Care
Like most of the Geophagus found in fast-moving water, taeniopareius is more competitive and quarrelsome than their deeper-bodied kin. The typical habitat has large expanses of sand and scattered rocks, together with tangles of waterlogged wood.
The aquarium should be biologically mature and spacious, with a large expanse of soft sand substrate as these fish like to sift through the substrate in their ongoing search for food items. Provide plenty of hiding places amongst tangles of driftwood, rocky caves, and robust planting cultivated on the wood (such as Anubias sp. or Java Fern). Vegetation planted into the substrate is likely to be dug up, so is best avoided. Filtration should be efficient and generate as much flow as possible, this can be further supplemented by powerheads or wave makers. These fish are accustomed to spending their energy fighting the current and may seem hyperactive and be more aggressive without the same provision in their aquarium. Frequent partial water changes will help keep nitrate to a minimum, particularly important as this species is particularly sensitive to deteriorating water conditions. Unless breeding, eartheaters are generally sociable, and in the wild are found in loose aggregations. In the aquarium, this species is best maintained in groups of 6 or more so that a natural hierarchy can form. This will not only meet their social needs but it will help spread any aggression amongst the shoal, so that no one fish bears the continual brunt of any sporadic antagonistic behaviour. Tankmates can include tetras, headstanders etc. and any reasonably peaceful species that appreciates the same conditions. Many L number plecs are ideally suited but make sure they get plenty to eat alongside the more dynamic cichlids.
A few other slimline eartheaters are occasionally imported, but this species has a distinctive combination of yellow base colour and prominent eye stripe.
Feeding
Omnivorous. Requires small foods compared to its adult size. Try to keep it varied with good quality flakes, small sinking pellets, and a mixture of frozen foods.
Breeding
This species has been bred in the home aquarium, although its more demanding care and social requirements make this a less common occurence than the more placid species. Unlike many Geophagus, neither eggs nor wrigglers are taken into the mouth. When ready to spawn, there will be a typical courtship display consisting of circling, fin-flashing, lateral displays, and mouth gaping. If the female is receptive, she will swim over the chosen pre-cleaned spawning site in a series of dry runs, after which she will begin depositing eggs in small batches. The male immediately follows behind her and fertilises them, and this is repeated until the female is spent of eggs. 48-72 hours later, the eggs will hatch (the parents may assist with this) and the wrigglers are cared for until they are free-swimming, when the fry are guarded by both parents, with the male being more active in guarding the territorial perimeter. At this point they can be offered Artemia nauplii and powdered flake food.
