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Brachybranchus eartheater

Geophagus brachybranchus

Also known as Squarehead eartheater

FreshwaterFish

Brachybranchus eartheater (Geophagus brachybranchus)
Chrumps · CC BY-SA 4.0

Care at a glance

Temperature
77–84°F
25–29°C
pH
5.5–7.2
Adult size
6.7 in
17 cm
Minimum tank
106 gal
400 L
Temperament
Mostly peaceful
Social behavior
Social
Swim level
Bottom
Difficulty
Medium
Breeding
Mouthbrooder · Medium
Rarity
Rare
Family
Cichlidae
Origin
Guyana and Suriname rivers

Overview

The Brachybranchus eartheater is a peaceful, gregarious sand-sifting cichlid from the Guianas. It is a step up from the easiest fish and suits a large tank.

Did you know

For decades the Brachybranchus eartheater was shipped and sold under the name of its lookalike, Geophagus surinamensis. The fish was only sorted out later. Many older aquarium books and imports labeled surinamensis were really this fish or another close relative.

Caring for the Brachybranchus eartheater

Keep Brachybranchus eartheaters in a group of five or more, so the mild pecking order spreads out. A group needs a long tank of at least 106 gal (400 L). Lay a deep bed of soft sand they can sift without harming themselves, with some driftwood, rounded rock and a gentle current.

Hold the water at 77 to 84°F (25 to 29°C) and a pH of 5.5 to 7.2. The Brachybranchus eartheater works the bottom constantly, taking up mouthfuls of fine sand and sieving out food through its gills. A soft sand floor is not optional for it. Feed sinking pellets, frozen bloodworm, brine shrimp and mysis, and let plenty reach the sand.

It is peaceful for its size, but it is a large fish that needs space. Pair it with other calm, medium to large community fish.

It is a delayed mouthbrooder, and breeding it is of medium difficulty. The parents let the eggs hatch on a surface, then take the wrigglers into their mouths to finish rearing them.

Good to know

Geophagus brachybranchus belongs to the cichlid family. It is part of the Geophagus surinamensis group of Guiana Shield eartheaters.

In the wild

Geophagus brachybranchus lives in rivers and creeks of the Guiana Shield in Guyana and Suriname, over beds of sand and fine gravel. The water is warm and soft to neutral, often tea-stained.

Weekly picks

Tank mates

The Brachybranchus 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 Brachybranchus eartheater need?

A Brachybranchus eartheater needs at least 106 gal (400 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.

What temperature and pH does a Brachybranchus eartheater need?

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

What does a Brachybranchus eartheater eat?

A Brachybranchus eartheater takes up mouthfuls of sand and sieves out food through its gills. Feed it sinking pellets, frozen bloodworm, brine shrimp and mysis, and let plenty reach the sand.

How big does a Brachybranchus eartheater get?

An adult Brachybranchus eartheater reaches about 6.7 in (17 cm).

How does a Brachybranchus eartheater breed?

A Brachybranchus eartheater is a delayed mouthbrooder. The parents let the eggs hatch on a surface, then take the wrigglers into their mouths to finish rearing them. Breeding is of medium difficulty.

Related species