Stripetail Geophagus Cichlid - (Geophagus winemilleri)

🐟 Stripetail Geophagus Cichlid – (Geophagus winemilleri) – Elegant Eartheater from the Orinoco Basin

The Stripetail Geophagus (Geophagus winemilleri) is a striking eartheater cichlid recognized for its graceful elongated fins, shimmering body, and distinctive horizontal tail striping. Native to the Orinoco River Basin in Venezuela and Colombia, this species is peaceful for its size and is well-suited to large community aquariums with other non-aggressive fish of similar size. Like other Geophagus, it constantly sifts sand through its mouth in search of food, adding both movement and natural beauty to the aquarium.

🔎 Quick Facts – Stripetail Geophagus (Geophagus winemilleri)

• 📛 Common Names: Stripetail Geophagus, Winemiller’s Eartheater
• 🔬 Scientific Name: Geophagus winemilleri
• 🌍 Origin: Orinoco River Basin (Venezuela & Colombia)
• 🎨 Appearance: Silvery-gold base with iridescent blue-green highlights, elongated trailing fins, and distinctive dark striping on the tail fin
• 📏 Max Size: 8–10 inches (20–25 cm)
• 💎 Rarity: Occasionally available; sought after by Geophagus enthusiasts

😇 Behavior & Temperament

• 🤝 Generally peaceful, but can be territorial during breeding
• 🐟 Best kept in groups of 5+ to reduce aggression
• 🪵 Ideal for peaceful South American community setups
• 🌿 Constant sand sifter—requires fine substrate

🏠 Aquarium & Tank Requirements

• 📦 Minimum Tank Size: 75+ gallons for a group
• 🪵 Fine sand substrate to protect their delicate gill structures
• 🌿 Add driftwood, smooth rocks, and open swimming space
• 💡 Moderate lighting to showcase their iridescent colors
• 🌊 Gentle to moderate water flow, clean and well-oxygenated

💧 Water Parameters – Stripetail Geophagus Care

• 🌡️ Temperature: 76–82°F (24–28°C)
• ⚗️ pH: 6.0–7.5
• 💧 Hardness: Soft to moderately hard water

🍽️ Diet – Omnivorous

• 🐟 High-quality sinking cichlid pellets and granules
• 🦐 Frozen foods such as bloodworms, brine shrimp, and mysis shrimp
• 🌽 Vegetable matter like spirulina-based foods and blanched greens
• 🪱 Occasional live invertebrates for enrichment

📋 Stripetail Geophagus Overview Table

✨ Highlight:

• The Stripetail Geophagus is a graceful, sand-sifting beauty that combines peaceful behavior with eye-catching elegance, making it a standout in well-planted or natural-style aquariums.