Eartheater cichlid

Care at a glance

Overview

Despite its size this is a peaceful, generally gentle cichlid that does best in a group of five or more, which spreads out any squabbling. It works the lower and middle water, spending much of its day sifting sand for food. It needs a big tank, around 435 liters or more, and a varied diet of sinking pellets, frozen foods, and small live foods. It mixes well with other calm, larger fish that can take the same warm, soft water.

In the wild

This eartheater comes from warm, clear rivers in Brazil, often over sandy bottoms in slow to moderate flow. Sand is essential, since the fish constantly takes in mouthfuls and sifts them for food, and sharp substrate damages its gills and mouth. Use a large tank with a soft sand bed, some driftwood and smooth rocks, and warm water in the high 20s to low 30s C with a pH on the soft, neutral side.

Good to know

This is a large cichlid in the family Cichlidae, growing to around 25 cm. The name eartheater comes from its sand-sifting feeding style. It is a mouthbrooder, with the parents holding eggs and fry in the mouth for protection. It prefers warm water, well up into the high 20s C and above.

Did you know

It feeds by scooping up a mouthful of sand, sorting out the edible bits inside, and spitting the clean grains back out through its gills and mouth. A group working a sandy bottom keeps it churned and clean.

Related species

• 

  Pearl eartheater

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  11 in (28 cm)75 gal (284 L)68–79°F (20–26°C)

• 

  Red head Tapajos

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• 

  Red hump eartheater

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• 

  Blue dolphin cichlid

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• 

  Chocolate cichlid

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• 

  Green chromide

  Etroplus suratensis

  11.8 in (30 cm)145 gal (550 L)68–86°F (20–30°C)