Purple earth eartheater
Gymnogeophagus terrapurpura
Also known as Terrapurpura gymnogeophagus
FreshwaterFish
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 61–79°F
- 16–26°C
- pH
- 6.5–7.8
- Adult size
- 4.3 in
- 11 cm
- Minimum tank
- 53 gal
- 200 L
- Temperament
- Mostly peaceful
- Social behavior
- Social
- Swim level
- Bottom
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Breeding
- Medium
- Rarity
- Common
- Family
- Cichlidae
- Origin
- Uruguay, lowland drainages
Overview
The purple earth eartheater is a subtropical cichlid that wants a cool season. That makes it one of the few cichlids suited to an unheated tank in a temperate room. It is best kept by someone with a little experience.
Did you know
The purple earth eartheater is named after dirt. Its species name, terrapurpura, is Latin for purple earth, after the ground it was collected over.
Caring for the purple earth eartheater
Keep a group of purple earth eartheaters over sand, in a tank of at least 53 gal (200 L). They are mostly peaceful and safe with other community fish. Breeding them takes moderate effort.
Keep the water at 61 to 79°F (16 to 26°C) over the year, with a pH of 6.5 to 7.8. Let the temperature drift down through winter, since the seasonal swing is part of its care rather than a tolerance. Skipping the cool period shortens its life.
The fish go dull and quiet for a few months in the cold, then color up hard in spring. Feed sinking foods and frozen fare, and give less in the cold months.
Good to know
Gymnogeophagus terrapurpura is a cichlid of the family Cichlidae, described in 2016. Gymnogeophagus means naked eartheater, for the missing spine on the first part of the dorsal fin. That trait separates the genus from Geophagus.
In the wild
The purple earth eartheater sifts sand in lowland streams of Uruguay. Winters there are genuinely cold, and summers are warm.
Weekly picks
Tank mates
The purple earth 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.
Barna baril
Opsarius barna
Freshwater5.9 in (15 cm) · 53 gal (200 L)64–79°F (18–26°C)
Blue spotted hill trout
Barilius bakeri
Freshwater5.1 in (13 cm) · 53 gal (200 L)64–79°F (18–26°C)
Rainbow gudgeon
Sarcocheilichthys nigripinnis
Freshwater6.3 in (16 cm) · 53 gal (200 L)57–75°F (14–24°C)
Spotted silver dollar
Metynnis lippincottianus
Freshwater5.5 in (14 cm) · 53 gal (200 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)
Celebes halfbeak
Nomorhamphus liemi
Freshwater3.5 in (9 cm) · 40 gal (150 L)68–77°F (20–25°C)
Green turushuki catfish
Hemidoras morrisi
Freshwater6.3 in (16 cm) · 53 gal (200 L)73–82°F (23–28°C)
Common questions
What size tank does a purple earth eartheater need?
A purple earth eartheater needs at least 53 gal (200 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.
What temperature and pH does a purple earth eartheater need?
A purple earth eartheater is comfortable at 61–79°F (16–26°C) with a pH of 6.5–7.8.
What does a purple earth eartheater eat?
A purple earth eartheater eats sinking foods and frozen fare. Feed it less in the cold months.
How big does a purple earth eartheater get?
An adult purple earth eartheater reaches about 4.3 in (11 cm).
Related species
4.3 in (11 cm)53 gal (200 L)61–79°F (16–26°C)Meridionalis eartheater
Gymnogeophagus meridionalis
4.3 in (11 cm) · 53 gal (200 L)
4.7 in (12 cm)66 gal (250 L)61–79°F (16–26°C)Tiraparae eartheater
Gymnogeophagus tiraparae
4.7 in (12 cm) · 66 gal (250 L)
5.1 in (13 cm)66 gal (250 L)61–79°F (16–26°C)Longbody eartheater
Gymnogeophagus mekinos
5.1 in (13 cm) · 66 gal (250 L)
5.9 in (15 cm)53 gal (200 L)64–79°F (18–26°C)Stripefin eartheater
Gymnogeophagus rhabdotus
5.9 in (15 cm) · 53 gal (200 L)
- 6.1 in (15.5 cm)66 gal (250 L)61–79°F (16–26°C)
Uruguayan eartheater
Gymnogeophagus australis
6.1 in (15.5 cm) · 66 gal (250 L)
7.1 in (18 cm)79 gal (300 L)61–79°F (16–26°C)Smoothcheek eartheater
Gymnogeophagus gymnogenys
7.1 in (18 cm) · 79 gal (300 L)