Yellowhump eartheater

Geophagus pellegrini

Also known as Pellegrin's eartheater, Yellow hump geophagus

FreshwaterFish

Yellowhump eartheater (Geophagus pellegrini) — The Wet Spot Tropical Fish · Used with permission

Care at a glance

Temperature: 77–84°F (25–29°C)
pH: 5.5–7.0
Adult size: 7.1 in (18 cm)
Minimum tank: 106 gal (400 L)
Temperament: Mostly peaceful
Social behavior: Social
Swim level: Bottom
Difficulty: Medium
Breeding: Medium
Rarity: Common
Origin: Pacific-slope rivers of Colombia
Family: Cichlidae

Overview

A Pacific-slope eartheater with a saffron nuchal hump on mature males that is the reason most keepers seek it out. Keep a group of five or six warm, over deep fine sand, with a long open floor and calm mid-sized company. It is peaceful and steady. Feed sinking granules and frozen foods in small frequent amounts, and keep the substrate soft enough that it can sift without damaging its mouth.

In the wild

Geophagus pellegrini sifts sand in the Chocó rivers of Colombia's Pacific slope, warm rainforest water running soft. Keep it at 25 to 29 degrees Celsius and pH 5.5 to 7.0, with several centimeters of fine sand.

Good to know

Geophagus pellegrini reaches about 18 centimeters. Mature males raise a yellow-orange nuchal hump over barred flanks, which is unusual in the genus and develops with age rather than only in breeding condition. It is a delayed mouthbrooder, and it sits on the Pacific side of the Andes, away from most of its relatives.

Did you know

The hump is a billboard males inflate seasonally, fat and signal in one yellow package.

Tank mates

Yellowhump eartheater is a mostly peaceful, social species that keeps to the bottom. These picks match on water type, temperature, pH, size and temperament.