Suriname eartheater
Geophagus surinamensis
Also known as Redstriped eartheater
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 77–84°F (25–29°C)
- pH
- 5.5–7.2
- Adult size
- 8.3 in (21 cm)
- Minimum tank
- 119 gal (450 L)
- Temperament
- Mostly peaceful
- Social behavior
- Social
- Swim level
- Bottom
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Breeding
- Medium
- Rarity
- Common
- Origin
- Suriname and Marowijne rivers
- Family
- Cichlidae
Overview
The species whose name half the eartheaters in the trade have worn at some point, and genuinely less common in tanks than the label suggests. Care is standard for the group: a shoal of five or six, a deep bed of fine sand, a long open floor, and calm mid-sized tankmates. Feed sinking granules and frozen foods in small frequent amounts. Sharp substrate is the one thing that will not work.
In the wild
Geophagus surinamensis is a Suriname endemic, restricted to the Suriname and Marowijne systems rather than spread across the continent as its trade use implies. Keep it at 25 to 29 degrees Celsius and pH 5.5 to 7.2, over several centimeters of fine sand.
Good to know
Geophagus surinamensis reaches about 21 centimeters. For decades the name was stamped on almost any striped eartheater arriving from South America, and much of the older aquarium literature under this name describes other species entirely. It is a delayed mouthbrooder.
Did you know
Most fish ever sold as surinamensis were something else; the actual species barely left its home rivers.
Tank mates
Suriname eartheater is a mostly peaceful, social species that keeps to the bottom. These picks match on water type, temperature, pH, size and temperament.
Royal pleco
Panaque nigrolineatusFreshwater16.9 in (43 cm)125 gal (473 L)72–82°F (22–28°C)Fowler's hemiodus
Bivibranchia fowleriFreshwater7.5 in (19 cm)106 gal (400 L)75–84°F (24–29°C)
Imperial ranger pleco
Pterygoplichthys punctatusFreshwater13 in (33 cm)119 gal (450 L)77–84°F (25–29°C)Mapire demonfish
Satanoperca mapiritensisFreshwater6.7 in (17 cm)106 gal (400 L)77–84°F (25–29°C)
Hard-lipped barb
Osteochilus vittatusFreshwater11.8 in (30 cm)106 gal (400 L)72–82°F (22–28°C)Mekong glass sheatfish
Kryptopterus limpokFreshwater11.8 in (30 cm)119 gal (450 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)
Common questions
What size tank does a Suriname eartheater need?
A Suriname eartheater needs at least 119 gal (450 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.
What temperature and pH do Suriname eartheater need?
Suriname eartheater are comfortable at 77–84°F (25–29°C) with a pH of 5.5–7.2.
How big do Suriname eartheater get?
An adult Suriname eartheater reaches about 8.3 in (21 cm).
Where to buy
Some links may not be the exact species or variety.
- The Wet Spot Tropical Fish Large selection of quarantined tropical freshwater fish, with live arrival guarantee and Next Day Air flat rate shipping to all US locations
- Aqua Huna Freshwater fish, shrimp and plants with a three day live arrival guarantee
…or ask your local fish store.
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Related species
Maroni eartheater
Geophagus harreriFreshwater8.7 in (22 cm)119 gal (450 L)77–84°F (25–29°C)
Sveni eartheater
Geophagus sveniFreshwater7.9 in (20 cm)119 gal (450 L)77–84°F (25–29°C)Mirabilis eartheater
Geophagus mirabilisFreshwater7.9 in (20 cm)106 gal (400 L)77–84°F (25–29°C)Bigspot eartheater
Geophagus megasemaFreshwater9.1 in (23 cm)119 gal (450 L)77–84°F (25–29°C)Neambi eartheater
Geophagus neambiFreshwater9.4 in (24 cm)119 gal (450 L)77–84°F (25–29°C)Silverspot eartheater
Geophagus argyrostictusFreshwater9.4 in (24 cm)119 gal (450 L)77–84°F (25–29°C)