Surinam eartheater

Care at a glance

The Surinam eartheater comes from the coastal rivers of Suriname and is a large, elegant cichlid with rows of pearly spots and long fin extensions. In the trade its name is often used loosely for a number of very similar eartheaters from other river systems.

It finds food by taking up sand and sifting it, so a thick layer of fine sand and plenty of open floor matter more than decoration. Keep it in a group in a long tank with clean, oxygen-rich water; it grows substantial and is sensitive to poor water values.

Good to know

• Digger — needs fine sand
• Outgrows most home tanks

Related species

• Orangehead tapajos eartheaterGeophagus pyrocephalus
• Redhump eartheaterGeophagus steindachneri
• Blood parrot cichlidAmphilophus citrinellus × Vieja melanurus
• Geophagus (other eartheaters)Geophagus sp.
• African butterfly cichlidAnomalochromis thomasi
• FlowerhornCichlasoma × hybride