Edit Geophagus brachybranchus

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Name

Scientific name

Geophagus brachybranchus

Described by

Authority Kullander & Nijssen, Year 1989

Family

Cichlidae

Common names

Not recorded

Photograph credits

All 3 credited

Summary

Geophagus brachybranchus is a cichlid from the Nickerie and Courantyne drainages of Suriname, also reported from Guyana and Venezuela. Gene…

Size and aquarium

Maximum size

200mm, standard length

Aquarium size

Minimum length 180 cm, Minimum depth 60 cm

Water

Water conditions

Temperature 26–30°C, pH 5–7

Hardness

1–10dGH

Conductivity

Not recorded

Behaviour

Temperament

Peaceful

Community suitability

Not for a community

Where it lives

Countries, regions, rivers and lakes

Guyana, Suriname, Venezuela, Courantyne, Cuyuni, Demerara, Nickerie

Writing

Etymology

Geophagus: from the Greek geo, meaning 'earth', and phagos, meaning ' to eat'. brachybranchus: from the Greek brachys, meaning 'short', and branchia, meaning '…

Distribution

Type locality is 'above Blanche Marie Valen, Nickerie District, Suriname' in the Nickerie river drainage, northwestern Suriname It's also known from the Couran…

Habitat

Suriname has a tropical climate with well-defined annual weather patterns, year-round high temperatures and two distinct wet seasons; the first, more minor, be…

Aquarium size

An aquarium with a base measuring 180 ∗ 60 cm or more is required to house a group long-term.

Maintenance

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

Water conditions

Temperature: Prefers warm conditions within the range 26 – 30 °C. Air temperatures in Suriname are near constant year-round with an annual average of 80.6°F/27…

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

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

Unless breeding this species is surprisingly peaceful and will not predate on fishes larger than a few millimetres in length.

Suitable tankmates are far too numerous to list but include most peaceful species enjoying similar environmental conditions.

Best avoided are aggressive or territorial substrate-dwelling species, or those requiring harder water.

Some aquarists keep Geophagus spp. alongside freshwater stingrays of the genus Potamotrygon which in many cases has proven successful but in some has resulted in them disappearing at night (!).

G. brachybranchus is gregarious and tends to exist in loose aggregations unless spawning, with juveniles in particular displaying strong grouping instincts.

A group of 5-8 individuals should be the minimum purchase and these will form a noticeable dominance hierarchy.

When maintained in smaller numbers weaker specimens can become the target of excessive antagonism 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.

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DOI

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Title

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Authors

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Year

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Pages

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Anything worth adding

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Sexual dimorphism

No external differences have been observed except during spawning when the ovipositor of the female is visible.

Reproduction

Substrate-spawning, larvophilous, biparental mouthbrooder that has been bred in aquaria. There doesn't appear to be any particular trigger for the spawning pro…

Notes

This species is generally rare in the aquarium hobby though oddly appears to be one of the commoner species in Australia where it's often referred to by the ve…

References

11 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