Considering smaller earth eaters

[bettaMagenta]

I've been looking into Cupid Cichlids for the sand area, but they're pretty tough to find in the US right now... was thinking maybe Red Head Tapajos instead - Seriously Fish says they max out at 12 cm, which is the size I'm aiming for. The thing is, they recommend keeping them in a larger group, but I'd really prefer something that'd do okay in a group of three... anyone got any other ideas that might fit the bill and aren't super hard to track down? I've already got some Rams in the mix, which are sometimes said to work well over the sand...

[Burgermuncher]

I'll keep an eye out for fish that fit your criteria, I also have a soft spot for earth eaters, but my knowledge on them is limited.

[tetraTim]

I've had experience with Altifrons Geos, kept three of them and they seemed perfectly content as a trio, never had Red Heads myself though.

[graye]

Red Heads can reach 9-10cm in height, and up to 14-15cm in length - the length isn't as crucial for calculations as their bulk, which is substantial. I personally had a great experience with them, but I ended up trading my three for a fully-equipped 75-gallon setup, complete with a stand. The buyer was eager for the fish, and I was happy to oblige.

While there aren't any small Geos, their relatives - Geophagines - are worth considering. Apistogramma, Mikrogeophagus, and Biotodomo are some examples. I've kept Geophagus argyrostictus, but they proved to be quite aggressive unless the tank had strong water movement. In tanks with laminar flow pumps, I've seen them thrive for years, but in other setups, they tend to fight despite their relatively small size.

[bettaMagenta]

The Orinoco Eartheater seems like a great option, but I'm having trouble finding them for sale anywhere. I came across this info on Seriously Fish - Biotodoma wavrini – Orinoco Eartheater (Geophagus wavrini). Maybe waiting for the Cupid Cichlids to become more widely available would be the better choice. I've only found one seller currently offering them, but I've had issues with that seller in the past, so I'm not too keen on buying from them again.

[bettaMagenta]

I decided to give that one seller another shot, despite my previous experience with them. I'd tried ordering from them before, but it didn't exactly go smoothly. They had listed something as in stock, I placed the order, and they charged my card right away. But then they just dragged their feet on shipping - three weeks later, they told me they were still waiting for the fish to arrive. Needless to say, I had them cancel the order after that.

This time, I reached out to them, explained what had happened before, and they seemed willing to make it right. They told me how many Cupid Cichlids they had in stock and offered to put a hold on as many as I wanted. So, I'm gonna try them again. Fingers crossed, I guess. I've got 5 on the way...