Sveni eartheater
Geophagus sveni
Also known as Sven's eartheater
FreshwaterFish
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 77–84°F
- 25–29°C
- pH
- 5.5–7.2
- Adult size
- 7.9 in
- 20 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
- Tocantins basin, Brazil
Overview
The Sveni eartheater is one of the better eartheaters to start with. It is now well established in the hobby and bred in reasonable numbers.
Did you know
Sven Kullander described many eartheaters himself. With this species, his colleagues filed his name into the genus he curated.
Caring for the Sveni eartheater
Keep five or six Sveni eartheaters in at least 119 gal (450 L), with a long open floor. Give them fine sand deep enough to sift and work.
Hold the water at 77 to 84°F (25 to 29°C) and a pH of 5.5 to 7.2. Feed sinking granules and frozen foods often, in small amounts rather than one large meal.
The Sveni eartheater is peaceful for its size and mixes with calm, mid-sized South American fish. Like all eartheaters, it monopolizes the bottom.
It is a delayed mouthbrooder. The eggs are laid on a cleared surface and taken into the mouth a day or so later. Breeding it is of medium difficulty.
Good to know
The Sveni eartheater was described in 2010 and honors Sven Kullander, the systematist behind much of the modern arrangement of South American cichlids.
In the wild
The Sveni eartheater sifts sand in the tributaries of the Tocantins basin in Brazil, in warm water running soft to neutral.
Weekly picks
Tank mates
The Sveni 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.
Fourspot hemiodus
Hemiodus quadrimaculatus
Freshwater6.3 in (16 cm) · 106 gal (400 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)
Largescale four-eyed fish
Anableps anableps
FreshwaterBrackish11.8 in (30 cm) · 70 gal (265 L)77–88°F (25–31°C)
Imperial ranger pleco
Pterygoplichthys punctatus
Freshwater13 in (33 cm) · 119 gal (450 L)77–84°F (25–29°C)
Hard-lipped barb
Osteochilus vittatus
Freshwater11.8 in (30 cm) · 106 gal (400 L)72–82°F (22–28°C)
Giant river hatchetfish
Triportheus rotundatus
Freshwater9.8 in (25 cm) · 79 gal (300 L)73–82°F (23–28°C)
Black-top mouse catfish
Hassar orestis
Freshwater11.8 in (30 cm) · 106 gal (400 L)73–82°F (23–28°C)
Common questions
What size tank does a Sveni eartheater need?
A Sveni eartheater needs at least 119 gal (450 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.
What temperature and pH does a Sveni eartheater need?
A Sveni eartheater is comfortable at 77–84°F (25–29°C) with a pH of 5.5–7.2.
What does a Sveni eartheater eat?
A Sveni eartheater eats sinking granules and frozen foods. Feed it often in small amounts rather than one large meal.
How big does a Sveni eartheater get?
An adult Sveni eartheater reaches about 7.9 in (20 cm).
How does a Sveni eartheater breed?
The Sveni eartheater is a delayed mouthbrooder. It lays its eggs on a cleared surface and takes them into the mouth a day or so later.
Related species
7.9 in (20 cm)106 gal (400 L)77–84°F (25–29°C)Mirabilis eartheater
Geophagus mirabilis
7.9 in (20 cm) · 106 gal (400 L)
8.3 in (21 cm)119 gal (450 L)77–84°F (25–29°C)Suriname eartheater
Geophagus surinamensis
8.3 in (21 cm) · 119 gal (450 L)
8.7 in (22 cm)119 gal (450 L)77–84°F (25–29°C)Maroni eartheater
Geophagus harreri
8.7 in (22 cm) · 119 gal (450 L)
7.1 in (18 cm)106 gal (400 L)77–84°F (25–29°C)Yellowhump eartheater
Geophagus pellegrini
7.1 in (18 cm) · 106 gal (400 L)
9.1 in (23 cm)172 gal (650 L)77–84°F (25–29°C)Bigspot eartheater
Geophagus megasema
9.1 in (23 cm) · 172 gal (650 L)
6.7 in (17 cm)106 gal (400 L)77–84°F (25–29°C)Brachybranchus eartheater
Geophagus brachybranchus
6.7 in (17 cm) · 106 gal (400 L)