Geophagus Winemilleri

Geophagus Winemilleri

Geophagus Winemilleri

A Lesser commonly traded Geophagus in Australia, but a beautiful species nonetheless, similar in appearance to the larger species Altifrons, but not as sizeable.

Locale: Found in Venezuela, and also thought to reside in Northern Brazil but much debate surrounds this - found in slow moving sandy blackwater river sections heavily scattered with wood and leaf/seed detritus.

Fun fact: Despite being discovered in 1991, ‘Rio Tapajos’ Geophagus were only described in 2023, being given the species name Pyrocephalus, a combination of the Ancient Greek words for “flame-coloured” and “-headed” 

Care:

Care difficulty - Intermediate

Temperament - Semi-aggressive, best kept with other similarly sized eartheaters, relatively peaceful for a cichlid

Adult size - 17-20cms

Diet - Omnivorous; These fish pass sand through their mouth and out thorough the gill slits, separating any microorganisms from the sand in the process. Best fed a staple diet of small pellets and wafers, with high protein foods as a dietary supplement once or twice a fortnight

Habitat - A sandy substrate coupled with small rocks and larger driftwood is an easy way to replicate the natural environment.

Optimal Water Parameters:

Temperature: 24-28°c

pH: 5.8-6.8

GH: 3-10

KH: 1-3

Fish size, sex, exact colour and patterning may vary from photo.