Geophagus sveni

Remarks: 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 of Geophagus. Despite their size, they tend to be very peaceful for a cichlid unless a pair is spawning. When two have paired off, they tend to become territorial as they are usually very protective parents. It can be quite a sight watching the parents tend to a swarm of tiny fry. The best way to get a pair would be to purchase at least six fish and allow them to pair off naturally as it can be difficult to sex most Geophagus. Typically you won't even need to separate the pairs once they form as these fish do well being kept both in pairs and in groups of 5 or more as long as the tank is big enough.   A sandy substrate is necessary for all Geophagus due to their earth-eating habits as gravel and pebbles pose a risk of damaging their mouths or resulting in them choking. Some fish won't even attempt to feed if they are not kept on the correct substrate. The payoff for keeping Geophagus sveni on sand is not just that the fish are healthy, but also that you are rewarded with the fascinating sight of them taking mouthfuls of sand to sift in search of food.