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Bigspot eartheater

Geophagus megasema

Also known as Megasema eartheater

FreshwaterFish

Bigspot eartheater (Geophagus megasema)

Care at a glance

Temperature
77–84°F
25–29°C
pH
5.5–7.2
Adult size
9.1 in
23 cm
Minimum tank
172 gal
650 L
Temperament
Mostly peaceful
Social behavior
Social
Swim level
Bottom
Difficulty
Medium
Breeding
Mouthbrooder · Medium
Rarity
Rare
Family
Cichlidae
Origin
Guaporé and Mamoré basins

Overview

The bigspot eartheater is a peaceful cichlid that spends its day sifting sand on the bottom for food. It is a step up from the easiest fish and needs a very large tank.

Did you know

The bigspot eartheater carries a single large spot on its side. That mark has been the easiest way to tell it from other eartheaters for well over a century.

Caring for the bigspot eartheater

Give a bigspot eartheater at least 172 gal (650 L), since a group needs room. Lay a deep, soft sand bed it can dig and sift through without damage. Add driftwood and a few smooth rocks for structure, and leave plenty of open sand.

Keep the water soft and slightly acidic, at 77 to 84°F (25 to 29°C) and a pH of 5.5 to 7.2. It tolerates harder water as well. Feed sinking pellets, wafers and frozen foods such as bloodworm and brine shrimp, and make sure enough reaches the floor.

It is social and does fine alone or in a group. If you keep several, make it five or more. In smaller groups the weaker fish get picked on and the whole group stays nervous. It is gentle and easily out-competed, so keep it only with other calm tank mates and skip anything boisterous or nippy.

It spawns on the substrate, then broods the eggs and fry in its mouth. Breeding it is moderately difficult.

Good to know

The bigspot eartheater is a member of the cichlid family, described by Johann Jakob Heckel in 1840. Its name megasema means large mark, after the bold dark blotch on its flank.

In the wild

The bigspot eartheater comes from the Guaporé and Mamoré drainages on the Bolivia and Brazil border. It lives in warm rivers with clear to lightly tannin-stained water.

Weekly picks

Tank mates

The bigspot eartheater is a mostly peaceful, social species that keeps to the bottom. These picks share a community profile with it, are safe together in both directions, and overlap on water type, temperature and pH.

Check the full mix in the stocking calculator

Common questions

What size tank does a bigspot eartheater need?

A bigspot eartheater needs at least 172 gal (650 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.

What temperature and pH does a bigspot eartheater need?

A bigspot eartheater is comfortable at 77–84°F (25–29°C) with a pH of 5.5–7.2.

What does a bigspot eartheater eat?

A bigspot eartheater eats sinking pellets, wafers and frozen foods such as bloodworm and brine shrimp. Make sure enough food reaches the floor, where it feeds.

How big does a bigspot eartheater get?

An adult bigspot eartheater reaches about 9.1 in (23 cm).

How does a bigspot eartheater breed?

The bigspot eartheater lays its eggs on the substrate, then broods the eggs and fry in its mouth. Breeding it is moderately difficult.

Related species