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Panama eartheater

Geophagus crassilabris

Also known as Thicklip eartheater

FreshwaterFish

Panama eartheater (Geophagus crassilabris)

Care at a glance

Temperature
77–84°F
25–29°C
pH
6.5–7.8
Adult size
10.2 in
26 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
Panama

Overview

The Panama eartheater is a peaceful, sociable cichlid that works the bottom of the tank. Keeping it well takes a little experience.

Did you know

The Panama eartheater is a geographic outlier. Nearly every Geophagus eartheater lives in South America. This one crossed into Central America and is the only one of its genus to make Panama home.

Caring for the Panama eartheater

Plan on at least 172 gal (650 L) with an open sand floor, since the Panama eartheater grows large and needs room. It takes mouthfuls of sand and sifts them through its gills for food. A deep, soft sand bed is essential, so avoid sharp gravel. Add some smooth wood as well.

Keep the water warm and close to neutral, at 77 to 84°F (25 to 29°C) and a pH of 6.5 to 7.8. It prefers clean, well-oxygenated conditions, so run strong filtration for a moderate current. Keep nitrate low with regular water changes.

Feed sinking pellets, granules and frozen foods such as bloodworm and brine shrimp, and make sure enough reaches the floor. It does best in a group, either one male with several females or a small mixed shoal. Lone fish can be shy, and a single pair leaves the female open to harassment. It is calm with other mild tank mates.

Males grow larger than females and carry thick lips and a fleshy forehead. It is a maternal mouthbrooder. After the pair spawns, the female takes the eggs into her mouth and holds the young there for safety. Breeding it is of medium difficulty.

Good to know

Geophagus crassilabris is a cichlid of the family Cichlidae. Most aquarium fish settle a good deal smaller than the largest recorded size.

In the wild

The Panama eartheater comes from clear streams and rivers on both slopes of central and eastern Panama. It lives over open beds of sand and fine gravel, with scattered driftwood and tree roots.

Weekly picks

Tank mates

The Panama 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 Panama eartheater need?

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

What temperature and pH does a Panama eartheater need?

A Panama eartheater is comfortable at 77–84°F (25–29°C) with a pH of 6.5–7.8.

What does a Panama eartheater eat?

A Panama eartheater sifts mouthfuls of sand through its gills for food. Feed it sinking pellets, granules and frozen foods such as bloodworm and brine shrimp, and make sure enough reaches the floor.

How big does a Panama eartheater get?

An adult Panama eartheater reaches about 10.2 in (26 cm).

How can you tell a male Panama eartheater from a female?

Males grow larger than females, with thick lips and a fleshy forehead.

How does a Panama eartheater breed?

The Panama eartheater is a maternal mouthbrooder. After a pair spawns, the female carries the eggs in her mouth and keeps the young there for safety. Breeding it is a moderate challenge.

Related species