Breeder's Award Program

Geophagus sveni "Rio Parana"

Sven's Eartheater

Method of Reproduction: Substrate spawner, delayed mouth brooder

Number and Gender Distribution of Parents: 2 males, 2 females, 1 unknown - Two pairs spawned same day

Origin of Parents: Tank Raised

Approximate number of eggs or fry: A few hundred each

Date of Hatch or Birth: Eggs laid 2/27, hatched 3/1.

Date of Free Swimming If Hatched (MM/DD/YYYY): TBD

Approx. Number of Fry at 30 Days: over 50

Approx. Number of Fry at 60 Days: TBD

Aquarium Conditions:

pH (0 to 14) : 7.6 - 7.8

General Hardness (ppm): 225-249

Average Temperature (F): 84

Aquarium Size (L X W X H and Gallons): 7 feet Long, 30" high, 24" deep. About 260 gallons.

Water Source: Tap

Water Changes (how much and how often): Daily, every 3 hours or so - auto changes. 10-15% daily, plus 50-60% weekly.

Filtration System(s): Seamless sump

Décor (Please include all that apply):

Live Plants

Wood

Rocks

Caves or Similar Hiding Places

Substrate (Gravel/Pea size gravel/Sand/None/Other; Please Specify): pool filter sand, pea gravel, rocks, other sand - very blended.

Lighting Type and Timing: Cobalt C-Rays, about 12 hour day/night cycle.

Food Fed to Parents and How Often: Flake & home-made - once a day for each

Food Fed to Fry and How Often: Nothing yet. Just not online as often as I used to be so getting these started while I have a chance.

Parents clean and prepare a rock, spawn on the rock. In both of my pairs, the male primarily guarded the rock. For one pair, I removed the rock from the tank and hatched the eggs artificially in a 2 gallon jar with methylene blue. I left one spawn in the tank and the male began to pick them off of the rock after about 2 days. The male is currently holding his mouth tightly shut and appears to be mouthbrooding them.