Edit Geophagus argyrostictus

You can suggest changes to this profile. A moderator will review each change.

Name

Scientific name

Geophagus argyrostictus

Described by

Authority Kullander, Year 1991

Family

Cichlidae

Common names

Not recorded

Photograph credits

All 9 credited

Summary

Geophagus argyrostictus is a cichlid known only from the rio Xingu system in Brazil, including its major tributary the rio Iriri. It belong…

Size and aquarium

Maximum size

180mm, standard length

Aquarium size

Minimum length 150 cm, Minimum depth 45 cm

Water

Water conditions

Temperature 26–30°C, pH 6–7.5

Hardness

1–10dGH

Conductivity

Not recorded

Behaviour

Temperament

Not recorded

Community suitability

Not for a community

Where it lives

Countries, regions, rivers and lakes

Brazil, Amazon, Iriri, Xingu

Writing

Etymology

Geophagus: from the Greek geo, meaning 'earth', and phagos, meaning ' to eat'. argyrostictus: from the Greek argyros, meaning 'silver', and stiktos, meaning 's…

Distribution

Known only from the rio Xingú river system in northeastern Brazil including its major tributary the rio Iriri with type locality given as 'rocky pool near cach…

Habitat

Part of the type series was collected close to the city of Altamira in Pará state with the habitat described as 'rocky shore areas with clear water' (Kullander…

Aquarium size

An aquarium with a base measuring 150 ∗ 45 cm or more is required to house this species long-term.

Maintenance

The most essential item of déco is a soft, sandy substrate so that the fish can browse naturally (see 'Diet'). Coarser materials such as gravel or small pebble…

Water conditions

Not written yet

Diet

Geophagus spp. are benthophagous by nature, employing a method of feeding whereby mouthfuls of substrate are taken and sifted for edible items with the remaini…

Behaviour and compatibility

G. argyrostictus is markedly more aggressive than most other Geophagus spp. but multiple specimens can still be maintained together in larger aquaria. A group …

Sexual dimorphism

Juveniles are impossible to sex accurately by external means unless spawning when the ovipositor of the female is clearly visible. Fully-mature males tend to b…

Reproduction

Unlike the majority of congeners which practice mouthbrooding this species is a substrate-spawner adopting a fairly basic strategy. There doesn't appear to be …

Unlike the majority of congeners which practice mouthbrooding this species is a substrate-spawner adopting a fairly basic strategy.

There doesn't appear to be any particular trigger for the spawning process with the main requirements being good diet and stringent maintenance regime involving relatively large weekly water changes.

Since accurate sexing is essentially impossible it's best to begin with a group of young fish and allow pairs to form naturally.

A degree of patience is also required since it can be at least a year until they become sexually mature.

Courtship is relatively unobtrusive consisting of fin flaring, circling, gaping and head jerking displays, and when ready to spawn a pair will select a suitable site.

Here they dig a large pit which may be defended for some days before a smaller site is selected within it just prior to spawning.

Other fishes are not tolerated in the vicinity of the pit and in smaller aquaria may need to be removed.

The spawning surface is normally a solid object within the territory of the pair and is cleaned thoroughly before any eggs are deposited.

Spawning occurs in typical style with the female laying one or more rows of eggs before the male moves in to fertilise them, the process being repeated numerous times over a period of an hour or two.

Up to 200-250 eggs may be deposited and the female stays close to them during the incubation period, tending and defending against intruders, while the male is responsible for defence of the surrounding territory.

After around 3 days (70 hours at 27.0°C/80.6°F) the eggs begin to hatch with the female often assisting by literally sucking the fry from the eggs and spitting them into nearby cover.

Post-hatching both adults normally continue to guard the fry for a period although in some cases the female continues alone.

The fry are easily-fed, accepting good quality powdered dry foods, Artemia nauplii, microworm, etc., as soon as the free-swimming stage is reached.

If maintaining the adults in a community situation it's recommended to remove either tankmates or fry as the latter are easy prey for other fishes, including conspecifics, despite the fact that both parents continue to defend them for some time post-hatching.

Editing needs JavaScript. This is the text as it was last saved.

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

Paste the address of the page that says this. What counts as a source

DOI

Paste a DOI and we will look up the rest of the reference. A DOI looks like 10.11646/zootaxa.4694.4.1, and most papers print it on the first page.

Title

Enter the title of the paper, book or page. If you leave it empty, we will use the website's address.

Authors

Separate authors with semicolons, e.g. Tan, H.H.; Ng, P.K.L.

Year

Journal or publisher

Pages

Enter the page that says this, e.g. 218 or 218–221.

Anything worth adding

Describe what you saw, or which part of the source says this.

Notes

This species is relatively rare in the hobby but sometimes available from specialist retailers or private breeders. Though described in 1991 it was first colle…

References

12 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