Geophagus altifrons

Remarks:  Geophagus altifrons is a very uncommon, yet highly sought after species of eartheater. This is due in part to their fantastic coloration with healthy adult specimens displaying orange/red fins dotted with blue and bodies covered in electric blue scales. These scales practically glow especially in tannin-stained water. Both males and females can grow impressively long trailers especially on their ventral fins, but they do tend to get a bit longer on males.   The native range of Geophagus altifrons spans across many tributaries in the middle to lower Amazon basin and crosses over with many other species of Geophagus. This crossing of native ranges along with how similar they are to other species has resulted in many fish being misidentified as Geophagus altifrons. It is extremely difficult if not impossible to tell them apart from some other species when they are juveniles, but adults do show some defining features. When looking to confirm if a fish is truly a Geophagus altifrons, some features to look for are as follows: an absence of vertical stress bars no matter the condition of the fish, lack of a dark spot on the gill plate, and the most defining feature of either a very small dark spot on the middle of the body only two scales in width or a complete absence of the spot entirely.   Like all Geophagus, Geophagus altifrons require a sandy substrate due to their earth-eating habits. They sift mouthfuls of sand through their gills, pulling out bits of food to eat. Gravel presents a very high probability of choking or refusing to eat. Also like their close relatives, these fish do best in groups of 4 or more but can also do well in single male and female pairs. Due to their large size, adult Geophagus altifrons should be kept in an aquarium that is at least 90 gallons if kept as a single, breeding pair, but 125 gallons or more is needed if they are to be kept with other fish. When spawning, they can become territorial as they are protective parents and they have a good chance of swallowing tank mates that can fit in their mouths. These behaviors should be taken into consideration when planning a tank for these wonderful fish.