Stone Eartheater
Retroculus lapidifer
The colossal and unattainable 'Stone Eartheater' or 'Rapids Eartheater' (15-20 cm). One of the most clamorous anomalies of the cichlid family, it evolved for life on the rocky bottom of the most violent rapids in South America. It lacks a functional swim bladder, spending its entire life crawling on the bottom or clinging to stones with enormous ventral fins. It demands frightening currents, very high oxygenation and hot waters. Expensive, hyper-active and highly territorial cichlid, it is the undisputed king of extreme River-Tanks.
Température de l’eau
26 - 30 °C
Valeur du pH
6.5 - 7.5
Type d'eau
Eau douce
Niveau dans le bac
Fond
Taille adulte
20 cm
Volume minimal du bac
>= 180 L
Groupe minimal
>= 1
GH
2 - 8 dGH
KH
1 - 4 dKH
TDS
40 - 160 ppm
Conductivité
63 - 250 uS/cm
Description de l'espèce
Geographic Origin and Biotope: FishBase records Retroculus lapidifer from the Amazon River basin and the Tocantins and Capim river basins in Brazil. It records the species as freshwater, benthopelagic and tropical, with a temperature of 22–27 °C.
Taxonomy and Morphology: FishBase records maximum lengths of 19.5 cm SL for male/unsexed specimens and 25.1 cm SL for females.
Social Behaviour: This recovery makes no statement about social behaviour.
Colouration and Sexual Dimorphism: This recovery makes no statement about colouration or sexual dimorphism beyond the separately recorded maximum lengths.
Soins, reproduction et cohabitation
FishBase records Retroculus lapidifer as a freshwater, benthopelagic tropical species with a recorded temperature of 22–27 °C. Its listed distribution is the Amazon River basin and the Tocantins and Capim River basins in Brazil. The listed maximum lengths are 19.5 cm SL for male/unsexed specimens and 25.1 cm SL for females.
Origine et répartition géographiques
Cette espèce provient de : Sud America (Bacino dei fiumi Araguaia e Tocantins, Brasile).
Origine
Amazonie, Orénoque et Guyanes
Profil de poisson
- Tempérament
- Semi-aggressive
- They are generally peaceful towards mid-water swimmers but highly territorial towards other bottom-dwellers. They display fascinating earth-moving behaviors that can constantly reshape the aquarium landscape. They require a specialized setup to exhibit their true, active nature.
- Régime alimentaire
- Omnivore
- They are specialized benthivores that sift through the substrate for aquatic insects and crustaceans. In the aquarium, they require a diet of high-quality sinking cichlid pellets. Offering frozen bloodworms and krill simulates their natural diet perfectly.
- Espérance de vie
- 5-8 years
- Taille adulte
- 20 cm
- Ratio des sexes
- Solitary
- Keeping them in a small group allows a natural pair to form. Once paired, the rest of the group may need to be removed to prevent severe aggression. Single specimens can also thrive without a mate.
- Fréquence d'alimentation
- Twice daily
- Feed them moderate amounts twice a day. They feed by scooping up sand, so ensure food sinks directly to the bottom. Overfeeding should be avoided to prevent rapid water quality deterioration.
- Charge biologique
- High
- This is a robust, rheophilic cichlid that produces a substantial bioload. Their messy eating habits and size require heavy-duty filtration. Frequent, large water changes are mandatory to maintain the pristine water quality they demand.
- Courant
- Stagnant
- They absolutely require strong, highly oxygenated water flow simulating fast rapids. High-turnover canister filters and multiple powerheads are essential for their health. Without powerful flow, they will become lethargic and susceptible to disease.
- Risque de saut
- Yes
- While not typically surface jumpers, their powerful swimming can result in accidental leaps. A heavy, secure glass lid is necessary to prevent them from jumping out during sudden bursts of speed. Ensure all equipment gaps are covered.
- Reproduction
- Oviparous
- They are unique pit-spawners that dig deep nests in the substrate, usually behind rocks. Both parents vigorously defend the nest and the fry against intruders. Breeding requires highly oxygenated water and a specific diet conditioning.
- Compatibilité et compagnons
- Semi-aggressive
- They are relatively peaceful for cichlids but are highly specialized. They can be kept with other rheophilic species like medium-sized plecos and fast-swimming tetras. Small bottom-dwellers might be aggressively chased away from their feeding territories.
- Niveau dans le bac
- Bottom
- They are strict bottom-dwellers that spend their entire day interacting with the substrate. A fine sand substrate is absolutely critical to prevent damage to their delicate gills. They will rarely venture into the middle or upper water column.
Modèles et paramètres scientifiques
FishBase
Fenêtre sur les données scientifiques officielles de l’espèce
FishBase v25.04Données synchronisées le : 15/06/2026
- Niveau trophique
- 3,5 ± 0,3 se
- Résilience
- Moyenne (1,4 - 4,4 ans)
- Singularité phylogénétique (PD50)
- 0.625
- Relation bayésienne longueur-poids
- a = 0.0182, b = 3.06
- VulnérabilitéVulnérabilité faible (21 / 100)
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