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Live fish will be delivered only to selected pincodes in Kolkata and nearby areas.


๐ŸŸ RED HEAD TAPAJOS GEOPHAGUS โ€“ FULL DETAILS


๐Ÿงฌ Scientific Name:

Geophagus sp. 'Red Head Tapajos'

๐Ÿ“› Common Names:

  • Red Head Tapajos

  • Red-Hump Eartheater

  • Geophagus Red Head

  • Orange Head Tapajos


๐ŸŒ Origin & Natural Habitat

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

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

  • Water Type: Freshwater, tropical


๐Ÿงฐ Care Level:

Moderate โ€“ Ideal for hobbyists with some cichlid experience


๐Ÿ“ Physical Characteristics

Attribute Details
Adult Size 5โ€“6 inches (13โ€“15 cm); males slightly larger
Lifespan 8โ€“10 years with proper care
Body Shape Laterally compressed with a sloped forehead
Coloration Pearl-like body with bright red-orange head, shimmering blue-green scales, and long trailing fins
Sexual Dimorphism Males are typically larger, with more pointed fins and brighter coloration

๐Ÿ  Tank Requirements

Tank Setup Ideal Parameters
Minimum Tank Size 55 gallons (larger for groups)
Temperature 24ยฐCโ€“28ยฐC (75ยฐFโ€“82ยฐF)
pH Range 6.0โ€“7.5
Water Hardness Soft to moderately hard (2โ€“12 dGH)
Substrate Soft sand โ€“ essential for their sifting behavior
Dรฉcor Driftwood, rocks, live plants, and open swimming space
Filtration Strong, well-oxygenated, with moderate water movement
Lighting Moderate

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


๐Ÿค Temperament and Behavior

  • Temperament: Peaceful, social, and intelligent

  • Community Friendly: Yes โ€“ 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

โœ… Good Tank Mates:

  • Angelfish

  • Severums

  • Corydoras

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

  • Rainbowfish

  • Plecos (Bristlenose, etc.)

โŒ Avoid with:

  • Aggressive cichlids (Oscars, Jack Dempseys)

  • Small shrimp (may be eaten)

  • Fin-nipping fish (Tiger Barbs)


๐Ÿฝ๏ธ Diet

Food Type Examples
Staple Diet High-quality sinking pellets/cichlid granules
Live/Frozen Bloodworms, brine shrimp, daphnia
Vegetables Blanched spinach, peas, spirulina-based foods
  • Feeding Habit: Omnivorous

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


๐Ÿฃ 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.


โš•๏ธ Health and Disease Prevention

Issue Symptoms Prevention/Treatment
Ich White spots, flashing Raise temp slightly, Ich treatment
Hole-in-Head Pitting on head Keep water clean, ensure proper diet and add vitamins
Bloat Swollen belly Feed fiber-rich food and avoid overfeeding

Health Tips:

  • Maintain high water quality

  • Avoid sharp substrate

  • Quarantine new fish

  • Offer a varied, high-quality diet


๐Ÿงผ Tank Maintenance

  • Weekly water changes (30โ€“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


๐Ÿ“Œ Quick Summary

Feature Details
Size 5โ€“6 inches
Lifespan 8โ€“10 years
Temperament Peaceful, social
Best Tank Size 55 gallons or more
Diet Omnivorous (pellets + live/frozen + vegetables)
Substrate Fine sand only
Ideal pH 6.0โ€“7.5
Group Size 5+ (thrives in groups)
Breeding Substrate spawner, parental care
Suitable For Community tanks with peaceful species

๐Ÿ’ก Fun Facts

  • Their name Geophagus means โ€œearth eaterโ€ โ€“ 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 foodโ€”very entertaining to watch!

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



We process orders on all weekdays (Monday to Saturday), excluding public holidays.

To avail free shipping, purchase amount should be Rs350/-(for Aquarium Accessories and Aquatic Plants) or more, less than the above amount shipping charges applicable Rs70/- only. For live fish delivery charges applicable at the time of checkout.

Orders are normally Shipped within 1-2 days and usually take 2-5 working days to be delivered based on your location. However, you will receive an approximate timeline when you place your order.

To ensure that your order reaches you quickly and in good condition, we only ship through reputed courier agencies.

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