Redstriped Eartheater Cichlid

The Redstriped Eartheater Cichlid, is also know as Surunimis Geophagus, the Mother-of-Pearl Eartheater, and the Opalescent Eartheater, has a long nose with eyes set high on the head and amber in color. Redstriped Eartheater has a gray-black blotch on its side, resembling an ink smudge. The background color is olive-green to pearl gray, with iridescent blue-green stripes on its sides and small iridescent blue spots on its fins, with the exception of the pectoral fins. Wild Surunimis Geophagus exhibit deep red lateral stripes, which fade in captivity.

The Redstriped Eartheater requires a tank of 100 gallons or larger with a sandy bottom and flat rocks. The rear of the tank should have caves made from stones and roots, and the edges of the tank should be decorated with hardy, potted plants. They are confirmed burrowers, and care should be taken when creating the caves, so that they do not collapse. The Redstriped Eartheater can be kept in tanks with large catfish as tank mates.

The Redstriped Eartheater will pair up and form nuclear families. They are territorial and extremely aggressive during spawning. The Redstriped Eartheater are larvophile mouth brooders, meaning they lay eggs and right before or as the larvae hatch both the female and the male take them into their mouths for protection.

The Redstriped Eartheater is an omnivore and will eat most prepared and frozen foods including freeze-dried bloodworms, tubifex, and ocean plankton, as well as flake food and cichlid pellets.

Approximate Purchase Size: Less than 3-1/2"