GEOPHAGUS, HECKEL 1840.

Text- photo by ALF STALSBERG

If nothing else is said.)

Keeping cichlids like the Geophagus has been increased a lot, not only the last year, but for some years now. When you are studying the Geophagus a little closer, you'll understand why. They are beautiful, very elegant and most of them are very kind, not only against other fish but also among themself.

This heading should give those of you, not familiar with these cichlids, some hints.

I will take the general things about the Geophagus here in the beginning and then I will show you photos of at least some of the Geophagus.

Here a newly collected Geophagus surinamensis from Surinam River.

The Geophagus have everything you wanted from cichlids, they are colorful , have a very interesting behavior, and can go together with most fish in a community aquariums.

There are of course things you have to take care of, such as temperatur, size of the tank, feeding, hidingplaces, waterquality is very important. If you wanted to keep a group of Geophagus in a community aquarium, then the tank must be at least 250 liter or bigger if you have room for it.

You must also think about what kind of plants you want to use. In most of the biotpes where the Geophagus live, there is not many plants, but if you wanted the community tank to be in the livingroom, I guess there will be som loud voices if you just use rock and bogwood, which is a biotop for the Geophagus.

Fine sand is also a part of the whole, since the Geophagus is spendig most of his time looking for food and sifting the sand to find it. If you want the sand to be highest in the background and lowest in the front........ you can forget that, because when the Geophagus are taking the mouth full of sand and chew on it, they don't spit it out at the same place but spread it around. So after a short time the bottom in the tank will be flat.

I've heard sombody had put gravel instead of fine sand to avoid the digging, but then you better find other fish, because to sift the sand looking for food it's naturally for the Geophagus.When you go for the Geophagus you must be patient, because when you go in to a shop and look forGeophagus, and if you are lucky, you might find some gray dull fish.

It will take about a two years time before the fish will show you how it will look when it's healthy and in good condition. So meanwhile you must look into some good books about Geophagus and I will give you the name on the books I'm thinking of. One very good book I will suggest is a German book, namely

"Die Buntbarsche Americas" Band 3, ISBN 3 - 8001- 3990 -1.
I know it's written in German, but even if you can't read German, just look at the picture about Geophagus. The book cover about other cichlid too. And the book is written by two of Germanys best known Aquarist, namely Uwe Werner and Rainer Stawikowski. I know them personaly, and they are a couple of great guys. The other book I was thinking about, is also in German,by a great guy, but you can get it in English too.The name of the book is;
South American Earteaters by Thomas Weidner, ISBN 0 - 9668255-1-9.

This is probably one of the Geophagus you have never seen in the shop, and it will probably be some years before it's common. The name of the fish is Geophagus brachybranschus from Surinam. It was described in 1989 by Dr. Kullander and Dr. Han Nijssen in the book; The Cichlids of Surinam. It was first collected in Nickerie River system in a rocky pool, just above Blanche Marie vallen (falls)in January,1971.
You can reach me by e-mail at: alf.stalsberg@c2i.net
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