redstriped eartheater
Geophagus surinamensis
Eartheater from French Guiana and Suriname, up to 17.2 cm, that digs the bottom in search of food. It is caught commercially and used in aquariums.
Also called: acará-tinga, acará-bicudo, acará-pitanga, redstriped eartheater
- maximum
- 17 cm
who is the redstriped eartheater
The redstriped eartheater is a freshwater cichlid, up to 17.2 cm. It lives in the Saramacca and Suriname rivers, in Suriname, and in the Marowijne, between Suriname and French Guiana. It stays in channels of mud and sand and in calm areas near waterfalls. It is omnivorous, with a tendency to eat plants, and digs the bottom with its protrusible mouth to find food. The parents form a pair, keep the eggs in their mouth for three days and care for the young for weeks. It is caught for sale and for the aquarium.
Essential profile. Identification, where it occurs and rules, with data from FishBase and the cited regulations. Season, time of day, technique and bait are added once we have a good source for the redstriped eartheater; in the meantime, see the similar species.
fun facts
- The species can produce sounds with the teeth of its pharynx, and it is not known whether this is a form of communication.
identification
Eartheater with a protrusible mouth and a lobe on the first gill arch, typical of Geophagus. Unlike the cará-do-Maroni, which prefers strong current, this species stays in calm channels of mud and sand. It reaches 17.2 cm. The name acará-tinga is the most used, along with acará-bicudo and acará-pitanga.
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Each card shows the day's index (0 to 100) and, below it, a strip with the index for each hour, from 0h to 23h. from poor to excellent.
Essential profile: the index uses a general fish model (weather, sun, moon and tide), without a season or time of day specific to this species.
where found
Saramacca, Suriname and Marowijne rivers, between Suriname and French Guiana. Not recorded in Brazil.
Habitat: Channels of mud and sand and calm areas near waterfalls, with pH from 6 to 8.
rules for the redstriped eartheater
Summary of the regulations we found, with the source for each. Rules change; before keeping or transporting fish, check with the state environmental agency.
We found no species-specific rule beyond the region's general rules.
catch and release
catch and release Releasing the fish alive, quickly and with a wet hand. During a closed season it isn't always allowed: what the regulation says applies.
Bottom-dwelling fish: hold it with a wet hand, remove the hook carefully and return it quickly.
how much it weighs without taking it out of the water
Length-weight relationship W = a·Lb (a = 0.02512, b = 3.04; FishBase (relação peso-comprimento bayesiana, estimativa da própria espécie)). It's an average: a fat or lean fish can vary by 10% to 20%.
estimated weight
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sources and references
Essential profile: size, length-weight, depth, countries and conservation come from FishBase and the cited regulations, and the texts were written from those sources. Season, time of day, sensitivities, technique and baits and lures are not included yet, because we did not find a good source for this species.
- scientific FishBase: Geophagus surinamensis (ficha da espécie)Size, length-weight, depth, habitat, distribution, biology, and IUCN status. Page checked on Oct 13, 2026.
- scientific FishBase: nomes populares de Geophagus surinamensisNames by country and language.
