Argentine humphead eartheater

The Argentine humphead eartheater is a South American cichlid (family Cichlidae) from the Paraguay and Parana river systems. Mature males develop a pronounced fatty hump on the forehead and show a grayish body with iridescent blue spangling and faint vertical bars, while females remain smaller and plainer. It is a relatively peaceful, substrate-sifting cichlid that spends much of its time picking through sand for food. It can be kept singly, as a pair, or in a group in a large tank. A spacious aquarium with a fine sand bed is important, as it feeds by taking in mouthfuls of sand and sifting out edible items. It tolerates cooler water than many tropical cichlids and appreciates a seasonal temperature range. It eats sinking prepared foods and frozen invertebrates. It is a maternal mouthbrooder, with the female incubating eggs and fry, and suits aquarists with some cichlid experience.