Geophagus steindachneri
Encyclopedia
Redhump eartheater is a South America
n Eartheater Cichlid
of the genus Geophagus
. It is sometimes referred to by one of two invalid junior synonyms, Geophagus hondae or Geophagus magdalena.
drainages and lakes in South America, particularly Colombia
and Venezuela
. It lives in water that is slightly acidic to neutral (6.5 to 7.0 pH) and about 24 to 26 degrees Celsius (75-79 F). It is stenohaline
, found only in mainland freshwater
environments, and is endemic to neotropical environments in South America.
material into their mouths and sift out inedible bits of sand or gravel, while consuming detritus
and small organisms. In captivity, the redhump eartheater readily accepts most types of prepared fish food
s, as well as finely chopped vegetables, shelled peas, frozen bloodworms (mosquito
larvae), and blackworms
.
n cichlids, especially the mbuna
of Lake Malawi
, in their behavior, level of aggression, and breeding patterns.
s. These fish grow relatively quickly, and can be sexed as subadults. Sexual dimorphism
is clear - males have a large, red nuptial hump on their heads and grow larger than the females. Mature males will develop an iridescence on the scales on their sides and very large humps. The redhump eartheater is easy to breed and will condition rapidly on a diet of frozen and live foods. Males will display to females by opening their mouths and flaring their gills. Non-receptive females may be driven from the spawning area. Spawning takes place on a smooth rock or clean sand bed. The female will lay one or two eggs, then the male will fertilize them. The female will immediately take the fertilized eggs into her mouth and proceed to lay more eggs. This will continue until spawning is completed. The female will carry the eggs until they are free-swimming and have absorbed their yolk sacs, approximately 2–3 weeks. She will accept little to no food during this period. Eventually, she will release them and allow them to search for food, taking them back into her mouth when she feels threatened. The brooding female will often signal to her fry when danger is present, and will shut her fry out of her mouth when encouraging then to forage. At this point, the breeder may choose to strip the young from the female's mouth and separate them so that she will eat again. Some breeders choose to strip the female after fertilization and incubate the eggs artificially.
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 Eartheater 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...
of the genus Geophagus
Geophagus
Geophagus is a genus of cichlids from South America. The genus is currently polyphyletic and in need of further taxonomic revision. Some geophagine cichlids previously included in this genus have been reallocated to Gymnogeophagus or Satanoperca...
. It is sometimes referred to by one of two invalid junior synonyms, Geophagus hondae or Geophagus magdalena.
Location
The redhump eartheater is native to riverRiver
A river is a natural watercourse, usually freshwater, flowing towards an ocean, a lake, a sea, or another river. In a few cases, a river simply flows into the ground or dries up completely before reaching another body of water. Small rivers may also be called by several other names, including...
drainages and lakes in South America, particularly Colombia
Colombia
Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia , is a unitary constitutional republic comprising thirty-two departments. The country is located in northwestern South America, bordered to the east by Venezuela and Brazil; to the south by Ecuador and Peru; to the north by the Caribbean Sea; to the...
and Venezuela
Venezuela
Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
. It lives in water that is slightly acidic to neutral (6.5 to 7.0 pH) and about 24 to 26 degrees Celsius (75-79 F). It is stenohaline
Stenohaline
Stenohaline describes an organism, usually fish, that cannot handle a wide fluctuation in the salt content of water. Stenohaline is derived from the words: "steno" meaning narrow, and "haline" meaning salt. Many fresh water fish, such as goldfish , tend to be stenohaline and die in environments of...
, found only in mainland freshwater
Freshwater
Fresh water is naturally occurring water on the Earth's surface in ice sheets, ice caps, glaciers, bogs, ponds, lakes, rivers and streams, and underground as groundwater in aquifers and underground streams. Fresh water is generally characterized by having low concentrations of dissolved salts and...
environments, and is endemic to neotropical environments in South America.
Food Items
Wild redhump eartheaters take substrateSubstrate (aquarium)
The substrate of an aquarium refers to the material used on the tank bottom. It can affect water chemistry, filtration, and the well-being of the aquarium's inhabitants, and is also an important part of the aquarium's aesthetic appeal...
material into their mouths and sift out inedible bits of sand or gravel, while consuming detritus
Detritus
Detritus is a biological term used to describe dead or waste organic material.Detritus may also refer to:* Detritus , a geological term used to describe the particles of rock produced by weathering...
and small organisms. In captivity, the redhump eartheater readily accepts most types of prepared fish food
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...
s, as well as finely chopped vegetables, shelled peas, frozen bloodworms (mosquito
Mosquito
Mosquitoes are members of a family of nematocerid flies: the Culicidae . The word Mosquito is from the Spanish and Portuguese for little fly...
larvae), and blackworms
Lumbriculus variegatus
Lumbriculus variegatus, sometimes known as blackworm , is the name given to at least three distinct species of worms which are identical in outward appearance...
.
Captive Care
The redhump eartheater is commonly available in the aquarium trade, and relatively easy to maintain. Adults should be kept in aquariums of at least 200 liters (50 gallons); juveniles in no less than 110 liters (30 gallons). This fish has a habit of taking substrate into its mouth and spitting it back out or sifting it through its gills. It is likely to uproot aquarium plants if they are not secured or well established. Redhump eartheater tends to be aggressive toward conspecifics, especially large males. Adult males of this species will not tolerate other males or females carrying a brood. Females can be kept in groups, but will become aggressive in smaller aquariums. Redhump eartheaters tend to resemble AfricaAfrica
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
n cichlids, especially the mbuna
Mbuna
Mbuna is the common name for a large group of African cichlids from Lake Malawi. The name mbuna means "rockfish" in the language of the Tonga people of Malawi...
of Lake Malawi
Lake Malawi
Lake Malawi , is an African Great Lake and the southernmost lake in the Great Rift Valley system of East Africa. This lake, the third largest in Africa and the eighth largest lake in the world, is located between Malawi, Mozambique, and Tanzania...
, in their behavior, level of aggression, and breeding patterns.
Reproduction
Redhump eartheaters are immediate maternal mouthbrooderMouthbrooder
Mouthbrooding, also known as oral incubation and buccal incubation, is the care given by some groups of animals to their offspring by holding them in the mouth of the parent for extended periods of time. Although mouthbrooding is performed by a variety of different animals, most notably Darwin's...
s. These fish grow relatively quickly, and can be sexed as subadults. Sexual dimorphism
Sexual dimorphism
Sexual dimorphism is a phenotypic difference between males and females of the same species. Examples of such differences include differences in morphology, ornamentation, and behavior.-Examples:-Ornamentation / coloration:...
is clear - males have a large, red nuptial hump on their heads and grow larger than the females. Mature males will develop an iridescence on the scales on their sides and very large humps. The redhump eartheater is easy to breed and will condition rapidly on a diet of frozen and live foods. Males will display to females by opening their mouths and flaring their gills. Non-receptive females may be driven from the spawning area. Spawning takes place on a smooth rock or clean sand bed. The female will lay one or two eggs, then the male will fertilize them. The female will immediately take the fertilized eggs into her mouth and proceed to lay more eggs. This will continue until spawning is completed. The female will carry the eggs until they are free-swimming and have absorbed their yolk sacs, approximately 2–3 weeks. She will accept little to no food during this period. Eventually, she will release them and allow them to search for food, taking them back into her mouth when she feels threatened. The brooding female will often signal to her fry when danger is present, and will shut her fry out of her mouth when encouraging then to forage. At this point, the breeder may choose to strip the young from the female's mouth and separate them so that she will eat again. Some breeders choose to strip the female after fertilization and incubate the eggs artificially.