| Scientific Name | Geophagus Altifrons |
| Origin | South America |
| Temperature | 79°F – 82°F |
| Water Parameters | 4.8 – 6.6 pH |
| Size | 8.9 inches |
| Diet | Omnivorous |
Table of Contents
Geophagus Altifrons Facts
- The name Geophagus means earth eater, and Altifrons means high tail. They were named after their characteristics.
- Geophagus Altifrons like to sift through the substrate for food. They use their mouths to scoop up the substrate as they search.
- There are many variations of Geophagus Altifrons.
Geophagus Altifrons are among the most popular home aquarium fish for their beautiful iridescent coloration. Their bodies range from tannish to gray, with iridescent banding and dotting on them. The iridescence ranges from golden orange to blueish green. These markings are also visible on their transparent fins. Giving them the appearance of glowing. They can grow rather large, up to 8.9 inches in captivity, with some owners reporting them growing much larger.
Geophagus Altifrons do not have a true common name. They are sometimes referred to as Earth Eater Cichlids, but this refers to the translation of their scientific name. Geo means earth, phagus means eater. Altifrons means high tail. These descriptive words put together make up the scientific name of Geophagus Altifrons. These fish have been selectively bred to display different color variations within the species.
Geophagus Altifrons Care
Geophagus Altifrons is considered a hardy fish and easy to care for if you are a beginner to the fishkeeping hobby. The main thing to do to keep your Geophagus Altifrons is to ensure that you have the correct aquarium setup for them to live and thrive.
Tank Requirements
Geophagus Altifrons require a tank that is at least 55 gallons. They are hardy fish that will do well in a mature tank setup. They require a temperature of 79F to 82F and 4.8 to 6.6 pH. When setting up a tank for Geophagus Altifrons, you will want to closely examine their natural habitat and model their aquarium after that.
Food and Diet
Geophagus Altifrons are called Earth Eaters because they scoop up mouthfuls of the substrate to sift through it in search of food. You will have to keep this in mind when setting up a tank for Geophagus Altifrons. You will need to choose fine sand or gravel so that they are not injured when they try to do this. Geophagus Altifrons do best with high-quality sinking pellets, but they also do well with a varied diet of spirulina and flaked foods.
Geophagus Altifrons Size and Lifespan
Adult Geophagus Altifrons in captivity can grow up to 8.9 inches, but in the wild, they can grow much larger at around 12 inches. Owners of Geophagus Altifrons have said that they have had their fish grow larger than 8.9 inches in captivity, but their growth rate and longevity are directly related to how well they are cared for. Geophagus Altifrons can live up to 10 years or more if cared for properly.
Tank Setup
When setting up a tank for Geophagus Altifrons, you will want to keep in mind that they are fish that primarily spends most of their time at the bottom of the aquarium. They are
called Earth Eaters because they scoop up mouthfuls of the substrate to sift through it for food. You will want to use fine gravel or sand when choosing a substrate. Make sure that your tank includes many places for your Geophagus Altifrons to root through the substrate, so make sure that a large portion of the substrate is available for them. It is for this reason that Geophagus Altifrons prefer a tank that is longer as opposed to taller.
How to Create the Ideal Tank Setup for Geophagus Altifrons
Creating the ideal tank setup for Geophagus Altifrons just means looking at their natural habitat and modeling their tank after those conditions. You will want to make sure that you are choosing a fine sand or gravel substrate so that they are able to sift through it to find their food. Geophagus Altifrons are native to the Amazon River Basin and spend their time among the slow-moving streams sifting through the substrate for food.
Can I Keep Geophagus Altifrons in a Planted Tank?
Geophagus Altifrons like to sift through the substrate for their food, which means that they will sometimes uproot plants in your tank. It has been suggested by owners of Geophagus Altifrons, who have successfully kept Geophagus Altifrons with plants, that you cover the base of the plants in large flat river rocks so that they do not get too close to the roots of the plant.
Geophagus Altifrons Breeding
When Geophagus Altifrons are ready to spawn, you will be able to see the male digging and creating little craters in the substrate. Once he is done, he will try to coax the female to the spots he has prepared. Once the female Geophagus Altifrons releases her eggs, and the male fertilizes them, one of the parent fish will scoop up their eggs in their mouths. The eggs will hatch in roughly 3 days.
How Do Geophagus Altifrons Breed?
Geophagus Altifrons are mouth brooders. This means that one of the parent fish will scoop up their fertilized eggs into their mouths to hold and protect them until they are ready to care for themselves.
When Geophagus Altifrons males are ready to spawn, they will dig up small pits in their substrate. This is where they will try to coax the female Geophagus Altifrons to lay their eggs for them to fertilize.
Geophagus Altifrons Male or Female
There is no way to tell the difference between juvenile male and female Geophagus Altifrons. The only clear way to determine if you have a male or a female is by looking at their bodies as they spawn. During spawning, you will be able to see the female Geophagus Altifrons ovipositor. This is the organ she uses to lay her eggs. The best way to get yourself a breeding pair is to get a small grouping of them as juveniles and let them mature together.
