In 1981, the first report appeared on a Geophagus species imported as by-catch, which the author, Rainer Stawikowski, initially referred to as the “Yellow Cheek-Stripe Eartheater“. The relatively slender species is very much out of the usual range of Geophagus, both physically and in terms of brood care behavior. Nevertheless, it took until 1992 for […]
The hump of the male of G. balzanii is comparable to the feather tail of a peacock: it is simply the expression of manhood! The Paraguay Eartheater originates from the southern parts of South America and is imported now and then from Paraguay as wild collected stock, but the species is also bred on a […]
Lake Malawi in the heart of Africa is home to an enormous variety of cichlids. Often it is difficult to decide whether in individual cases they are different species or local variants. Extremely popular in aquaristics are the rock cichlids (Mbuna). But also among the non-Mbuna, which in their habitat are not so dependent on […]
The redhump eartheater (Geophagus steindachneri) from Colombia has had a regular place in the aquarium since it was first imported to Germany in 1972. There are numerous reasons for this. First of all it is very attractively colored. The males develop a red colored forehead hump, which varies very much in size. Over all: the […]
From the Colombian province of Caquetá we occasionally receive a magnificent Geophagus of the surinamensis group, which is obviously a scientifically not yet described species. Three color characteristics are used for the identification of Geophagus of this complex relationship: 1. the shape, position and size of the lateral spot in relation to the eye, 2. […]
Black butterfly cichlids have been around for a few years and many breeders do an excellent job on them, so that really beautiful and healthy animals come on the market. We have now received a strain of Black Rams, in which the blue of the scales is limited to the rear half of the body […]
In very small numbers we have received this beautiful Geophagus as German offspring. The species reaches a maximum length of 20-25 cm and is exclusively found in the inlet of the Marowijne River, the border river between French Guyana and Suriname. One of the tributaries of the Marowijne is the Maroni River, known to cichlid […]
One of the oldest aquarium fishes is the Buenos Aires tetra, of which the correct scientific name was only recently determined: Psalidodon anisitsi. To most aquarists, however, the species is probably still known as Hemigrammus caudovittatus (or Hyphessobrycon anisitsi), and it is under this name that it is found in most aquarium books. Since its […]
Because of the enormous popularity of the butterfly cichlid or blue ram (Mikrogeophagus ramirezi), there are mainly offspring and breeding forms on the market. Also the wild-colored offsprings differ clearly from the wild species: they are considerably larger (4-5 cm body length without caudal fin compared to 2-3 cm with wild-caught fish) and at the […]
We have received beautiful wild collectes animals of this larvophile maternal mouth-breeding cichlid from Paraguay (i.e. the female incubates the larvae in her mouth, while the animals spawn on stones etc. and take care for the eggs here like open-breeding cichlid until they hatch). With only scarcely 9 cm of standard length (with tail fin […]
Currently we have as well larger wild collected specimens and bred ones in stock. G. cf. abalios is a beautful, ovophilous mouthbrooider and originates from Venezuela. The fish have bred in our showroom. At that time they had a total length of about 8 cm, so we initially thought they would represent a dwarf variety. […]
We received wonderful wild collected specimens of this mouthbrooding cichlid (the females orally broods the larvae and young fry) from Paraguay. This species attains a maximum length of about 9 cm only (standard length, with the caudal fin the maximum length is around 12 cm) and thus is one of the smallest members of the […]
Where do the ornamental fish in the trade come from? The largest amount for sure from breeding installations in south east Asia, followed next by Israel and Czechia. But there do exist als smaller, more specialized breeding facilities that breed the unusual type of fish. We always try to be attractive as trade partners for […]
Due to the regularly offered, amazing bred sports of the Ram (Mikrogeophagus ramirezi) one tends to forget, how breathtaking beautiful the wild collected fish is already. Currently we have fully grown, wild collected Rams from Venezuela in stock. By the way: wild collected Rams become only about 5 cm long (in males), females even stay […]
We received this extraordinary and beautiful sport of Acarichthys heckelii from Taiwan. A. heckelii is a comparatively large species of cichlid that can attain over the years a total length of more than 20 cm. And the fish becomes more and more beautiful with every year! The species is very peaceful. Aquarium maintenance is comparable […]
