TankBud

Longbody eartheater

Gymnogeophagus mekinos

Also known as Mekinos gymnogeophagus

FreshwaterFish

Longbody eartheater (Gymnogeophagus mekinos)
The Wet Spot Tropical Fish · Used with permission

Care at a glance

Temperature
61–79°F
16–26°C
pH
6.5–7.8
Adult size
5.1 in
13 cm
Minimum tank
66 gal
250 L
Temperament
Mostly peaceful
Social behavior
Social
Swim level
Bottom
Difficulty
Medium
Breeding
Medium
Rarity
Rare
Family
Cichlidae
Origin
Uruguay basin

Overview

The longbody eartheater is a slender, mild-mannered cichlid for the bottom of a temperate tank. It is a moderate challenge to keep.

Did you know

The longbody eartheater's genus is full of stocky, sometimes hump-headed fish, but this species took the opposite build. Its name, mekinos, is Greek for prolonged or elongate. The scientists who described it chose the name because it is the slimmest, longest-bodied eartheater of the group.

Caring for the longbody eartheater

Keep longbody eartheaters in at least 66 gal (250 L), with a long open floor of fine, soft sand to sift. Add some wood and smooth stone, and keep the flow gentle.

Like their relatives, they prefer cooler, seasonal water to constant heat. Let the temperature range across the year within 61 to 79°F (16 to 26°C), with a genuine winter cool-down. Keep the pH at 6.5 to 7.8, in soft to moderately hard water.

They feed along the bottom, sorting food from mouthfuls of substrate. Feed sinking foods and small frozen invertebrates.

Longbody eartheaters are social and fine alone or in a group, but a small group suits them better than a single fish. They are peaceful with other calm fish of similar size.

Like other members of their genus, they are mouthbrooders. Breeding them is of medium difficulty.

Good to know

The longbody eartheater is one of the South American eartheaters in the family Cichlidae. It was described in 2015 as one of several new Gymnogeophagus from the Uruguay basin.

In the wild

Gymnogeophagus mekinos lives in the sandy runs of the Uruguay river drainage, in southern South America. Its water swings with the seasons rather than staying tropical.

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Tank mates

The longbody 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 longbody eartheater need?

A longbody eartheater needs at least 66 gal (250 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.

What temperature and pH does a longbody eartheater need?

A longbody eartheater is comfortable at 61–79°F (16–26°C) with a pH of 6.5–7.8.

What does a longbody eartheater eat?

A longbody eartheater feeds along the bottom, sorting food from mouthfuls of substrate. Offer it sinking foods and small frozen invertebrates.

How big does a longbody eartheater get?

An adult longbody eartheater reaches about 5.1 in (13 cm).

How does a longbody eartheater breed?

A longbody eartheater is a mouthbrooder, like other members of its genus. Breeding it is of medium difficulty.

Related species