Tocantins Altifrons Eartheater (Geophagus altifrons ‘Rio Tocantins’)

One of several similarly marked colorful eartheaters in the so-called “surinamensis complex”, the Altifrons Eartheater is a widespread species found throughout several middle Amazon tributaries. Typically found in clear, warm, acidic waters in small aggregations or breeding pairs, they will display their best coloration when kept in similar conditions.  A relatively peaceful cichlid, the Altifrons Eartheater will do well with most similar sized tankmates but very small fish may be in danger of being eaten. Like all eartheaters, a substrate of fine sand is essential for their well-being in the aquarium and they will spend most of their time sifting it through their specialized gills to pick out small food particles.