Winemiller's eartheater
Geophagus winemilleri
Also known as Casiquiare eartheater
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 77–84°F (25–29°C)
- pH
- 4.8–6.5
- 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
- Medium
- Rarity
- Common
- Origin
- Casiquiare and upper Negro drainages
- Family
- Cichlidae
Overview
Run this one darker and softer than the average eartheater. Keep a group of five or six over deep pale sand in tannin-stained water with subdued light, which is what brings up its color. It is peaceful and suits calm blackwater company. Feed fine sinking foods and frozen brine shrimp or cyclops in small frequent amounts. Stable, very soft water matters more here than in the rest of the genus.
In the wild
Geophagus winemilleri sifts blackwater sand along the Casiquiare, the natural channel that links the Orinoco and the Negro, and in the upper Negro itself. Keep it at 25 to 29 degrees Celsius and pH 4.8 to 6.5, with deep sand, leaf litter and low light.
Good to know
Geophagus winemilleri reaches about 24 centimeters and is named for the ecologist Kirk Winemiller. It is a blackwater specialist within a genus that mostly lives in clearer water, which is why it wants softer, more acidic conditions than its relatives. It is a delayed mouthbrooder.
Did you know
Its home canal is the hydrological oddity that connects the Orinoco to the Amazon; this fish commutes between empires.
Tank mates
Winemiller's eartheater is a mostly peaceful, social species that keeps to the bottom. These picks match on water type, temperature, pH, size and temperament.
Gold-spotted doradid
Wertheimeria maculataFreshwater11.8 in (30 cm)106 gal (400 L)68–79°F (20–26°C)
Three beacon pleco
Leporacanthicus triactisFreshwater11 in (28 cm)106 gal (400 L)79–86°F (26–30°C)Mapire demonfish
Satanoperca mapiritensisFreshwater6.7 in (17 cm)106 gal (400 L)77–84°F (25–29°C)
Demon eartheater
Satanoperca jurupariFreshwater7.1 in (18 cm)119 gal (450 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)Fowler's hemiodus
Bivibranchia fowleriFreshwater7.5 in (19 cm)106 gal (400 L)75–84°F (24–29°C)
Hard-lipped barb
Osteochilus vittatusFreshwater11.8 in (30 cm)106 gal (400 L)72–82°F (22–28°C)
Common questions
What size tank does a Winemiller's eartheater need?
A Winemiller's eartheater needs at least 119 gal (450 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.
What temperature and pH do Winemiller's eartheater need?
Winemiller's eartheater are comfortable at 77–84°F (25–29°C) with a pH of 4.8–6.5.
How big do Winemiller's eartheater get?
An adult Winemiller's eartheater reaches about 9.4 in (24 cm).
Where to buy
Some links may not be the exact species or variety.
- Imperial Tropicals Freshwater fish and inverts bred at a Florida hatchery
- 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
…or ask your local fish store.
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Related species
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)
Abalios eartheater
Geophagus abaliosFreshwater9.8 in (25 cm)119 gal (450 L)77–84°F (25–29°C)Dicrozoster eartheater
Geophagus dicrozosterFreshwater9.8 in (25 cm)119 gal (450 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)Panama eartheater
Geophagus crassilabrisFreshwater10.2 in (26 cm)119 gal (450 L)77–84°F (25–29°C)