Edit Geophagus sp. 'orange head'

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

Name

Scientific name

Geophagus sp. 'orange head'

Described by

Not recorded

Family

Cichlidae

Summary

Geophagus sp. 'orange head' is an undescribed cichlid confined to the lower rio Tapajós in Brazil, including its tributary the rio Arapiuns…

Size and aquarium

Maximum size

250mm, standard length

Tank size

Minimum length 180 cm, Minimum depth 60 cm

Water

Temperature and pH

Temperature 26–30°C, pH 4.5–7.5

Hardness

1–10dGH

Conductivity

Not recorded

Behaviour

Temperament

Peaceful

Community suitability

Not for a community

Where it lives

Countries

Brazil

Supporting text

Etymology

Geophagus: from the Greek geo, meaning 'earth', and phagos, meaning ' to eat'.

Distribution

First collected in 1991 by German aquarists Christop Seidel and Rainer Harnoss (Steinhaus, 2010)[11] from the rio Tapajós, eastern Brazil. A second form which …

Habitat

The Arapiuns ia an acidic blackwater river characterised by low mineral content, pH and clear, tannin-stained water. The Tapajós main channel contains so-calle…

Aquarium size

An aquarium with a base measuring 180 ∗ 60 cm72 ∗ 24 in 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

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

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. sp. 'orange head' 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.

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 profileFor 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.

Sexual dimorphism

Males are more intensely-coloured than females, tend to be a little larger and develop longer fin extensions. Some dominant individuals develop a nuchal hump a…

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 undescribed species is also known as G. sp. 'red head Tapajós' but when first exported for aquaria was referred to as G. sp. 'orange head' so that name is…

References

11 on this profile

Name

Scientific name

Described by

Family

Summary

Size and aquarium

Maximum size

Tank size

Water

Temperature and pH

Hardness

Conductivity

Behaviour

Temperament

Social needs

Community suitability

Where it lives

Countries

Supporting text

Etymology

Distribution

Habitat

Aquarium size

Maintenance

Water conditions

Diet

Behaviour and compatibility

Sexual dimorphism

Reproduction

Notes

References

References