HomeFreshwater aquarium fishSouth & Central American cichlidsRedstriped eartheater Redstriped eartheater (Geophagus surinamensis) Scientific name: Geophagus surinamensis Bloch, 1791 The Redstriped eartheater (Geophagus surinamensis) is a freshwater fish of the family Cichlidae that grows to about 30 cm (12 in). It is moderate to keep and semi-aggressive, suits community aquariums and needs a tank of at least 210 L (55 US gal), water at 24–27°C (75–81°F) and a pH of 6.0–8.0. Native range: South America, Saramacca and Suriname Rivers in Suriname; Marowijne River in Suriname and French Guiana. Redstriped eartheater care at a glanceCare levelModerateTemperamentSemi-aggressiveCommunity tankGoodAdult size30 cm (12 in)Minimum tank210 L (55 US gal)Temperature24–27°C (75–81°F)pH6.0–8.0Hardness5–19 dGH (89–339 ppm)DietOmnivore. Accepts flakes, frozen foods and live foods. BiologyThough not so abundant, it is often caught in the quiet zones of cascades with G. harreri. Lives in mud and sand-bottomed canals. Maximum length 30 cm TL. Omnivorous, with a tendency towards herbivory, searches for food by digging into the substrate with its protractile mouth. Can emit sounds through its pharyngeal teeth though it is not known whether it is a form of communication or not. Spawning takes place on a flat stone or in a hole dug in the sand. Parents generally take the eggs into their mouths until hatching occurs three days later. At night or when faced with danger, the alevins seeks shelter in the mother's mouth. Parents take care of their siblings for several weeks.Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0. Species factsScientific nameGeophagus surinamensisFamilyCichlidae (Cichlids)OrderPerciformes (Perch-like fish)ClassActinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)Maximum length14.8EnvironmentFreshwater;; pH range: 6.0 - 8.0; dH range: 5 - 19 benthopelagicClimateTropicalDistributionSouth America: Saramacca and Suriname Rivers in Suriname; Marowijne River in Suriname and French Guiana.Conservation status (IUCN)Not EvaluatedThreat to humansHarmlessUsesAquarium: commercialResilienceMedium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (Fec=250) More south & central american cichlidsFalse yellowjacket cichlidParachromis motaguensisSatanoperca leucostictaPearl cichlidGeophagus brasiliensisFreshwater angelfishPterophyllum scalareCrenicichla lenticulataCrenicichla lacustrisSee all south & central american cichlids SourcesTaxonomy, distribution and biology data: FishBase (Froese, R. and D. Pauly, eds.), licensed CC BY-NC 4.0. Aquarium care parameters compiled, checked and converted to metric and imperial units by Guppies.za.net.Last updated 28 September 2026