How to Breed Geophagus Surinamensis

Geogphagus surinamensis, also known as red stripe eartheaters or simply red strip geophagus, are a species of large freshwater cichlid from South America. They can grow up to 11 inches in length and are relatively aggressive, making them difficult to keep with other fish. There is nothing one can do to induce breeding, but spawning does sometimes occur in home aquariums. Breeding the red stripe geophagus requires soft water, solitary conditions, and a willing breeding pair. You should have previous experience with tropical cichlids before attempting to breed them.

Things You'll Need

  • 30-gallon aquarium
  • Dechlorinator
  • Serving bowl
  • Aquarium sand
  • Slate rock
  • 30-gallon filter
  • Adjustable 30-gallon water heater
  • Freshwater test kit
  • Water softener
  • pH buffer (if needed)
  • 10-gallon aquarium
  • Air pump
  • Airline tubing
  • Air stone
  • Nylon net
  • Liquid fry food
  • Baby brine shrimp
Show More

Instructions

    • 1

      Fill a 30-gallon aquarium with freshwater and add dechlorinator. The dechlorinator comes in liquid form and removes harmful chemicals from the water. The appropriate dosage will be listed on the packaging.

    • 2

      Fill a serving bowl with aquarium sand and add water until the sand is damp. Layer at the bottom of the aquarium. Dampening it beforehand will prevent the sand from floating to the surface when adding to the tank. Continue the process until the layer at the bottom of the aquarium is about 2 inches thick.

    • 3

      Lay some flat slate rock at the bottom of the aquarium. The flat surface of the slate is where the female will initially lay her eggs.

    • 4

      Install the filter and adjustable heater. Consult the specific owners' manuals for instructions specific to your particular models. Filters typically hang on the back the aquarium while heaters are usually long glass tubes that stick to the interior aquarium walls with suction cups.

    • 5

      Set the temperature on the adjustable heater between 76 and 84 degrees Fahrenheit and power on the filter. Allow the tank to run for 48 hours.

    • 6

      Introduce the breeding pair of geophaguses. There should be just one female and one male, as males are monogamous. They reach sexually maturity when they are 4 to 6 inches in size. Have a breeder select your pair, as they are not sexually dimorphic and will require a professional for proper sexing.

    • 7

      Test the quality of the water using the freshwater test kit. These kits typically have test tubes that hold your aquarium water that change color when certain chemicals are added to help determine the pH or softness, though you will need to consult your specific kit's instructions. The pH should be neutral (7.0) and the water should be soft (under 5.0).

    • 8

      Add chemicals to the water (if necessary) like water softeners or pH buffers to reach the desired parameters. These chemicals can be purchased in pet shops and come with instructions specific to the manufacturer.

    • 9

      Wait for the animals to spawn. The female will lay her eggs on a piece of slate and then scoop them up in her mouth, where the male will fertilize them. She will keep them in her mouth until they hatch two to three days later.

    • 10

      Set up a fry (baby fish) tank. Fill the 10-gallon tank with dechlorinated water and add an air stone connected to an air pump via airline tubing. The tubing should squeeze over a spout on the the air stone and pump for a snug fit. The air stone will aerate the water in the fry tank. It does not need decor or substrate.

    • 11

      Transfer the fry to the fry tank using the nylon net. The parents will take care of the young, but it is better to separate them immediately so that you can feed them the liquid fry food, which will be more difficult for them to get if the parents are in the same tank.

    • 12

      Feed the babies liquid fry food for two weeks and then upgrade them to baby brine shrimp and crushed flake food. Move them out of the fry tanks into larger tanks when they reach 1 inch long.