Geophagus Altifrons Disease
Geophagus Altifrons are susceptible to many of the same diseases as all freshwater fish. They can get parasitic, bacterial, and fungal infections. Their health and happiness, as well as their size and longevity, deeply depend on the conditions in which they are kept. It is better to prevent ailments from happening than it is to try and fix them once they do. You can avoid potential problems by performing regular water changes and water parameter checks to ensure they are kept in the correct conditions.
Some conditions, such as Ich, can be cured if caught early enough on, but keep in mind that ailments are highly contagious in fish, and affected fish should be quarantined. It is also a great practice to quarantine any new fish before placing them into your aquarium to ensure they are healthy and disease or parasite free.
Are Geophagus Altifrons Aggressive?
Geophagus Altifrons are not typically aggressive. They are considered a peaceful species and great for community tanks as long as they are kept in the correct setup. They do not do well in crowding situations, and it is better to house them in a longer aquarium than taller ones. Geophagus prefer to live in a small grouping of at least 6 fish, creating their own hierarchy and displaying their unique grouping behaviors.
Geophagus Altifrons Tank Mates
Geophagus Altifrons are a great addition to a community tank setup due to their peaceful nature and their preference for bottom dwellings. Being bottom dwellers, it frees up the middle and upper water columns for other fish. They do best with other Geophagus species, but they can also be kept with other fish that are roughly the same size and temperament. Great tank mates for Geophagus Altifrons are Tetras, Parrot Cichlids, other South American Cichlids, small catfish, and Apistogramma.
It is not a good idea to house Geophagus Altifrons with fish that are aggressive, territorial, or could potentially see them as a meal. For example, even though they can tolerate similar water requirements, you do not want to house your Geophagus Altifrons with Oscar fish.
Compatible and Incompatible Tank Mates for Geophagus Altifrons
Compatible tank mates for Geophagus Altifrons include other peaceful fish of roughly the same size and temperament. They do best when kept in a grouping of at least 5 Geophagus Altifrons where they can form their own natural hierarchy amongst themselves. Since Geophagus Altifrons occupy the bottom of the water column, they make for a great addition to a community tank setup. You will want to place them in a tank with other fish of roughly the same temperament and needs. Tetras are a great choice, as well as some African Cichlids.
You will want to avoid placing your Geophagus Altifrons with other territorial species, and aggression could out-compete them for food or could mistake them for a meal. Even though Geophagus Altifrons and Oscar fish can tolerate similar water conditions, they still do not house well together.
Geophagus Altifrons and Discus
Geophagus Altifrons can safely and peacefully coexist in a community tank setup as long as they have enough room. They require a long tank that is at least 6ft in length. This will give the two species plenty of space to get away from one another. Giving them a longer tank instead of a taller one gives them more room to spread out away from one another.
Geophagus Altifrons Types
There are many different types of Geophagus Altifrons. These variants within the same species have different characteristics that are noticeable and recognizable.
Geophagus Altifrons Rio Araguari
Geophagus Altifrons Rio Araguari is a color variation of Geophagus Altifrons that shows up as a white-colored body with orangish-red iridescent markings spotted over their body and fins.
Geophagus Altifrons Sao Felix
Geophagus Altifrons Sao Felix has golden-colored heads with a shiny golden yellow, iridescent reflection on their bodies and fins.
Geophagus Altifrons Rio Negro
Geophagus Altifrons Rio Negro has a golden coloration to their bodies, with a reddish iridescent coloration to their bodies and their fins.
Geophagus Altifrons Rio Xingu
Geophagus Altifrons Rio Xingu also has a yellow-gold coloration to its body and fins with a lighter reddish iridescent coloration to its scales and fins, but they also have a distinctive black spot on their side.
Geophagus Altifrons Rio Tocantins
Geophagus Altifrons Rio Tocantins has a distinctive feature that makes them a little easier to spot. They have a downward-sloping face and mouth.
Geophagus Altifrons Rio Trombetas
Geophagus Altifrons Rio Trombetas have a much larger-looking head shape in comparison to other types of Geophagus Altifrons.
Where Can I Find Geophagus Altifrons for Sale?
If you want to purchase Geophagus Altifrons for your home aquarium, you can find them from breeders online for around $25 per fish. Make sure that you are doing your research to make sure that you are buying from a reputable source to ensure that you are getting healthy fish.
Geophagus Altifrons vs. Geophagus Surinamensis
Geophagus Altifrons and Geophagus Surinamensis are very similar and are often mistaken for one another. There are online forums to identify whether a fish keeper has received the correct Geophagus species that they ordered. Geophagus Altifrons are the main Geophagus fish sold in stores and online. Geophagus Surinamensis is a rare fish that is not as easy to find or get your hands on. Make sure you are purchasing your fish from a reputable source to ensure that you are actually getting the fish you are paying for.
Geophagus Altifrons and Geophagus Surinamensis can be distinguished mostly by their head shape. Geophagus Altifrons have a much steeper, more sloped look to their head shape. In Geophagus Altifrons, the first two lateral bands bisect, and they have spotting and banding on their tails. Both of these species live and thrive in similar conditions, with roughly the same tank requirements and dietary needs.
