Geophagus surinamensis (Surinam Eartheater)

The Geophagus surinamensis, commonly known as the Surinam Eartheater, is a beautiful and intelligent South American cichlid renowned for its graceful appearance and fascinating natural behaviour. With shimmering silver-green colouration, subtle red highlights, and elegant finnage, this species makes an impressive centrepiece for larger freshwater aquariums.

Like all members of the Geophagus genus, the Surinam Eartheater is famous for its unique feeding behaviour. It constantly sifts mouthfuls of sand through its gills in search of small food particles, giving rise to the name "eartheater." A soft sand substrate is essential, allowing this natural behaviour while protecting the fish's delicate mouth and gills.

Despite their size, Geophagus surinamensis are peaceful cichlids and make excellent additions to larger community aquariums with similarly sized, non-aggressive fish. They thrive in spacious aquariums with driftwood, rocks, and open swimming areas.

Feeding

Geophagus surinamensis are omnivores and require a varied diet to maintain excellent health and colouration. Feed a quality cichlid pellet as a staple, supplemented with frozen or live foods such as bloodworms, brine shrimp, mysis shrimp, blackworms, and occasional vegetable matter including spirulina-based foods.

Why We Like This Fish

• Beautiful silver-green body with subtle red highlights
• Fascinating natural sand-sifting behaviour
• Peaceful temperament for a large cichlid
• Excellent centrepiece for large South American aquariums
• Full of personality and constantly active

Recommended Tank Parameters

• Temperature: 24–28°C
• pH: 6.0–7.5
• GH: Soft to moderately hard water
• Minimum Aquarium Size: 300 litres for juveniles, 500 litres or larger for adult groups
• Substrate: Fine sand is essential

Care Information

• Diet: Omnivore – accepts quality pellets, frozen, live, and vegetable-based foods.
• Temperament: Peaceful.
• Social Behaviour: Best kept in groups of 5 or more where space allows, or as compatible pairs in larger aquariums.
• Origin: River systems of Suriname and northern South America.
• Maximum Size: Approximately 25–30 cm.
• Tank Level: Bottom to middle.

Compatibility: Excellent with Severums, larger tetras, silver dollars, peaceful Geophagus species, peaceful catfish, and other non-aggressive South American cichlids. Avoid highly aggressive cichlids that may outcompete or bully them.

Please note: Sample photos are for reference only. Colour, pattern, and size may vary slightly as each fish is unique.