Stripefin eartheater
Gymnogeophagus rhabdotus
Also known as Striped-fin eartheater, Stripe-fin eartheater
FreshwaterFish
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 64–79°F
- 18–26°C
- pH
- 6.5–7.5
- Adult size
- 5.9 in
- 15 cm
- Minimum tank
- 53 gal
- 200 L
- Temperament
- Mostly peaceful
- Social behavior
- Social
- Swim level
- Bottom
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Breeding
- Medium
- Rarity
- Rare
- Family
- Cichlidae
- Origin
- Subtropical Uruguay River drainage and the Laguna dos Patos basin of Uruguay, Argentina, and southern Brazil, on sandy and muddy margins of streams and lagoons.
Overview
The stripefin eartheater is a hardy, sand-sifting cichlid from cooler subtropical water. It is easy to keep.
Did you know
The stripefin eartheater handles cooler water better than almost any other eartheater. It can be kept in an unheated tank in a temperate room.
Caring for the stripefin eartheater
Keep stripefin eartheaters in a group in at least 53 gal (200 L). Give them a soft sand bottom for sifting, with some wood.
Hold the water at 64 to 79°F (18 to 26°C) and a pH of 6.5 to 7.5. Allow a cooler winter period, since it does best with a seasonal drop in temperature rather than constant tropical heat. Feed sinking pellets, frozen foods and live foods.
The stripefin eartheater is mostly peaceful and does best in a group. Males show iridescent striping and spangling. Breeding it is of medium difficulty.
Good to know
The stripefin eartheater, Gymnogeophagus rhabdotus, belongs to the family Cichlidae. Hensel described it in 1870.
In the wild
The stripefin eartheater lives in the subtropical Uruguay River drainage and the Laguna dos Patos basin of Uruguay, Argentina and southern Brazil. It occupies sandy and muddy margins of streams and lagoons.
Weekly picks
Tank mates
The stripefin 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.
Guppy
Poecilia reticulata
FreshwaterBrackish2.4 in (6 cm) · 10 gal (38 L)64–82°F (18–28°C)
Neon tetra
Paracheirodon innesi
Freshwater1.5 in (3.8 cm) · 11 gal (40 L)70–77°F (21–25°C)
Bolivian ram
Mikrogeophagus altispinosus
Freshwater3.1 in (8 cm) · 45 gal (170 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)
Cupid cichlid
Biotodoma cupido
Freshwater4.7 in (12 cm) · 53 gal (200 L)68–86°F (20–30°C)
Largescale four-eyed fish
Anableps anableps
FreshwaterBrackish11.8 in (30 cm) · 70 gal (265 L)77–88°F (25–31°C)
Darter characin
Apareiodon affinis
Freshwater7.1 in (18 cm) · 53 gal (200 L)64–77°F (18–25°C)
Common questions
What size tank does a stripefin eartheater need?
A stripefin eartheater needs at least 53 gal (200 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.
What temperature and pH does a stripefin eartheater need?
A stripefin eartheater is comfortable at 64–79°F (18–26°C) with a pH of 6.5–7.5.
What does a stripefin eartheater eat?
A stripefin eartheater eats sinking pellets, frozen foods and live foods.
How big does a stripefin eartheater get?
An adult stripefin eartheater reaches about 5.9 in (15 cm).
How can you tell a male stripefin eartheater from a female?
Males show iridescent striping and spangling.
Related species
- 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)
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)
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)
7.1 in (18 cm)79 gal (300 L)61–79°F (16–26°C)Thicklip gymnogeophagus
Gymnogeophagus labiatus
7.1 in (18 cm) · 79 gal (300 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)
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)