Care
The Threespot Eartheater is known from the blackwaters of the upper Rio Negro in Brazil, and the Orinoco River system in Colombia and Venezuela. Here the water is very soft and acidic, and is stained a tea colour from the tannins formed from decaying organic matter in the water. The aquarium should be biologically mature and very spacious, with 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 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, but water movement fairly gentle, and the addition of aquarium peat to the filter will assist in replicating the natural blackwater conditions. Frequent partial water changes will help keep nitrate to a minimum, particularly important as this species is especially sensitive to deteriorating water conditions. Unless breeding, the Threespot Eartheater is generally peaceful, and in the wild is found in loose aggregations. In the aquarium, this species is best maintained in groups of 8 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 should be of similar size and temperament, occupy the upper levels of the water column, and thrive under the same soft, acidic conditions. Experienced aquarists only.
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
Modified bi-parental substrate spawner, which is rarely 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. The pair will then choose a suitable spawning area and excavate a sizeable pit in the substrate which might extend down as far as the glass bottom. Such pits have been known to encompass most of the floor space of really spacious aquaria, and if this is the case, other fish - if present - may need to be moved to other quarters. The pair will then choose a specific spot on which to deposit eggs and clean it. When ready, the female will swim over the 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 around 200 eggs are laid/fertilised. Unusually, the pair then cover the eggs with leaves, small bits of wood, or substrate, effectively affording them extra protection through camouflage. The female then guards the nest whilst the male patrols the perimeter. After approximately 72 hours the eggs begin to hatch, and the adults uncover the fry. The young will become free-swimming just a few days later, at which point they can be offered newly hatched baby brineshrimp (Artemia nauplii).
