Eartheater Cichlid
Geophagus altifrons
Geophagus, literally translated as 'eartheaters', are fascinating South American cichlids famous for their incessant and tireless sifting of sand. Endowed with spectacular long filamentous fins and pearlescent pastel colorations, these sizable fish (up to 25 cm / 10 inches) spend their entire day gathering mouthfuls of sand, sifting edible detritus from it, and expelling the sand out through their gills. They are incredibly peaceful cichlids if kept in the correct setup, ideal as giant scavengers for maxi-sized community aquariums.
Water Temperature
26 - 30 °C
pH Value
6 - 7.5
Water type
Freshwater
Tank level
Bottom and middle
Adult size
25 cm
Minimum tank volume
>= 400 L
Minimum group
>= 5
GH
4 - 10 dGH
KH
2 - 5 dKH
TDS
80 - 200 ppm
Conductivity
125 - 313 uS/cm
Species description
Geographical Origin and Habitat: Native to the large Amazon basins, in particular Rio Negro and Rio Trombetas (Brazil). Inhabits warm, sandy and calm waters (clear or dark), foraging the bottom in the shelter of flooded woods and submerged roots.
Taxonomy and Morphology: Geophagus (Earth-eating Cichlid). Large (25 cm / 10 inches) and elegant species. Steep cranial profile (hence "altifrons", high forehead), with mouth positioned low to favor benthic nutrition. Laterally compressed body and very extensive fins.
Social Behavior: Essential gregariousness. Must be strictly kept in schools (5-8 specimens) to dissipate hierarchical aggression; single specimens become shy or, conversely, neurotic. Incessantly busy digging ("earth-eater").
Coloration and Sexual Dimorphism: Spectacle of iridescence. Sand or gray background, covered by iridescent light blue, green and golden streaks on the flanks and on the wide fins, which have very long terminal filaments (especially in dominant males). Females are identical but slightly less stocky and less gaudy.
Care, breeding and tankmates
Aquarium Setup: Very large tank (minimum 150 cm / 5 feet in length / 400 liters). THE BOTTOM IS CRITICAL: strictly and only use very fine sand (not sharp quartz or gravel) 5-7 cm deep. Arrange arched woods and Echinodorus (if well anchored, they might be uprooted).
Diet and Feeding: Filters the sand through its gills, extracting benthic invertebrates. In the aquarium they swallow mouthfuls of sand mixed with food, spitting out the gravel. Feed with sinking pellets (max 1-2 mm), bloodworms, tubifex and frozen brine shrimp. Food that doesn't sink will be ignored.
Water Quality: Warm Amazonian waters: 26-30°C (79-86°F), pH 6.0-7.5, soft (GH 4-10). Being constantly moving bottom sifters, they raise a lot of particulate matter: the mechanical filter must be excellent. Nitrates must remain below 20 ppm.
Compatibility and Cohabitation: Large but docile cichlid. Perfect in immense South American biotope tanks (Geophagus tank) in the company of large schools of Tetras (Cardinals, Bleheri), Loricariids (Ancistrus, Panaque), Uaru or Severum. Ignores fish that swim high.
Aquarium Breeding: Delayed maternal mouthbrooders. After laying and fertilizing the eggs (100-200) on a meticulously cleaned smooth stone, at the time of hatching (72h) the female welcomes the larvae into her mouth (mouthbrooding) protecting them for weeks and releasing them only to let them feed.
Risks and Diseases: Sharp substrates, coarse gravel or basalt will cause chronic abrasions to the mouth and gills which will lead them to death (Mouth rot). Sensitive to Hexamita (hole in the head) if subjected to strong stress from poor water quality or vitamin deficiencies.
Geographic Origin and Distribution
Native to the large Amazon basins, in particular Rio Negro and Rio Trombetas (Brazil). Inhabits warm, sandy and calm waters (clear or dark), foraging the bottom in the shelter of flooded woods and submerged roots.
Origin
Amazon, Orinoco, and GuianasEast Asia
Fish profile
- Temperament
- Peaceful
- It is a mild-mannered cichlid. Unprovoked aggression is very rare. It is a wonderful centerpiece fish.
- Diet
- Omnivore
- It is an eartheater. Feed sinking pellets and frozen bloodworms. A fine sand substrate is mandatory.
- Life expectancy
- 10 years
- Under optimal care, this species shows remarkable longevity in the aquarium, with an average lifespan of about 10 years or more. The key to achieving this longevity lies in maintaining pristine water parameters and using a sandy substrate that does not damage its gills. A rich diet and minimizing stress significantly extend its life expectancy.
- Adult size
- 25 cm
- The catalog's scalar value is 25 cm. The FishBase SPECIES table (v25.04 snapshot) source reports a maximum adult measurement of 26.5 cm for this species, recorded as total length (TL). The taxonomic record consulted is Geophagus altifrons (v25.04); male or unsexed record. These figures are not interchangeable: the first is the profile's editorial reference, whereas the second is a published maximum under a specific measurement convention; differences among sources can reflect sex, population, life stage and measuring method.
- Sex ratio
- Flexible
- Keep them in groups. This diffuses natural aggression. Pairs will emerge as they mature.
- Feeding frequency
- Twice daily
- It constantly sifts the sand. Feed multiple small meals daily. This mimics natural continuous foraging.
- Bioload
- Medium to High
- This fish produces a high bioload. Robust biological filtration is essential. Frequent water changes are necessary.
- Flow
- Moderate
- It originates from riverine environments. It prefers moderate water flow. Provide resting areas with calm water.
- Jump risk
- No
- Reproduction
- Mouthbrooder
- Many are mouthbrooders. Parents fiercely guard eggs and fry. Breeding pairs form naturally over time.
- Compatibility & tankmates
- Verify
- It is generally peaceful. It fits well in community tanks. It becomes territorial during spawning.
- Tank level
- Middle/Bottom
- It stays at the bottom. It continuously sifts the sand. A large footprint is required.
Scientific Parameters & Models
FishBase
Window to the official scientific data of the species
Data synced on: 06/15/2026
- Trophic level
- 2.2 ± 0.1 se
- Resilience
- High (less than 15 months)
- Phylogenetic uniqueness (PD50)
- 0.5
- Bayesian Length-Weight
- a = 0.01905, b = 2.99
- VulnerabilityLow vulnerability (17 / 100)
Image gallery
Licensed images linked to the species or, when marked, to the closest representative taxon.
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Recommendations grouped by close relatives, companion choices, and similar care.