Sadly we can offer this beautiful mouthbrooding cichlid from Colombia only very rarely; the last time we had it in stock was 5 years ago. Now we had the opportunity to import this animal. They originate from the Chocó region in Colombia, located in the West of the country. The main river of the Chocó […]
Is this a species of Geophagus from Lake Tanganyika? One can get these thoughts when seeing Callochromis macrops the first time. However, this mouthbrooding sand cichlids belong to the large Haplochromis-relationship. The ability to change the coloration is breathtaking in this species. The same individual that right now looked silvery or blotched will become in […]
The Bolivian Ram, Mikrogeophagus altispinosus, is by far less popular than its well known cousin from Venezuela, the Common Ram (M. ramirezi). Maybe this is due to the fact that the Bolivian is traded almost exclusively as bred ones, because there are no commercial exports from the area where the species occurs naturally? But the […]
Aquarium Glaser obtained in spring 2014 a boxed that contained a mixed group of Geophagus, which belonged to three different species. Among them were seven specimens that could not be applied to any known species of Geophagus so far. The fish were 7-8 cm long. Over the time the grew up to gorgeous, about 20 […]
This beautiful species of eartheater is known in the aquarium hobby since the year 2009. It is endemic in the Rio Aripuana. So it was called initially Geophagus sp. “Aripuana”. The scientific description of the species appeared much later, in january 2015. Now the correct scientific name is Geophagus mirabilis. The specific name, mirabilis, means […]
At the first glimpse one would doubtless place this fish to G. altifrons. However, there are differences. Up to a length of about 10 cm this new variety exhibits exclusively a pattern of vertical double-bars and has a comparatively large lateral spot. The dark zone between operculum and lateral spot, which is so characteristic for […]
For the first time ever we can offer German bred specimens of this beautiful and unusual large cichlid. The parents have been imported from the Congo. Keeping and breeding were successful under the following conditions: total hardness 14°, pH 7. The sexes show a clearly visible sexual dimorphism at an age of about 1.5 -2 […]
Geophagus sp. Tapajos 1 – Red Head We received gorgeous, adult, German bred specimens of this Geophagus, which is probably the most colorful species of Geophagus at all. Currently the fish are 10-14 cm lang and in a top condition. For our customers: the fish have code 681615 on our stocklist. Please note that we […]
All species of Geophagus are gorgeous fish, but G. altifrons – the species can be recognized by the shape of the lateral spot, which is always smaller than the diameter of the eye – is one of the most beautiful of all. We currently can offer German bred specimens which belong to the population of […]
For the first time ever we can offer this pretty eartheater. The parents originate from Suriname (exactly: the Tapanahoni river. However, the species occurs also in other rivers of Suriname, like the Maroni river, for example). The fish prefer a moderate to strong current, but change to habitats with less current for breeding. Keeping conditions: […]
We received wonderful wild collected specimens of this mouthbrooding cichlid (the females orally broods the larvae and young fry) from Paraguay. This species attains a maximum length of about 9 cm only (standard length, with the caudal fin the maximum length is around 12 cm) and thus is one of the smallest members of the […]
Once more we were able to import this beautiful eartheater from the Rio Caete in the northeastern part of Brazil. The species is not described scientifically yet, but belongs without any doubt in the close relationship of the species Geophagus parnaibae and G. sp. “Pindare”. In all probability G. sp. Rio Caete attains a similar […]
Due to the regularly offered, amazing bred sports of the Ram (Mikrogeophagus ramirezi) one tends to forget, how breathtaking beautiful the wild collected fish is already. Currently we have fully grown, wild collected Rams from Venezuela in stock. By the way: wild collected Rams become only about 5 cm long (in males), females even stay […]
The species belonging to the genus Retroculus – currently three species are described scientifically, one additional species is still undescribed – have ever been extremely rarities in the aquarium hobby. Finally we are able to offer once more the beautiful Retroculus lapidifer from Brazil. The fish have ideal sizes (3-6 cm and 6-8 cm), but […]
We received beautiful, very healthy German bred G. brasiliensis. The animals belong to a population from Uruguay and represent the first tank raised generation. The breeder provided to us photographs of the parents, which were taken immediately after collecting in Moge. The pictures show how splendid the fish will look like when they are grown […]
We received beautiful bred specimes from Thomas Weidner, who published this Geophagus in the German magazine “Amazonas” No 36 (July/August 2011) on page 76 for the first time. The photo of the juveniles shows the fish we currently have in stock, the photos of the adults depict the breeders. For our customers: the fish have […]
