Redstriped Eartheater

About

The Redstriped Eartheater (Geophagus surinamensis) is a medium-sized cichlid from the river systems of Suriname and French Guiana, where it turns up in the calmer stretches near cascades and in canals with soft mud or sand bottoms. The name eartheater is well earned. This fish spends much of its time scooping up mouthfuls of substrate with its protractile mouth, sifting out edible matter, and spitting the rest back out. That behavior means a sand substrate is really a must, both for the fish's comfort and to watch it do what it does naturally. One genuinely interesting quirk is its ability to produce sounds using its pharyngeal teeth, though whether this is intentional communication or simply a byproduct of feeding isn't fully understood yet. Breeding behavior is where this species really shines. Pairs spawn on flat rocks or in pits they excavate themselves, then carry the eggs in their mouths until hatching. The fry continue to shelter in the mother's mouth at night or when trouble approaches, and both parents stay involved in protecting the young for several weeks. Despite being a cichlid with real parental instincts, Geophagus surinamensis is considered a reasonable choice for hobbyists without a lot of cichlid experience, provided the tank is spacious enough to accommodate its active bottom-working lifestyle.