Edit Geophagus pellegrini

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Name

Scientific name

Geophagus pellegrini

Described by

Authority Regan, Year 1912

Family

Cichlidae

Common names

Yellowhump Eartheater

Photograph credits

All 6 credited

Summary

The yellowhump eartheater, Geophagus pellegrini, is a cichlid from the Chocó and Antioquia departments of northwestern Colombia. The specie…

Size and aquarium

Maximum size

155mm, standard length

Aquarium size

Minimum length 120 cm, Minimum depth 45 cm

Water

Water conditions

Temperature 25–30°C, pH 5–6

Hardness

0–5dGH

Conductivity

Not recorded

Behaviour

Temperament

Peaceful

Community suitability

Not for a community

Where it lives

Countries, regions, rivers and lakes

Colombia, Atrato, Baudó, San Juan (Colombia)

Writing

Etymology

pellegrini: named for French zoologist Jacques Pellegrin.

Distribution

Type locality is the Río San Juan at Tado, Chocó Department, northwestern Colombia, and this species is endemic to that region plus the neighbouring Department…

Habitat

This species appears to be a relative ecological generalist. During a sampling trip in 1989 it was collected various habitat-types including a narrow (maximum …

This species appears to be a relative ecological generalist.

During a sampling trip in 1989 it was collected various habitat-types including a narrow (maximum width 3 m) stream containing shallow (maximum depth 1 m), transparent, moderate to fast-flowing water and substrate comprising gravel, mud, clay and organic debris including submerged logs.

Aquatic plants consisted of water lilies and marginal vegetation was dense, comprising various trees, shrubs, grasses and ferns.

At another locality it was again collected from a slightly wider (2 - 5 m) forest stream with moderate flow and clear water but in this case the substrate was a mixture of sand and gravel and surrounding vegetation secondary forest with a lower degree of marginal plant life and no aquatic species.

In another place the habitat consisted of a very shallow (~ 50 cm20 in deep), narrow (2 m wide) stream forming a pool 20 m across with overhanging grasses, forest cover and no aquatic vegetation.

The substrate was composed of sand and rocks.

Sympatric fishes across its range include Priapichthys nigroventralis, P. chocoensis, 'Cichlasoma' atromaculatum, Andinoacara latifrons, A. biseriatus, Lebiasina chocoensis, Nematobrycon palmeri, plus various other characids, gymnotids and loricariids.

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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

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Pages

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Anything worth adding

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Aquarium size

Minimum base dimensions of 120 ∗ 45 cm or equivalent are required.

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

Not written yet

Diet

'Geophagus' steindachneri group spp. are benthophagous by nature and mostly employ a feeding strategy whereby mouthfuls of substrate are taken and sifted for e…

Behaviour and compatibility

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

Sexual dimorphism

Adult males are larger in size and have longer unpaired fin lobes than females. Sexually mature males develop a nuchal hump which can be very pronounced in som…

Reproduction

Ovophilous, maternal mouthbrooder forming weak pair bonds during the spawning process only.

Notes

This species is rare in the hobby with the majority of fishes traded under the name forms of 'G.' steindachneri or, occasionally, 'G.' crassilabris but has bec…

References

6 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