GEOPHAGUS SVENI

Geophagus sveni are a large earth-eating cichlid from Brazil. Their bright blue and red stripes and long, filamentous fin extensions make them one of the prettiest species. A sandy substrate is necessary for all Geophagus due to their earth-eating habits.

Like other Geophagus species, the Sveni will continuously sift through sand in search of food. In addition to their bright, orange-red heads, they have a base colour of tan to gray, with slight, vertical banding (8-10 bars) and gold to green, iridescent scales on their flanks. Sveni have iridescent gold to green patterns on their operculum as well as a variety of gold-green to orange-red markings on their translucent fins. They also have a black ocellus spot on and below their upper lateral line.

Sveni require an aquarium of at least 200 litres and should be provided with a fine, sand substrate and multiple places where they can find shelter (driftwood, rock structures, or dense vegetation). Sveni will sift and burrow through substrate and have been known to snack on some live plant species, so live plants that attach to driftwood and rocks, or potted plants are recommended.

They prefer warm, soft, acidic, and clean water as well as areas of low or subdued lighting where they can sift around for snacks. Sveni prefer to live in groups and are relatively peaceful cichlids that have been successful in a community environment but are more commonly kept in species or biotope-specific aquariums (or housed with other Cichlids). Tank mates should be considered carefully and should be comparable in size.

The Sveni  is an omnivore that generally feeds from the bottom of the aquarium (but will surface for frozen bloodworms) and should be fed a variety of foods, such as live, prepared, frozen or freeze-dried: brine shrimp, bloodworms, blackworms, krill, flake food, and soft, sinking, cichlid pellets.

• Species – Geophagus sp. “Sveni”
• Common Name – Sven’s Eartheater Cichlid
• Origin –  Amazon River basin of South America.
• Diet – Omnivore
• PH Range – 5.5-6.5
• Temperature – Tropical 24–29°c
• Breed Type – Egg layer
• max Size – approximately 15cm
• Sex – Un-sexed