Edit Biotodoma wavrini

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Name

Scientific name

Biotodoma wavrini

Described by

Authority Gosse, Year 1963, Bracketed

Family

Cichlidae

Common names

Orinoco Eartheater

Photograph credits

All 8 credited

Summary

The Orinoco eartheater, Biotodoma wavrini, is a geophagine cichlid from the Orinoco and rio Negro basins of Venezuela, Colombia and Brazil.…

Size and aquarium

Maximum size

100mm, standard length

Aquarium size

Minimum length 150 cm, Minimum depth 45 cm

Water

Water conditions

Temperature 20–30°C, pH 4–6.5

Hardness

1–5dGH

Conductivity

Not recorded

Behaviour

Temperament

Peaceful

Community suitability

Community-safe

Where it lives

Countries, regions, rivers and lakes

Brazil, Colombia, Venezuela, Casiquiare, Cinaruco, Negro, Orinoco, Ventuari

Writing

Etymology

Biotodoma: from the Greek 'βίοτος', meaning 'living', and 'δῶμα', meaning 'house', in allusion to the adults carrying fry in their gills. This behaviour is not…

Distribution

Currently known from the middle and upper rio Negro basins in Brazil and Colombia, the Casiquiare system in Brazil and Venezuela, and the Orinoco watershed in …

Habitat

A natural habitat of this species is the Río Cinaruco, a low nutrient, blackwater tributary of the Orinoco in southwestern Venezuela which comprises a meanderi…

Aquarium size

Base dimensions of 150 ∗ 45 cm or more are recommended.

Maintenance

Ideally a soft, sandy substrate should be used since members of this genus are largely benthophagous. Additional décor is largely a case of personal taste, but…

Water conditions

Not written yet

Diet

The diet should contain a variety of high quality, fine-grade prepared foods plus live or frozen chironomid larvae (bloodworm), Tubifex, Artemia, mosquito larv…

Behaviour and compatibility

Unless breeding this species is surprisingly peaceful and will not predate on fishes larger than a few mm in length. Suitable tankmates are therefore too numer…

Unless breeding this species is surprisingly peaceful and will not predate on fishes larger than a few mm in length. Suitable tankmates are therefore too numerous to list but include most peaceful species enjoying similar environmental conditions.

Best avoided are territorial or otherwise aggressive fishes or those requiring harder water, however.

Biotodoma species are loosely gregarious and tends to live in groups unless spawning with juveniles in particular displaying a strong social response when threatened. A group of 5-8 individuals should therefore be the minimum purchase and these will form a noticeable dominance hierarchy which adds behavioural interest for the observer. When maintained in smaller numbers weaker specimens can become the target of excessive abuse by dominant individuals or the group may fail to settle and behave nervously.

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Where does this come from?

My own experienceFor example, I've kept twelve in a planted 60 cm tank since March 2024.A website I sawFor example, an IUCN Red List assessment, a museum catalogue or a FishBase page.A paperFor example, Marshall et al. (2011), Water temperature differences in interfluvial palm swamp habitats of Paracheirodon axelrodi and P. simulans.A book, or something not onlineFor example, Tappin (2010), Rainbowfishes: their care and keeping in captivity.Something already on the pageFor example, the Behaviour and compatibility section already says this.

Web address

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DOI

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Title

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Authors

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Year

Journal or publisher

Pages

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Anything worth adding

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Sexual dimorphism

Unconfirmed, though males supposedly grow larger than females and may develop slightly more-extended fins.

Reproduction

Information is very scarce and the species may never have been bred in aquaria. The congener B. cupido is a biparental substrate spawner and presumably this sp…

Notes

Populations known in the aquarium trade include 'Cuao', 'Orinoco', 'San Antonio', and 'Sipapo Ventuari'. B. wavrini and its congener B. cupido can be separated…

References

5 on this profile

Name

Scientific name

Described by

Family

Common names

Photograph credits

Summary

Size and aquarium

Maximum size

Aquarium size

Water

Water conditions

Hardness

Conductivity

Behaviour

Temperament

Social needs

Community suitability

Where it lives

Countries, regions, rivers and lakes

Writing

Etymology

Distribution

Habitat

Aquarium size

Maintenance

Water conditions

Diet

Behaviour and compatibility

Sexual dimorphism

Reproduction

Notes

References

References