Geophagus altifrons "Rio Araguari"
Species Overview
 
The Geophagus altifrons "Rio Araguari" is a beautiful South American eartheater cichlid renowned for its iridescent blue-green colouration, vibrant orange highlights, and peaceful temperament. Native to the Rio Araguari drainage in Brazil, this stunning species is highly sought after for its impressive adult size, graceful swimming behaviour, and fascinating habit of sifting sand through its gills in search of food.
 
Despite their large size, Geophagus altifrons are peaceful cichlids that thrive in spacious community aquariums with other similarly sized, non-aggressive fish. Their constant sand-sifting behaviour makes them an engaging and active addition to any display aquarium.
 
Care Sheet
Scientific Name: Geophagus altifrons
Common Name: Geophagus Altifrons (Rio Araguari)
Family: Cichlidae
Origin: Rio Araguari, Brazil
Adult Size: Up to 30 cm
Temperament: Peaceful
Care Level: Moderate
Lifespan: 10–15 Years
Minimum Tank Size: 450 Litres
Diet: Omnivore
Swimming Level: Bottom to Mid
Breeding: Mouthbrooder
Water Parameters
Temperature: 24–30°C
pH: 5.5–7.5
General Hardness (GH): 1–10 dGH
 
Diet
Geophagus altifrons are omnivores that require a varied diet to maintain excellent health and colouration.
High-quality sinking cichlid pellets
Sinking granules
Frozen bloodworms
Brine shrimp
Blackworms
Mysis shrimp
Earthworms (occasionally)
Vegetable-based foods and spirulina
 
Feed small amounts several times per day to encourage natural feeding behaviour.
 
Compatibility
Suitable tank mates include:
Other Geophagus species
Severums
Uaru
Peaceful Acaras
Larger Rainbowfish
Silver Dollars
Peaceful Plecos
Larger Corydoras
 
Avoid keeping with:
Highly aggressive cichlids
Small fish that may be intimidated
Fast fin-nipping species
 
Aquarium Setup
A spacious aquarium with a fine sand substrate is essential, allowing these fish to perform their natural sand-sifting behaviour without damaging their gills. Include driftwood, rounded rocks, and hardy plants secured to wood or rocks. Maintain excellent water quality with efficient filtration and regular water changes.
 
Breeding
Geophagus altifrons are maternal mouthbrooders. After spawning on a flat surface, the female collects the fertilised eggs into her mouth, where they remain protected until the fry are fully developed. Once released, the fry continue to remain close to their parents for protection during their early growth.
 
Why You'll Love Them
Spectacular blue-green iridescent colouration
Peaceful nature despite their impressive size
Fascinating natural sand-sifting behaviour
Excellent display fish for large South American aquariums
Ideal companion for other peaceful large cichlids
Hardy and long-lived when properly cared for