Earth-eating Fish

Geophagus winemilleri
Rio-Negro-Erdfresser

Classification: cichlids
Distribution: Venezuela
Habitat: rivers, lagoons
Size: approx. 25 cm
Weight: approx. 1 kg
Breeding: mouth brooding (larvophilous)
Diet: plants, invertebrates

Earth-eating Fishes belong to the family of cichlids. They pick up mouthfuls of sediment to get small invertebrates and plants. They are mouth brooders that take the young into the mouth when sensing danger. Both parents care for the offspring. Other fishes, even piranhas, are chased off the breeding site. At Cologne Zoo the Earth-eating Fish already reproduced successfully several times.