Care Level: Moderate

Temperament: Semi-Aggressive

Live Plant Safe: With Caution

General Description: The Pearl Geophagus is native to various rivers and estuaries throughout southern Brazil and Uruguay. While their name, Geophagus, translates to “earth-eating”, the Pearl geophagus is less of a substrate-sifter and is more of a habitat and diet generalist. Furthermore, the Pearl geophagus tends to be more aggressive and territorial than most other Geophagus species; therefore, it is best kept in a more aggressive tank community. Named for their dazzling, pearlescent bodies, adult male and female Pearl geophagus only differ slightly in that males grow larger and dominant individuals can develop of a nuchal hump on their forehead. Smaller, immature Pearl geophagus are near impossible to sex. An adult Pearl geophagus can reach a size of approximately 9″.

Diet Requirements: In the wild Pearl geophagus are omnivores, but a greater proportion of their diet should be vegetable based. A diet made up of various high quality vegetable and protein based flake foods and sinking pellet foods are ideal, in addition to offering frozen foods such as bloodworms, brine shrimp that contains spirulina algae and other mixed freshwater preparations. Freeze-dried Tubifex worms are also a favorite, as are providing live blackworms occasionally as a treat. Variety is the spice of life in order to maintain color, immune function and longevity of your fish.

Care Requirements: An established minimum 75 gallon aquarium is ideal for a single adult or group of 4 to 5 immature Pearl geophagus. A pair should be put in a larger aquarium because they become extremely territorial during spawning. Mechanical filtration is highly recommended to extract small particles that are continually stirred up by their occasional sand-sifting behavior. This will also prevent wear and tear on your filter’s mechanisms. Pearl geophagus are intolerable of nitrite or ammonia spikes. Weekly water changes are encouraged to keep water parameters up to standard for geophagus (Nitrates < 30 ppm). If maintenance is neglected, Pearl geophagus are susceptible to head and lateral line erosion and stunted growth. The aquarium should be aquascaped mostly with driftwood or similar furnishings to replicate tree roots, but some open swimming space should also be provided. A few, flat rocks would provide potential spawning sites. While Pearl geophagus would unlikely consume live plants deliberately, their natural browsing behaviors could uproot them and that is why they are listed to be added in a live planted aquarium “with caution.” Compatability of Pearl geophagus depends on the size of your specimen(s). Again, this species tends to exhibit more aggressive and territorial behavior, thus keeping them with docile Central or South American species should be avoided. Larger/more adult Pearl geophagus may also try and eat small tank mates. Recommended water conditions, 76-82° F, KH 5-8, pH 6.5-7.5.

Purchase Size: Medium: 1-3/4” to 2”

Note: Your item may not look identical to the image provided due to variation within species. Purchase sizes are approximate.