Edit Geophagus steindachneri
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Name
Scientific name
Geophagus steindachneri
Described by
Authority Eigenmann & Hildebrand, Year 1922
Family
Cichlidae
Common names
Red Hump Eartheater
Photograph credits
All 10 credited
Summary
The red hump eartheater, Geophagus steindachneri, is a cichlid from the Magdalena and Sinú drainages in Colombia and the Río Limón basin in…
Size and aquarium
Maximum size
150mm, standard length
Aquarium size
Minimum length 120 cm, Minimum depth 45 cm
Water
Water conditions
Temperature 20–30°C, pH 6–7.5
Hardness
2–12dGH
Conductivity
Not recorded
Behaviour
Temperament
Aggressive towards its own kind
Social needs
A pair
Community suitability
Not for a community
Where it lives
Countries, regions, rivers and lakes
Colombia, Venezuela, Bizcocho, Cachiri, Cesar, Chicamocha, Guatapuri, La Miel, Lebrija, Limón, Magdalena, Maracaibo, Sinú, Suaza, Yaguara
Writing
Etymology
Geophagus: from the Ancient Greek γῆ (gê), meaning ‘earth’, and φαγεῖν (phageîn), meaning 'to eat'. steindachneri: named for Austrian zoologist Franz Steindach…
Distribution
Widespread throughout the Río Magdalena drainage, Colombia, including its major tributary the Río Cauca, plus the Río Sinú drainage in northwestern Colombia an…
Habitat
Occurs in various habitats, but appears to prefer forested streams, tributaries, and backwaters with sandy substrates.
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
Benthophagous by nature, mostly employing a feeding strategy whereby mouthfuls of substrate are taken and sifted for edible items with the remaining material e…
Behaviour and compatibility
Adult males are aggressively territorial towards rival males, especially when reproductively active, and only a single individual should be housed in all but t…
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 temporary pair bonds for the duration of the spawning process, after which the female is responsible for broodca…
Notes
This species lends its name to the 'G.' steindachneri group, an assemblage of closely-related species with unresolved taxonomic placement which currently also …
References
References
7 on this profile