Bandit Cichlid (Geayi)

Geographical Origin and Habitat: South America (French Guiana and Suriname). Lives in small coastal rivers, hiding among flooded forests and intricate masses of woods and fallen dead leaves.

Taxonomy and Morphology: Bandit Cichlid (Guianacara geayi). Belongs to the "Geophaginae" clade. Unusual profile for geophagines: it has a flattened snout and a very steep forehead ("mastiff face"). Corpulent, squat disc and with long black pelvic fins.

Social Behavior: A true "engineer" Cichlid. Obsessive and tireless digger. Peaceful and shy (often gregarious when young), but in the reproductive phase the pairs claim a cave and brutally destroy anyone who approaches.

Coloration and Sexual Dimorphism: The name "Bandit" derives from the very strong black band that vertically crosses the eye and the blurred teardrop spot on the flank (which in geayi does not reach the belly). Massive adult males with pronounced nuchal "hump" and white-blue reflections.

Aquarium Setup: Requires a lot of architecture. The tank (minimum 120 cm / 48 inches) must be equipped with mandatory fine sand and many "Dens" built firmly with flat stones or coconut pots. They will dig craters right under the stones; make sure the glass is the base to avoid deadly collapses.

Diet and Feeding: Sand sifter (Eartheater). Offer food that sinks: garlic-spiced cichlid pellets, chopped earthworms, krill and granules that it will swallow expelling the sand.

Water Quality: Pure Amazonian fish. Seeks acidic water (Blackwater) loaded with tannins and very clean. If the water becomes loaded with phosphates from submerged food, they will show signs of rubbing on roots.

Compatibility and Cohabitation: Perfect mid-tank tankmates: Carnegiella (Hatchetfish), large Hemigrammus, Ancistrus and L104. Not recommended with Corydoras (who would end up mutilated invading the breeding caves of Guianacaras) or Apistogramma (would be killed).

Aquarium Breeding: Fascinating Cave Spawner. The male guards the entrance by digging mountains of sand like trenches, while the female sticks up to 300 eggs to the ceiling of the cave. Extremely caring parents.

Risks and Diseases: Collapse injuries. Their habit of digging all day under wooden or stone structures often leads to the collapse of the furniture, which crushes and kills the fish.