights its own; in a pair; not a community fish.
- Difficulty: Moderate (Seriously Fish rating).
Short excerpts from the species profile:
- Setup: “The most essential item of décor is a soft, sandy substrate so that the fish can browse naturally (see 'Diet').”
- Diet: “Benthophagous by nature, mostly employing a feeding strategy whereby mouthfuls of substrate are taken and sifted for edible items with the remaining material expelled via the gills and mouth.”
- Tankmates: “Adult males are aggressively territorial towards rival males, especially when reproductively active, and only a single individual should be housed in all but the largest aquaria.”
- Breeding: “Ovophilous, maternal mouthbrooder forming weak temporary pair bonds for the duration of the spawning process, after which the female is responsible for broodcare.”
From the Seriously Fish profile for this species, which has the full habitat, maintenance, diet, behaviour and breeding write-up 167
Oscars, peacock bass, pike cichlids and eartheaters
Applies to most species in this group. Habitat: Large South American rivers. Individual species can differ, so compare with the species numbers above and the linked sources.
Housing & setup
- For one adult Astronotus ocellatus, plan at least a 150 × 60 cm base according to Seriously Fish; pairs and groups need more space. Use separate adult plans for Cichla and each eartheater species.
- Soft sand for eartheaters (Geophagus, Satanoperca), which sift substrate through their gills.
Climate & lighting
Starting point only: The blanket warm-water interval excludes the subtropical seasonal requirements of G. balzanii; use overrides. Check the species-specific values for this animal where shown.
| Water | 77–84°F |
Diet
- Astronotus ocellatus is an omnivore with a preference for animal foods; offer quality pellets and varied suitable foods rather than feeder-fish dependence. Cichla and substrate-sifting eartheaters require separate feeding plans.
Health watch
- Hole-in-the-head disease and lateral line erosion in poor water; eartheaters suffer on sharp gravel.
Understanding the animal
In the wild
In the wild
From this species’ own FishBase record (habitat, bottom type, water and breeding data), not its family. Good care copies these conditions.1
| Where it lives | Lives in freshwater. Uses both the bottom and open water. |
| Water it lives in | Freshwater, 75–79 °F (24–26 °C), pH 6.5–7, hardness 5–15 dH. |
| Climate | Tropical climate. |
| Wild diet | Browsing on substrate. |
| Behavior to plan for | Breeding: external brooders. |
What this means for care
- Keep water within its wild range, 75–79 °F.
Native climate (measured)
Native climate (measured)
| Warm-season highs | about 89°F (up to 95°F in the hottest sampled areas) |
| Cool-season lows | about 69°F (down to 55°F in the coldest sampled areas) |
| Average temperature | 65–83°F across sampled records |
| Relative humidity | 77–82% on average (driest month about 74%) |
| Rainfall | about 2142 mm a year |
Measured at 114 wild occurrence records sampled against WorldClim 2.1 climate data (1970–2000 averages). Air conditions in the range are ecological context, not enclosure settings: microhabitats such as burrows, leaf litter or basking rocks can be cooler, warmer or more humid.
From the sources
From the sources
Quoted from the matching sections of reputable sources for this exact species. Specialist databases are used first; Wikipedia (community-edited, CC BY-SA 4.0) only fills gaps. Other sources are short credited quotes.
| Overview | The redhump eartheater (Geophagus steindachneri) is a species of eartheater cichlid from freshwater habitats in northwestern South America. — Wikipedia (community-edited) |
| Where it lives | Home ranges Population dynamics Growth parameters Max. ages / sizes Length-weight rel. Length-frequencies Mass conversion Recruitment Abundance Life cycle Reproduction Maturity Maturity/Gills rel. — FishBase |
| Reproduction | Very little is known of the breeding habits of this peaceful species. — FishBase |
| History and naming | The cichlid is named in honor of Austrian ichthyologist Franz Steindachner (1834–1919). — Wikipedia (community-edited) |
Data and studies
The numbers
The numbers
Each bar is what one source reports. Where several sources weigh in, the dashed gold band marks their average.
Typical adult weight
Average adult body mass in each database (FishBase gives the maximum recorded weight).
Adult length
Maximum recorded length. Measured as total length. Fish in home aquariums often stay smaller than wild records.
Water temperature
Range the species tolerates in nature; aim for the middle.
Minimum tank footprint
Seriously Fish recommends a tank base of at least 47 × 18 in (about 64 US gallons).
Sources for this sheet
- FishBase (Froese & Pauly, eds.), version 24.07 Peer-reviewed researchThe global scientific database on fishes, maintained by a consortium of research institutions; every value is referenced.
- Seriously Fish species profiles Experienced keeper or breederLong-running aquarium reference written and peer-checked by experienced fishkeepers and ichthyologists; each profile covers habitat, tank size, water, diet, behaviour and breeding.
- Merck Veterinary Manual: Management of aquarium fish Zoo, university or veterinaryThe Merck Veterinary Manual: a standard veterinary reference written and reviewed by veterinary specialists.
- Merck Veterinary Manual: Types and features of aquatic systems Zoo, university or veterinaryThe Merck Veterinary Manual: a standard veterinary reference written and reviewed by veterinary specialists.
- Seriously Fish: Gymnogeophagus balzanii Experienced keeper or breederAdded in the 2026 source-checked care-guide review.
- Seriously Fish — Astronotus ocellatus Zoo, university or veterinaryAdded in the 2026 source-checked care-guide review.
- Wikipedia (species article) Community referenceFree encyclopedia; useful overviews with their own citations. Intro text is quoted under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- iNaturalist (captive observations) Community referenceCommunity observation platform run by the California Academy of Sciences and National Geographic; observations marked captive show animals living in homes, zoos and aquariums.
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