This is a brandnew, extreme beautiful sport of the ram. We have them in sizes of 2.5 – 3.5 cm. For our customers: the fish have code 686733 on our stocklist. Please note that we exclusively supply the wholesale trade. Text & photos: Frank Schäfer
Currently we have magnificent (German pond bred!) specimes of that cichlid, which is almost a dwarf cichlid (our fish are between 5-7 cm long and fully mature and in colour) in stock. There is still no agreement among the specialized aquarists, if this form represents a population of Gymnogeophagus meridionalis, G. rhabdotus or if the […]
There are more exotic fishes that can be kept and bred at least seasonally in garden ponds than most aquarists think of. Among these species are for sure the different types of Brazilian Pearl Cichlids, the Geophagus-brasiliensis-complex. The group is only poorly understood scientifically, but who cares for names if one looks at these glorious […]
Code number: 675003 Photos: Thomas Weidner
There is almost no chance that commercial importations of wild collected Geophagus megasema will ever appear. So it is very welcome that travelling aquarium enthusiast collect such species in areas that are ignored by professional fish collectors and bring them home alive, which makes it possible to develope a captive bred stock. Geophagus megasema was […]
The main distribution of Geophagus winemilleri is the southern part of Venezuela. Nevertheless most imports come from Brazil, because the species also occurs in the Rio Negro. G. winemilleri becomes often confused with G. proximus and a second, still undescribed or unidentified species. However, G. winemilleri can be identified by the dark spot on the […]
This pearl cichlid from the Rio São Francisco can reach a total length of about 25 cm and thus should be kept in relatively large aquaria of 400 litres and more. Although pearl cichlids are known to be relatively aggressive this particular species is quite peaceful if the tank is large enough. Even when taking […]
Some of the larger cichlids of South American belong to the most beautiful freshwater fish at all. We have recently obtained four species of them, all top German bred quality. Geophagus winemilleri, a breathtaking species from Venezuela, belonging to the Gephagus-surinamensis-group, code 682601 Bujurquina oenolaemus, a splendid Bolivian, a mouthbrooding species from the Aequidens relationship, […]
The Ram is one of the most beautiful aquarium fishes. The wild Ram originates from the llanos of the Orinoco. The newest sport of this dwarf cichlids is blue all over the body. It is virtually impossible to illustrate this very special colour in a high resolution picture. Only reducing the resolution brings the effect […]
We were able to import one of the most unusual tetras again: Markiana nigripinnis. Our specimens originate from Argentina. The species inhabits the river basins of the Paraná, Paraguay and the Marmoré (Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay). Due to the southern subtropical region where the fish occurs it is not necessary to install a heater in […]
The beautiful eartheaters of the Geophagus-surinamensis relationship are among the most colorful cichlids, shining in all colours of the rainbow. There are numerous species and some of them even have colour varieties in different river systems. As these are currently not recognized by scientists, we help ourselves in adding the river´s name behind the scientific […]
Very large animals, up to 20 cm, came to us from Colombia. These beautiful fish came as well from the Rio Chacu. These eartheaters live in nature in a habitat of moderately flowing streams and rivers. Remarkably for this group of eartheaters is the way they breed their eggs, not as normally in the throat […]
Among the “Eartheaters”, species Geophagus, G. sp. “Pindare” is one of the most recommendable ones. Growing up to approx. 15cm only, it stays rather small and also shows a beautiful marking with red and blue lines on its flanks. The care of this species is really quite simple, because it does not care about the […]
This very beautiful representative of the surinamensis complex comes from Venezuela. These are very large animals of approximately 25 cm TL. The requirements of keeping, this species is not much different then the other members of its family. A sandy substrate, lots of shady hiding places like bogwood and round eroded stones, are basic requirements, […]
If you search for a Cichlid for a society aquarium (120 l and up), G. meridionalis is almost unrestricted recommendable. Being a all eatingfish, it accepts every imaginable food, getting only approx. 10-12cm it is not growing too big and it also shows really beautiful colours. Besides it is not choosy regarding the water condition […]
You can surely excellently argue about taste, but the various populations of Geophagus altifrons could justly conquer a solid place among Cichlid lovers. And one of the most beautiful variants might be Geophagus altifrons “Tapajos”. Additionally, G. altifrons is an easy-to-keep cichlid. It requires aquariums with at least 500 ltr. capacity due to its size […]
