Geophagus Family Geophagus

Some of the most peaceful of the cichlids, the Geophagus family gets its name from the Greek,  Geo and Phagus meaning Earth Eater. Some of the species names are of local cultural significance such as Jurupari after a river God worshipped by the local Indian tribes in the region where it is found.  True to its name it loves to dig around in the substrate looking for food.

The range of these fish is vast, covering as it does most of tropical South America. This, and the fact that there are probably numerous local colour variations, often causes some difficulty with accurate species identification.   Some capable of reaching 25cm (10") they come from naturally soft, neutral to slightly acid water, in the temperature range 26° - 28°C. Today however most fish are farm raised and are usually very tolerant of harder water with a higher pH.

The do well in captivity and can be kept in a community tank with most of the medium - large community species. The Jurupari for example has a silver/green body color with black speckles and dark green stripes along the crest of the nose and back. The scales will take on an opalescent sheen as the fish matures. While it is difficult to sex the Jurupari, males will generally be more slender and slightly more aggressive. As an omnivore, this cichlid will accept most prepared foods, especially bloodworms and shrimp.