Albino Heckelii Geophagus Cichlid (1.5-2”)

Scientific name: Geophagus heckelii (Albino variety)

Maximum size and lifespan:
Albino Heckelii can reach up to 8–10 inches (20–25 cm) in length.

In captivity, with good care, they typically live 8–12 years.

Recommended aquarium size, water changes, and water parameters:
A single adult or pair requires at least a 75 gallon aquarium, but groups are best housed in 90-125 gallons or larger to allow for their natural behavior and digging habits.

Provide a sand substrate for sifting and plenty of open swimming space. Weekly water changes of 30–40% are recommended to maintain pristine conditions.

• Temperature: 76–82°F (24–28°C)

• pH: 6.0–7.5

Tankmates:
Albino Heckelii are generally peaceful for their size, but males can be territorial, especially during breeding.

Suitable tankmates include other peaceful to semi aggressive South/Central American cichlids (Severums, Uaru, Geophagus), larger tetras, silver dollars, peaceful catfish and pleco.

Avoid overly aggressive cichlids or very small fish that may be seen as food.

Diet:
They are omnivorous with a preference for small invertebrates and plant matter. In the aquarium, they thrive on a varied diet of:

• High-quality sinking cichlid pellets

• Frozen s bloodworms, brine shrimp, mysis, chopped shrimp

• Vegetable matter like spirulina-based foods and blanched greens
  They feed by sifting sand through their gills, so a soft substrate is essential for natural feeding behavior.

Natural environment:
In the wild, Geophagus heckelii is found across parts of the Amazon Basin, especially in slow-moving rivers and floodplains with sandy substrates, leaf litter, and submerged roots. They are benthic feeders, constantly sifting through sand to extract edible particles. The albino variant is selectively bred for the aquarium trade and not found in nature.

Breeding:
Albino Heckelii are substrate-spawning cichlids, though not the easiest to breed. A bonded pair will clean a flat surface or dig a shallow pit for egg-laying. The female lays eggs while the male fertilizes them, and both parents guard the clutch. After hatching, fry are often taken into the parents’ mouths for protection, a behavior similar to mouthbrooding. They require very clean, soft, slightly acidic water for successful spawning. Raising fry can be challenging, as parents may eat the brood in early attempts.