Jurupari eartheater

The jurupari eartheater is a cichlid of the family Cichlidae, native to slow-moving rivers and flooded forests of the Amazon and Guiana regions in South America. It has an elongated, silvery-tan body with a pointed head and rows of pearly spots, and a gentle, deliberate manner as it forages. It is a notably peaceful large cichlid that does best in a small group, where its social interactions can be observed without serious aggression. The common name "eartheater" describes its feeding method: it takes mouthfuls of sand and sifts them through the gills to extract invertebrates and detritus, so a soft sand substrate is essential to prevent injury. It prefers warm, soft, slightly acidic water with driftwood and open sandy areas. It is an omnivore accepting sinking pellets, frozen bloodworm and other small foods. It is a delayed mouthbrooder, initially laying eggs on a surface before taking them into the mouth.