Care
One of the most southerly distributed species, this subtropical cichlid can be found in a variety of habitats including floodplain lakes, rivers, and streams. Winter temperatures drop significantly and activity is very seasonal.
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 with areas of moderate water movement and some calmer resting spots out of the current. Frequent partial water changes will help keep nitrate to a minimum, particularly important as this species is sensitive to deteriorating water conditions.
This fish, like other Gymnogeophagus species from temperate climes, prefers the water to be a little cooler than most other South American cichlids (ideally 20-25 °C) for much of the year. Winter cooling is necessary for the long term health of Gymnogeophagus. To this end, the water temperature should be lowered to less than 16 °C for 3 consecutive months each year, so an aquarium chiller may be required to achieve this if room temperatures remain high. These eartheaters are best described as semi-aggressive outside of spawning season and should be maintained in groups with space for pairs to claim territories in the warmer months. Tankmates should be chosen with care and able to thrive under the same sub-tropical water temperature, or housed apart during periods of cooling. This is the most cold-hardy cichlid widely available in the trade but is accustomed to a mediterranean climate, where the lowest winter temperatures are offset by daytime warming - unlike a British winter, night time lows are balanced by daytime temperatures bouncing back into the teens.
Feeding
Omnivorous. Requires small aquarium 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
Seasonal substrate spawner, which has been bred in the home aquarium. 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 up to 300 eggs in small batches. The male immediately follows behind her and fertilises them, and this is repeated until the female is spent of eggs. The female stays with the eggs, fanning them with her pectoral fins, whilst the male guards the perimeter. The eggs should hatch within 2-4 days (temperature dependent), and the wrigglers will be moved to a pre-dug pit in the substrate. Once free-swimming, the young can be offered Artemia nauplii and powdered flake.
