Care
The Redhead Tapajos Eartheater is a familiar but only recently described species known only from the lower Rio Tapajos, a major tributary of the Amazon River. The typical habitat has little in the way of aquatic vegetation, but instead, large expanses of sand and scattered rocks, leaf litter, and submerged tree roots.
The aquarium should be biologically mature and spacious, with a large expanse of soft sand substrate as these fish like to sift through the substrate in their ongoing search for food items. Provide plenty of hiding places amongst tangles of driftwood, rocky caves, and robust planting cultivated on the wood (such as Anubias sp. or Java Fern). Vegetation planted into the substrate is likely to be dug up, so is best avoided. Filtration should be efficient with areas of moderate water movement and some calmer resting spots out of the current. Frequent partial water changes will help keep nitrate to a minimum, particularly important as this species is sensitive to deteriorating water conditions. Unless breeding, the Redhead Tapajos Eartheater is generally peaceful, and in the wild is found in loose aggregations. In the aquarium, this species is best maintained in groups of 6 or more so that a natural hierarchy can form. This will not only meet their social needs but it will help spread any minor aggression amongst the shoal, so that no one fish bears the continual brunt of any sporadic antagonistic behaviour. Tankmates can include deep-bodied tetras, Angelfish and most species too large to be swallowed whole as these are generally peaceful cichlids and aggressive companions should be avoided. Although peaceful, they can be problematic if combined with catfish as they are likely to outcompete slow-feeding bottom dwellers.
May also be seen on sale as Geophagus sp. 'orange head' and the new binomial name translates as Fire Head, so this may possibly emerge as an alternative common name. An albino form has recently appeared and may be seen more frequently if it proves as colourful and vigorous as the wild type.
Feeding
Omnivorous. Requires small aquarium foods compared to its adult size. Try to keep it varied with good quality carnivore and herbivore flakes, small sinking pellets, and a mixture of frozen foods such as white mosquito larvae, bloodworm, black mosquito larvae, vitamin-enriched brineshrimp, and daphnia.
Breeding
This species has been bred in the home aquarium. When ready to spawn, there will be a typical courtship display consisting of circling, fin-flashing, lateral displays, and mouth gaping. If the female is receptive, she will swim over the chosen pre-cleaned spawning site in a series of dry runs, after which she will begin depositing eggs in small batches. The male immediately follows behind her and fertilises them, and this is repeated until the female is spent of eggs. The female stays with the eggs, fanning them with her pectoral fins, whilst the male guards the perimeter. 48-72 hours later, the eggs will hatch (the parents may assist with this) and the wrigglers are taken up into the mouths of both the female and male, who share in incubating the young for a further 8-10 days until they are free-swimming. At this point they can be offered Artemia nauplii and powdered flake food. If the parents sense danger, the fry are urged back into their mouths as quickly as possible. Sometimes only one parent takes on mouthbrooding duties, whereas other times both are involved, or they take turns.
