Geophagus Tapajos 4-6cm

Red Head Tapajos Earth Eater (Geophagus sp. "Tapajos")

A striking South American cichlid renowned for its iridescent blue-green body and signature red-orange head colouration. Known for their fascinating sand-sifting feeding behaviour, these earth-eaters constantly filter substrate through their gills in search of food, making them one of the most engaging and character-rich cichlids to watch in the aquarium.

Care at a Glance:

• Minimum Tank Size: 200L+ (4 foot tank minimum, larger preferred)
• Temperature (celsius): 24–28°C
• pH Range: 6.0–7.0
• Temperament: Semi-aggressive; generally peaceful but can be territorial when spawning
• Diet: Omnivore — sand-sifting grazer; accepts quality pellets, frozen bloodworms/brineshrimp, live foods, and occasional vegetable matter
• Max Size: 20–25cm
• Lifespan: 8–10 years
• Care Level: Intermediate (requires excellent water quality and a sand substrate)

Tank Mates: Peaceful to semi-aggressive South American cichlids of similar size (e.g. Severums, Festivums, Silver Dollars), large peaceful catfish, and similar-sized community fish. Avoid small fish that could be eaten. Best kept in groups of 4–6+ for natural social behaviour.

Origin: Rio Tapajós basin, Brazil (South America)