All fish / Cichlidae

Pearl Cichlid

Geophagus brasiliensis

Also known as pearl eartheater, brazilian eartheater, mother of pearl eartheater, geophagus brasiliensis, pearl geophagus, acara pearl, ゲオファーグス・ブラジリエンシス, 珍珠关刀, 巴西珍珠

A sturdy, deep-bodied eartheater with an olive to bronze body covered in iridescent blue-green spots, plus a dark blotch on the flank. Adult males grow a nuchal hump on the forehead. It is kept for its colour, hardiness and interesting habit of sifting sand through its gills.

Care at a glance

Care level

Easy

Temperament

Semi

Adult size

20 cm

Temperature

18 to 28 °C

pH

6 to 8

Smallest tank

300 litres

Keep as

A pair or small group of 4 to 6 in a large tank

Diet

Omnivore: sinking pellets, frozen bloodworm and brine shrimp, krill, vegetable matter

Swims

Bottom of the tank

Lifespan

8 to 12 years

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

Coastal river basins of eastern and southern Brazil and Uruguay

Breeding

It spawns on open surfaces such as flat stones, laying its eggs there, and both parents guard the eggs and fry. Young are moved to pits and are sometimes mouthbrooded for a short time after hatching. It breeds readily in captivity.

Good to know

It grows larger and is more territorial than most eartheaters, especially when breeding, so avoid small or timid tankmates and give it a soft sand substrate. It has become established outside its native range in some places, so never release it.