Common Names: Demon Fish, Earth Eater

Synonyms: Geophagus jurupari

Family: Cichlidae

Category: Cichlids

Distribution: Brazil, South America.

Main Ecosystem: River

Temperament: Peaceful; Despite its large size, the Demon Fish is actually peaceful and will usually ignore its tankmates, but as with all cichlids, it is territorial while breeding. Therefore, the Demon Fish can be housed in a community tank as long as its tankmates are too large to be eaten.

Diet: Omnivore

Care: Feed small fish, frozen blood worms, and cichlid pellets. Very fine gravel or sand is required as the Earth Eater burrows frequently. Plants are often uprooted. The water temperature must be kept constant as Earth Eaters can be sensitive to changes.

PH: 6.3 - 7.0

Temperature: 75F - 79F

Hardness: 5 - 10 dH

Potential Size: Both male and female 9.5”

Water Region: Middle Bottom

Activity: Diurnal

Gender: Very difficult to determine. The male Earth Eater is usually slimmer than the female.

Breeding: Use a higher temperature of 79F and a slightly acidic pH. Large, smooth, flat rocks should be placed in the middle of the tank. The eggs will be laid on this rock and will taken into the mouth of the female the next morning. At times the parents may swap the eggs between their mouths. The fry may retreat to their mother's mouth at night or when scared. A one-third dose of malawi cichlid salt can aid in inducind the Earth Eater to spawn.