🐟 RED HEAD TAPAJOS GEOPHAGUS – FULL DETAILS

🧬 Scientific Name:

Geophagus sp. 'Red Head Tapajos'

📛 Common Names:

• Red Head Tapajos

• Red-Hump Eartheater

• Geophagus Red Head

• Orange Head Tapajos

🌍 Origin & Natural Habitat

• Native Range: Tapajós River Basin, Amazon River, Brazil (South America)

• Habitat: Slow-moving, sandy-bottomed rivers with leaf litter and submerged wood

• Water Type: Freshwater, tropical

🧰 Care Level:

Moderate – Ideal for hobbyists with some cichlid experience

📏 Physical Characteristics

🏠 Tank Requirements

Note: Red Head Geophagus are eartheaters – they sift sand through their gills while searching for food. Avoid gravel which can harm their gills.

🤝 Temperament and Behavior

• Temperament: Peaceful, social, and intelligent

• Community Friendly: Yes – excellent for peaceful community tanks

• Best Kept: In groups of 5 or more to reduce stress and territorial behavior

• Behavior Traits:

  • Constantly sifting through sand

  • Social interaction with tankmates

  • Non-aggressive unless breeding

✅ Good Tank Mates:

• Angelfish

• Severums

• Corydoras

• Peaceful tetras (e.g., Rummy Nose, Congo, Lemon)

• Rainbowfish

• Plecos (Bristlenose, etc.)

❌ Avoid with:

• Aggressive cichlids (Oscars, Jack Dempseys)

• Small shrimp (may be eaten)

• Fin-nipping fish (Tiger Barbs)

🍽️ Diet

• Feeding Habit: Omnivorous

• Feeding Style: Sifts through substrate for food; feed 2 times daily

🐣 Breeding

• Breeding Behavior: Substrate spawners, often forming monogamous pairs

• Spawning Process:

  • Breeding pair chooses a flat rock or pit in the sand

  • Female lays eggs, male fertilizes them

  • Parents guard eggs and fry

• Fry Care:

  • Fry can be fed baby brine shrimp or powdered fry food

  • Best raised in a separate breeding tank

In a community tank, fry may be eaten by other fish unless separated.

⚕️ Health and Disease Prevention

Health Tips:

• Maintain high water quality

• Avoid sharp substrate

• Quarantine new fish

• Offer a varied, high-quality diet

🧼 Tank Maintenance

• Weekly water changes (30–40%)

• Vacuum substrate gently to avoid disturbing fish

• Monitor water parameters: keep ammonia and nitrite at zero

• Clean filters regularly to maintain oxygen and flow

📌 Quick Summary

💡 Fun Facts

• Their name Geophagus means “earth eater” – reflecting their natural sand-sifting habit.

• Red Head Tapajos were only introduced to the aquarium trade in the late 1990s, making them a relatively new favorite.

• They often "blow" jets of sand through their gills while searching for food—very entertaining to watch!

• Despite being cichlids, they are surprisingly peaceful and can even be shy.

IMAGES ARE FOR REPRESENTATIVE PURPOSES ONLY.