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Xingu eartheater

Retroculus xinguensis

Also known as Xingu cichlid, Retroculus

FreshwaterFish

Xingu eartheater (Retroculus xinguensis)
NasserHalaweh · CC BY-SA 4.0

Care at a glance

Temperature
79–86°F
26–30°C
pH
6.0–7.5
Adult size
9.8 in
25 cm
Minimum tank
185 gal
700 L
Temperament
Mostly peaceful
Social behavior
Social
Tankmates
With caution
Swim level
Bottom
Difficulty
Difficult
Breeding
Hard
Rarity
Rare
Family
Cichlidae
Origin
Rio Xingu basin of Para, Brazil, a rheophilic fish of clearwater rapids and fast runs over sand, gravel, and boulders.

Overview

Keep a group in a tank of at least 700 liters at 26 to 30 C and pH 6.0 to 7.5, with strong current and high oxygen. Provide a sand and gravel bottom with smooth boulders. Feed sinking foods, frozen foods, and live foods. It is mostly peaceful but delicate, and wild imports need careful acclimation.

In the wild

The Xingu eartheater lives in the Rio Xingu basin of Para, Brazil. It is a rheophilic fish of clearwater rapids and fast runs over sand, gravel, and boulders. It needs strong flow, high oxygen, and pristine water. This is a specialist that struggles in a still, poorly kept tank.

Good to know

Retroculus xinguensis was described by Gosse in 1971 and reaches around 25 cm. It belongs to one of the earliest-branching lineages of New World cichlids. It sifts sand for food and digs a pit nest, then relocates the eggs during incubation.

Did you know

It is a rapids fish that needs the kind of turbulent, oxygen-rich flow most aquariums never provide, which keeps it a specialist species.

Common questions

What size tank does a Xingu eartheater need?

A Xingu eartheater needs at least 185 gal (700 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.

What temperature and pH does a Xingu eartheater need?

A Xingu eartheater is comfortable at 79–86°F (26–30°C) with a pH of 6.0–7.5.

How big does a Xingu eartheater get?

An adult Xingu eartheater reaches about 9.8 in (25 cm).

Related species