Abalios Eartheater (Geophagus abalios) Care Guide
Geophagus abalios is a peaceful Venezuelan eartheater from the Orinoco that sifts sand and is best kept in groups.
Compiled by Aquairi from published sources · Published · Updated
Overview
Geophagus abalios is a South American cichlid known as an eartheater for its habit of taking up mouthfuls of substrate and sifting them for food. According to FishBase it is restricted to the Orinoco and Casiquiare drainages in Venezuela. It is a benthopelagic species that grows to roughly 190–200 mm standard length, reported by Seriously Fish.
Taxonomy
- Family: Cichlidae
- Subfamily: Geophaginae
- Genus: Geophagus
- Scientific name: Geophagus abalios
Habitat
Seriously Fish reports the species from Venezuelan Llanos tributaries such as the Ríos Apure, Cinaruco and Capanaparo, and from the middle and upper Orinoco, extending south toward the río Casiquiare near the río Negro headwaters. It occupies lowland floodplain rivers with clear or black water of low pH and negligible conductivity, over soft sand or mud with roots, branches and leaf litter.
Tank requirements
- Minimum tank volume: 350 L
- Temperature: 26–30 °C (79–86 °F)
- pH: 5.0–6.8
- GH: 1–6 °dGH
- Group size: 5 or more individuals
- Lifespan: 8–12 years
Diet
The species is benthophagous, sifting substrate for small aquatic and terrestrial invertebrates, plant seeds and detritus in nature. In the aquarium it accepts high-quality fine-grade prepared foods together with small live or frozen items such as bloodworm, Tubifex and Artemia.
Compatibility
Seriously Fish describes Geophagus abalios as surprisingly peaceful outside of breeding. It is gregarious and a group of at least five to eight individuals is recommended to spread out social interactions. A fine sand substrate is essential so the fish can sift naturally.
Breeding
According to Seriously Fish it is a substrate-spawning, biparental mouthbrooder. A brood may contain up to about 200 eggs, with fry becoming free-swimming around 8–11 days.
Conservation status
The IUCN Red List lists Geophagus abalios as Least Concern (assessed 28 October 2020).
Geophagus abalios Breeding Guide
Overview
Geophagus abalios is an eartheater from the Orinoco basin of Venezuela. According to Seriously Fish it is a substrate-spawning, ovophilous, biparental mouthbrooder: the pair spawns on a surface and the eggs are taken into the mouth immediately. It is a sand-sifting species best kept in a group, and it occurs sympatrically with the larvophilous G. dicrozoster.
Sexing
No external differences have been observed except during spawning, when the female's ovipositor is visible. Because juveniles cannot be sexed reliably, raise young fish in a group and let pairs form naturally.
Conditioning
There is no special trigger for spawning; the main requirements are a good diet and a stringent maintenance regime with relatively large weekly water changes. Well-fed adults in clean water spawn readily.
Breeding Setup
- Soft sand and a flat spawning surface; a tank base of 180 × 60 cm or more for a group
- Temperature: 26-32 °C (Seriously Fish maintenance range)
- pH: 4.0-7.0 (Seriously Fish)
- Hardness: 18-179 ppm (Seriously Fish)
- Large weekly water changes
Spawning Behavior & Trigger
Spawning occurs in typical substrate-spawning fashion, with the female laying one or more rows of eggs before the male moves in to fertilise them, the process repeating numerous times over several hours. No specific environmental trigger is needed.
Egg & Fry Care
Maximum brood size is around 200 eggs. Eggs are normally assumed by the female, though occasionally both adults participate from the start, and parents may exchange brooding duties daily or simultaneously. At 25-28 °C the fry become free-swimming at 8-11 days of age. Fry are easily fed, accepting good-quality powdered dry foods, Artemia nauplii and microworm.
Common Challenges
Reliable sexing is impossible outside spawning, so a group is the surest route to a pair. The species needs a large footprint and soft, slightly acidic water; coarse substrate can interfere with natural feeding and brooding behaviour.