Care Level: Moderate

Temperament: Semi-Aggressive

Live Plant Safe: With Caution

General Description: The Red Hump Geophagus has a large natural range across tributaries and drainages in Colombia and Venezuela. Because of this, there is some natural phenotypic variation among individuals depending on type locality. Although their name, Geophagus, translates to “earth-eating”, the Red hump geophagus is less of a substrate-sifter and is more of a habitat and diet generalist. Furthermore, while Red hump geophagus can be social when they’re young, it is not uncommon for aggression to arise between competing males. In the long run, Red hump geophagus are best kept in a more aggressive tank community and as a mixed sex group or a male with several females. Named for the reddish hump males can develop on their forehead, an adult Red hump geophagus can reach a size of approximately 6″.

Diet Requirements: In the wild Red hump 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 Red hump geophagus. 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. Red hump 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, Red hump 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 Red hump 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 Red hump 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 Red hump 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: 2” to 2-1/2”

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