Pearl eartheater
Geophagus brasiliensis
- Adult size
- 20 cm8 in
- Start with
- 1
- Tank length
- 150 cmabout 5 ft (59 in)
- Lifespan
- 8–12 yrs
- Temperature
- 24–27 °C75–81 °F
- pH
- 6–8
- Hardness
- 5–15 dGH
- Diet
- omnivore
Hardy but becomes territorial when spawning and digs heavily; give a long tank with sand and robust tankmates.Hardy but becomes territorial when spawning and digs heavily; give a long tank with sand and robust tankmates.
Tank sizes
Good tankmates
Avoid with
- Alligator gar
Alligator gar may eat Pearl eartheaterAlligator gar may eat Pearl eartheater
- Arapaima
Arapaima may eat Pearl eartheaterArapaima may eat Pearl eartheater
- Asian arowana
Asian arowana may eat Pearl eartheaterAsian arowana may eat Pearl eartheater
- Bullseye snakehead
Bullseye snakehead may eat Pearl eartheaterBullseye snakehead may eat Pearl eartheater
- Channel catfish
No shared temperature rangeNo shared temperature range
- Clown knifefish
Clown knifefish may eat Pearl eartheaterClown knifefish may eat Pearl eartheater
Common goldfishNo shared temperature rangeNo shared temperature range
- Cuban gar
Cuban gar may eat Pearl eartheaterCuban gar may eat Pearl eartheater
DiscusNo shared temperature rangeNo shared temperature range
- Dourada
Dourada may eat Pearl eartheaterDourada may eat Pearl eartheater
Fancy goldfishNo shared temperature rangeNo shared temperature range
- Fire eel
Fire eel may eat Pearl eartheaterFire eel may eat Pearl eartheater
Sources
| temperature | 24–27 | AqAdvisor (aqadvisor.com), retrieved 2026-10-04 · low |
|---|---|---|
| ph | 6–8 | AqAdvisor (aqadvisor.com), retrieved 2026-10-04 · low |
| gh | 5–15 | AqAdvisor (aqadvisor.com), retrieved 2026-10-04 · low |
| origin | Coastal rivers of eastern Brazil | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · low |
| notes | Hardy but becomes territorial when spawning and digs heavily; give a long tank w | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| beginner friendly | false | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| care level | moderate | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| color palette | #6E7A5A, #5AA0C8, #2B2B2B | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · low |
| activity | moderate | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| swim zone | bottom | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| temperament | semi-aggressive | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| fin nipper | false | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| long finned | false | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| territorial | true | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| schooling | false | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| schooling min | 1 | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| diet | omnivore | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| lifespan years | 8–12 | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · low |
| growth to adult months | 18 | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · low |
| length weight | {"a":0.028,"b":3} | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · low |
| planted safe | false | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| min tank length | 150 | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| body shape | cichlid | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |