Che Eartheater Care Guide
Gymnogeophagus che is an eartheater cichlid known only from a single Argentine stream, a sand-sifting species tolerant of cooler seasonal temperatures.
Overview
Gymnogeophagus che is a small eartheater cichlid from South America, recorded only from a single locality in Argentina. Like its relatives it is a substrate-sifting fish and tolerates the cooler seasonal temperatures characteristic of the genus.
Taxonomy
- Family: Cichlidae
- Subfamily: Geophaginae
- Genus: Gymnogeophagus
- Scientific name: Gymnogeophagus che
Habitat
According to FishBase the species is restricted to the Paraná River basin, in the Paraná drainage of Argentina, and is known only from the Arroyo Urugua-í. It is a freshwater, benthopelagic fish.
Tank requirements
- Minimum tank volume: 250 L (66 gal)
- Temperature: 17-26 °C (63-79 °F)
- pH: 6.5-7.8
- GH: 5-15 °dGH
- Substrate: sand for sifting
- Lifespan: 6-10 years
Diet
An omnivore. The genus name combines the Greek for naked, earth and to eat, reflecting the eartheater feeding habit of sifting substrate for food. In the aquarium a varied diet of granular and frozen foods supports this species.
Compatibility
A bottom-dwelling, semi-aggressive cichlid best housed with robust, similarly sized tankmates. As a sand-sifter it is not suited to delicate planted layouts, and very small fish or shrimp may be at risk.