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Encyclopedia / Cichlids / Red hump eartheater
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Variations

1 kinds · tap one for a closer look

Red hump eartheater

Geophagus steindachneri · Red hump geophagus, Steindachneri eartheater, Geophagus steindachneri, Red-hump eartheater

Semi-aggressive when spawning; males squabble over territory.

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20 cmAdult size ✓
24–28 °CTemperature ✓
6–7.5pH ✓
243 LSmallest tank ✓
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Not recommended
  • Red hump eartheater eats animals up to about 3 cm. Neon tetra only grows to 2.5 cm.
  • Only a narrow temperature range suits both: 24–25 °C.
Not recommended
  • Red hump eartheater eats animals up to about 3 cm. Cardinal tetra only grows to 3 cm.
Not recommended
  • Red hump eartheater eats animals up to about 3 cm. Ember tetra only grows to 2 cm.
With conditions
  • Only a narrow temperature range suits both: exactly 24 °C.
With conditions
  • Only a narrow temperature range suits both: 24–25 °C.
Compatible
Compatible
Compatible
Compatible
Compatible

366 species in our list are a good match.

Facts checked against sources on 16 Oct 2026. ✓ means a source backs it; ? means no reliable source yet. See sources

Care and water

Hardness ✓2–12 dGH
Group size ✓4 or more
Temperament ✓Semi-aggressive
Swims at ✓Bottom
Care level ✓Moderate
Diet Omnivore
Lifespan ?Unknown
Size in shops 5–8 cm
Growth Medium

Behavior

Semi-aggressive when spawning; males squabble over territory. Keep with robust, similar-sized fish.

  • sand

Food

Sinking pellets, frozen foods and live worms.

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Male or female

Adult males are larger, with longer fin lobes, and sexually mature males grow a nuchal (forehead) hump that can be very pronounced. Females stay smaller with no hump.

Health

Common problems. Tap one to see the signs. This is a guide, not a diagnosis.

Breeding

Mouthbrooder · Hard

Maternal mouthbrooder: males are polygamous; the female lays small batches of eggs on a hard surface in the male's territory, picks them up and they are fertilised in front of her mouth. She broods alone.

Pairing

Keep a group of 6 and let a pair form, or one male with several females.

Setup

A 250 L tank with a sponge or gentle filter, fine sand to sift, a few rocks and open swimming space.

What starts it

Clean warm water, big regular water changes and varied protein foods.

Eggs

The female incubates the eggs for 10-14 days; fry may return to her mouth for a week or more after they are free-swimming.

Raising the fry

The brooding parent holds eggs and fry, releasing them at about 1 cm; feed newly hatched brine shrimp.

Common mistakes
  • Coarse or sharp substrate
  • Stressing the brooding fish
  • Infrequent water changes
Full breeding guide, day-by-day plan and simulator →

Where it lives in the wild

RegionNorthern Colombia
Rivers and lakesRío Magdalena basin
HabitatRivers and streams with sandy bottoms
Native rangeAbout 400 km across
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The story of the red hump eartheater

From the Magdalena and Sinú basins of Colombia and the Lake Maracaibo drainage of Venezuela. Mature males develop a prominent forehead hump; colour forms vary by locality.

Eigenmann and Hildebrand described this eartheater in 1922, honouring Franz Steindachner. It comes from the Magdalena basin of Colombia, far from the Amazon home of most Geophagus. Males develop a red hump, while females brood eggs in their mouths.

First described by Carl H. Eigenmann & Samuel F. Hildebrand in 1922. Named for Named after Austrian zoologist Franz Steindachner.

  • Males develop a red forehead hump.
  • Females carry the eggs in their mouths.
  • It stays smaller than most Geophagus, around 15 cm.

Sources

16 facts checked with sources