Red Striped Eartheater (Geophagus surinamensis) CareSheet

Geophagus surinamensis, also known as the Redstripe Eartheater, Mother-of-Pearl Eartheater, and Opalescent Eartheater, is an amber-colored eartheater with a long snout and eyes situated high on the head. Geophagus surinamensis has an ink smudge-like gray-black splotch on its side. With the exception of the pectoral fins, the background color is olive-green to pearl gray, with iridescent bluegreen bands on its flanks and little iridescent blue dots on its fins. Geophagus surinamensis has strong red lateral stripes in the wild, but they disappear in captivity.

A 55 gallon or bigger tank with a sandy bottom and flat rocks is required for the Geophagus surinamensis. The back of the tank should include stone and root caverns, and the tank's sides should be adorned with hardy, potted plants. They are verified burrowers, thus caution should be used while constructing caverns to prevent them from collapsing. The Geophagus surinamensis may be housed in the same aquarium as giant catfish. Compare with Geophagus jurupari species.

Geophagus surinamensis will form nuclear families when they couple up. During spawning, they are territorial and violent. Geophagus surinamensis are larvophile mouth brooders, which means they deposit eggs and both the female and male take the larvae into their mouths for protection just before or as they hatch.

Geophagus surinamensis is an omnivore that eats a variety of prepared and frozen meals, including as freeze-dried bloodworms, tubifex, and ocean plankton, as well as flake food and cichlid pellets.

Requirements for keeping Geophagus surinamensis

Minimum Tank Size: 55 gallons
Care Level: Difficult
Tank Conditions: 72-77°F; pH 6.9-7.1
Max. Size In Aquarium: Up to 12"
Temperament: Aggressive
Diet: Omnivore

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Geophagus surinamensis tank