Edit Geophagus camopiensis
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Name
Scientific name
Geophagus camopiensis
Described by
Authority Pellegrin, Year 1903
Family
Cichlidae
Common names
Oiapoque Eartheater
Photograph credits
All 8 credited
Summary
The Oiapoque eartheater, Geophagus camopiensis, is a cichlid from the Oyapock basin on the Brazil and French Guiana border and the Approuag…
Size and aquarium
Maximum size
200mm, standard length
Aquarium size
Minimum length 150 cm, Minimum depth 45 cm
Water
Water conditions
Temperature 25–33°C, pH 6–7.5
Hardness
2–12dGH
Conductivity
Not recorded
Behaviour
Temperament
Not recorded
Social needs
A shoal or group
Community suitability
Not for a community
Where it lives
Countries, regions, rivers and lakes
Brazil, French Guiana, Approuague, Arataye, Camopi, Oiapoque, Oyapock
Writing
Etymology
Geophagus: from the Greek geo, meaning 'earth', and phagos, meaning ' to eat'. camopiensis: named for the Camopi River, type locality of this species.
Distribution
Known only from the Oyapock (aka Oiapoque) river basin which forms much of the border between Amapá state, Brazil and eastern French Guiana, plus the Approuage…
Habitat
More than 90% of French Guiana is covered by tropical rain forest. There are well-defined annual weather patterns with year-round high temperatures and two dis…
Aquarium size
An aquarium with a base measuring 150 ∗ 45 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: This species prefers warm conditions of 25 – 33 °C. pH: 6.0 – 7.5 Hardness: 2 – 12 dGH
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
Not the most peaceful member of the genus but will not predate on fishes larger than a few mm in length. Suitable tankmates are far too numerous to list but in…
Sexual dimorphism
Young individuals are impossible to sex accurately by external means, but mature males tend to be a little larger and have longer finnage than females, with do…
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 poorly known in the aquarium hobby but occasionally available via specialist breeders and retailers. It's a member of the putative G. surinamen…
References
References
12 on this profile