Geophagus brasiliensis
Encyclopedia
The pearl cichlid is a freshwater fish
species, a member of the South America
n Cichlid
family. Cichlid species are popular in fishkeeping
aquaria
.
them; there is a chance however that two females may pair up in which case the fish will lay eggs that never hatch. Once a male-female pair is found, they tend to yield 150–200 offspring after successfully mating. Unlike certain other species, they do not have to be separated from their young.
level, although they are quite hardy
. They tend to thrive when provided with calm waters, provided by under-gravel filters rather than traditional water pumps. They can be fed any recommended cichlid feed
and can be trained to accept floating or sinking foods. With good care they can live for around 10–15 years. The fish are kept in medium to large tanks of 16 cubic feet (453.1 l) and with some sort of shelter. When the pearl cichlid has access to shelter, they tend to be healthier and develop more pronounced coloration. They can be kept with other large, less aggressive fish, or paired with their own kind.
http://www.fish.wa.gov.au/docs/pub/IMPFeralFish/index.php?0506
Freshwater fish
Freshwater fish are fish that spend some or all of their lives in freshwater, such as rivers and lakes, with a salinity of less than 0.05%. These environments differ from marine conditions in many ways, the most obvious being the difference in levels of salinity...
species, a member of the South America
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
n Cichlid
Cichlid
Cichlids are fishes from the family Cichlidae in the order Perciformes. Cichlids are members of a group known as the Labroidei along with the wrasses , damselfish , and surfperches . This family is both large and diverse. At least 1,300 species have been scientifically described, making it one of...
family. Cichlid species are popular in fishkeeping
Fishkeeping
Fishkeeping is a popular hobby concerned with keeping fish in a home aquarium or garden pond. There is also a fishkeeping industry, as a branch of agriculture.-Types of fishkeeping systems:...
aquaria
Aquarium
An aquarium is a vivarium consisting of at least one transparent side in which water-dwelling plants or animals are kept. Fishkeepers use aquaria to keep fish, invertebrates, amphibians, marine mammals, turtles, and aquatic plants...
.
Appearance
Its main body colour can be anything from pale light brown to dark blue almost purple; their colours change with moods and during mating sessions. The pearl cichlid has one dark spot which may or may not be visible on its body, located towards its tail, it also may display several black bands running top to bottom down its body. Its markings, which cover its body, are bright blue speckles which shine bright in a healthy fish; they have red fins which may have blueish tones and be tipped in black; but again these colours may change, brighten or fade depending on the mood. They can grow quite large, with males reaching just over a foot and females generally a little smaller. In a group they will usually pair up once they are around 2–3 inches; at this time they can be quite aggressive to other fish, defending their territory and breeding space.Breeding
The sex of the fish is often unclear until they reach adult size, at which point the size difference between the genders becomes pronounced. Breeders will often attempt to pair the fish without sexingSexing
Through sexing, biologists and agricultural workers determine the sex of livestock and other animals they work with. The specialized trade of chicken sexing has a particular importance in the poultry industry....
them; there is a chance however that two females may pair up in which case the fish will lay eggs that never hatch. Once a male-female pair is found, they tend to yield 150–200 offspring after successfully mating. Unlike certain other species, they do not have to be separated from their young.
In the aquarium
Pearl cichlids have a temperature range of 22–26 °C. They prefer soft to neutral pHPH
In chemistry, pH is a measure of the acidity or basicity of an aqueous solution. Pure water is said to be neutral, with a pH close to 7.0 at . Solutions with a pH less than 7 are said to be acidic and solutions with a pH greater than 7 are basic or alkaline...
level, although they are quite hardy
Hardy fish
Hardy fish is a term which refers to any fish which is easy to maintain in home aquaria due to their ability to adapt to a wide range of water parameters. Such fish are good starter fish and ideal for 'cycling' your aquarium Hardy fish is a term which refers to any fish which is easy to maintain in...
. They tend to thrive when provided with calm waters, provided by under-gravel filters rather than traditional water pumps. They can be fed any recommended cichlid feed
Fish food
Aquarium fish feed is plant or animal material intended for consumption by pet fish kept in aquariums or ponds. Fish foods normally contain macro nutrients, trace elements and vitamins necessary to keep captive fish in good health. Approximately 80% of fishkeeping hobbyists feed their fish...
and can be trained to accept floating or sinking foods. With good care they can live for around 10–15 years. The fish are kept in medium to large tanks of 16 cubic feet (453.1 l) and with some sort of shelter. When the pearl cichlid has access to shelter, they tend to be healthier and develop more pronounced coloration. They can be kept with other large, less aggressive fish, or paired with their own kind.
External links
- Geophagus brasiliensis, Pearl cichlid - FishBaseFishBaseFishBase is a comprehensive database of information about fish species . It is the largest and most extensively accessed online database on adult finfish on the web...
http://www.fish.wa.gov.au/docs/pub/IMPFeralFish/index.php?0506