Silverspot eartheater
Geophagus argyrostictus
Also known as Argyrostictus eartheater, Blue lip geophagus
FreshwaterFish
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 77–84°F
- 25–29°C
- pH
- 5.5–7.2
- Adult size
- 9.4 in
- 24 cm
- Minimum tank
- 119 gal
- 450 L
- Temperament
- Mostly peaceful
- Social behavior
- Social
- Swim level
- Bottom
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Breeding
- Mouthbrooder · Medium
- Rarity
- Common
- Family
- Cichlidae
- Origin
- Rio Xingu, Brazil
Overview
The silverspot eartheater is a mostly peaceful sand-sifter for a river tank with real current. It suits a keeper past the beginner stage.
Did you know
The silverspot eartheater sifts sand in a river famous for rapids. It pans for food where the current does half the digging.
Caring for the silverspot eartheater
Give a group of five or six silverspot eartheaters at least 119 gal (450 L), set up as a river tank. Lay a deep bed of fine sand for sifting, add smooth stone, and run pumps that keep real flow across the floor.
Keep the water clean, soft and warm, at 77 to 84°F (25 to 29°C) and a pH of 5.5 to 7.2. Given flow and clean water, it settles far faster than in a still tank. Feed sinking granules and frozen foods little and often.
The silverspot eartheater is mostly peaceful and safe in a community, so keep it with calm, mid-sized company. It is a delayed mouthbrooder, and breeding is of medium difficulty.
Good to know
The silverspot eartheater, Geophagus argyrostictus, is named for the rows of silver spangles along its flanks. It is also sold as the blue lip geophagus. Its preference for flowing, rocky stretches over quiet lagoons is unusual in the genus.
In the wild
The silverspot eartheater works sand pockets between the rapids of the Rio Xingu. The water there is warm, clear and soft, and it moves quickly over rock.
Weekly picks
Tank mates
The silverspot 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.
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Common questions
What size tank does a silverspot eartheater need?
A silverspot eartheater needs at least 119 gal (450 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.
What temperature and pH does a silverspot eartheater need?
A silverspot eartheater is comfortable at 77–84°F (25–29°C) with a pH of 5.5–7.2.
What does a silverspot eartheater eat?
A silverspot eartheater eats sinking granules and frozen foods, fed little and often. It also sifts the sand for food.
How big does a silverspot eartheater get?
An adult silverspot eartheater reaches about 9.4 in (24 cm).
How does a silverspot eartheater breed?
The silverspot eartheater is a delayed mouthbrooder. Breeding it is of medium difficulty.
Related species
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Geophagus neambi
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