Red-Hump Eartheater
From Microcosm Aquarium Explorer
Easy to keep and easy to breed, with fascinating parental care behaviors. JJPhoto.dk
Overview
Along with the Mother-of-Pearl Eartheater, the Red Hump Eartheater is one of the most easily bred and undemanding of the Geophagus species, which exercise fascinating-to-watch mouthbrooding care of their young. The males sport a red nuchal hump on their heads. Several color varieties available.
Family: Cichlidae
Other common name(s):
Native range:
Habitat: Because this species can be belligerent, particularly with conspecifics, it is important to provide lots of shelter.
Maximum length: 15 cm (6 in)
Minimum aquarium size: 115 L (30 gal)
Water: Freshwater 22 °C (72 °F) - 26 °C (79 °F)
General swimming level: Bottom to midwater.
Feeding
Omnivore. The Red-Hump Eartheater will readily accept a varied diet consisting of a variety of commercial pelleted, stick or flake cichlid foods, as well as live, frozen and freeze-dried foods, such as bloodworms, earthworms and krill.
Aquarium Compatibility
The Red-Hump Eartheater is best kept in a group of one male to several females. Because these cichlids are relatively undemanding in terms of their care, they are great beginner’s cichlids. They can be housed with other cichlids of similar temperaments or top-swimming characins.
Breeding/Propagation
These fish are maternal mouthbrooders; the female broods the eggs in her mouth and tends the fry. Egg-carrying females should be carefully removed to a separate tank to avoid injury.
Notes
Create hiding places among rocks and driftwood, as well as inverted flowerpots. Plants are optional.