Photo: Christoph.fr (CC BY-SA 3.0) — via Wikimedia Commons
Pearl Cichlid (Geophagus brasiliensis)
A stunning South American earth-mover with iridescent pearl scales and surprising parental devotion — for the keeper ready to give it space.
Will it live with a Pearl Cichlid?
We compare each fish against your pearl cichlid on temperament, size, water parameters and swimming zone. Set your tank size and filter the results.
- Bristlenose Pleco✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 12 cm · Easy care · 23–30 °C (73–86 °F)
- Semi-aggressive + Peaceful, but with no direct clash here; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
- Both favour the bottom of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
- Elephant-nose Knifefish✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 35 cm · Hard care · 24–29 °C (75–84 °F)
- Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–28 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- Both favour the bottom of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
- Goldfish✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 30 cm · Medium care · 18–22 °C (64–72 °F)
- Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 22–22 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- Marbled Hoplo✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 14 cm · Easy care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
- Semi-aggressive + Peaceful, but with no direct clash here; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
- Both favour the bottom of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
- Medusa Pleco✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 12 cm · Medium care · 26–30 °C (79–86 °F)
- Semi-aggressive + Peaceful, but with no direct clash here, and their water overlaps around 26–28 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
- Both favour the bottom of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
- Rubber Lip Pleco✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 12 cm · Easy care · 20–26 °C (68–79 °F)
- Semi-aggressive + Peaceful, but with no direct clash here; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
- Both favour the bottom of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
- Snowball Pleco✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 16 cm · Medium care · 24–30 °C (75–86 °F)
- Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–28 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- Both favour the bottom of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
- Spotted Rubbernose Pleco✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 12 cm · Medium care · 20–26 °C (68–79 °F)
- Semi-aggressive + Peaceful, but with no direct clash here, and their water overlaps around 22–26 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
- Both favour the bottom of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
- Spotted Talking Catfish✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 15 cm · Easy care · 22–26 °C (72–79 °F)
- Semi-aggressive + Peaceful, but with no direct clash here; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
- Both favour the bottom of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
- Weather Loach✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 25 cm · Easy care · 5–24 °C (41–75 °F)
- Semi-aggressive + Peaceful, but with no direct clash here, and their water overlaps around 22–24 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
- Both favour the bottom of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
- Altifrons Geophagus⚠️ With cautionSemi-aggressive · 25 cm · Medium care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
- Pearl Cichlid and Altifrons Geophagus can both be territorial; doable with space and dense planting, but watch for chasing.
- Your 200 L tank is below the ~378 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Keep Altifrons Geophagus in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Angelicus Synodontis⚠️ With cautionSemi-aggressive · 25 cm · Medium care · 23–27 °C (73–81 °F)
- Pearl Cichlid and Angelicus Synodontis can both be territorial; doable with space and dense planting, but watch for chasing.
- Black Collared Catfish⚠️ With cautionSemi-aggressive · 27 cm · Hard care · 23–25 °C (73–77 °F)
- Both are a bit pushy (semi-aggressive + semi-aggressive) — workable only in a larger tank with cover and broken sight lines.
- Your 200 L tank is below the ~243 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Clown Loach⚠️ With cautionPeaceful · 30 cm · Medium care · 25–30 °C (77–86 °F)
- Your 200 L tank is below the ~400 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Galaxy Pleco⚠️ With cautionSemi-aggressive · 25 cm · Medium care · 22–26 °C (72–79 °F)
- Pearl Cichlid and Galaxy Pleco can both be territorial; doable with space and dense planting, but watch for chasing.
- Gold Nugget Pleco⚠️ With cautionSemi-aggressive · 28 cm · Hard care · 24–29 °C (75–84 °F)
- Both are a bit pushy (semi-aggressive + semi-aggressive) — workable only in a larger tank with cover and broken sight lines.
- Your 200 L tank is below the ~250 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Kissing Gourami⚠️ With cautionSemi-aggressive · 30 cm · Medium care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
- Both are a bit pushy (semi-aggressive + semi-aggressive) — workable only in a larger tank with cover and broken sight lines.
- Your 200 L tank is below the ~280 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Leopard Cactus Pleco⚠️ With cautionSemi-aggressive · 30 cm · Hard care · 24–30 °C (75–86 °F)
- Both are a bit pushy (semi-aggressive + semi-aggressive) — workable only in a larger tank with cover and broken sight lines.
- Your 200 L tank is below the ~380 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Mango Pleco⚠️ With cautionSemi-aggressive · 28 cm · Hard care · 25–32 °C (77–90 °F)
- Pearl Cichlid and Mango Pleco can both be territorial; doable with space and dense planting, but watch for chasing.
- Your 200 L tank is below the ~265 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Peacock Eel⚠️ With cautionSemi-aggressive · 30 cm · Medium care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
- Both are a bit pushy (semi-aggressive + semi-aggressive) — workable only in a larger tank with cover and broken sight lines.
- Severum⚠️ With cautionSemi-aggressive · 25 cm · Medium care · 23–30 °C (73–86 °F)
- Pearl Cichlid and Severum can both be territorial; doable with space and dense planting, but watch for chasing.
- Your 200 L tank is below the ~280 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Silver Cichlid⚠️ With cautionSemi-aggressive · 30 cm · Medium care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
- Pearl Cichlid and Silver Cichlid can both be territorial; doable with space and dense planting, but watch for chasing.
- Your 200 L tank is below the ~280 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Spotted Pleco⚠️ With cautionSemi-aggressive · 30 cm · Easy care · 18–26 °C (64–79 °F)
- Both are a bit pushy (semi-aggressive + semi-aggressive) — workable only in a larger tank with cover and broken sight lines.
- Spotted Severum⚠️ With cautionSemi-aggressive · 25 cm · Medium care · 26–30 °C (79–86 °F)
- Both are a bit pushy (semi-aggressive + semi-aggressive) — workable only in a larger tank with cover and broken sight lines.
- Your 200 L tank is below the ~300 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Sunshine Pleco⚠️ With cautionSemi-aggressive · 30 cm · Hard care · 23–29 °C (73–84 °F)
- Both are a bit pushy (semi-aggressive + semi-aggressive) — workable only in a larger tank with cover and broken sight lines.
- Your 200 L tank is below the ~473 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- True Parrot Cichlid⚠️ With cautionSemi-aggressive · 33 cm · Hard care · 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)
- Pearl Cichlid and True Parrot Cichlid can both be territorial; doable with space and dense planting, but watch for chasing.
- Your 200 L tank is below the ~380 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Alligator Gar⛔ Not recommendedAggressive · 250 cm · Hard care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
- Two assertive fish, one genuinely aggressive: Pearl Cichlid and Alligator Gar will hold territory and clash.
- Alligator Gar (250 cm) is big enough to swallow the 28 cm Pearl Cichlid whole.
- Your 200 L tank is below the ~3785 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Clown Knifefish⛔ Not recommendedAggressive · 90 cm · Hard care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
- Pearl Cichlid and Clown Knifefish are both territorial and at least one is outright aggressive — expect serious fighting.
- Size gap is too large (90 vs 28 cm): Clown Knifefish will treat Pearl Cichlid as food.
- Your 200 L tank is below the ~750 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Fire Eel⛔ Not recommendedSemi-aggressive · 100 cm · Medium care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
- Size gap is too large (100 vs 28 cm): Fire Eel will treat Pearl Cichlid as food.
- Both are a bit pushy (semi-aggressive + semi-aggressive) — workable only in a larger tank with cover and broken sight lines.
- Your 200 L tank is below the ~380 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Koi⛔ Not recommendedPeaceful · 90 cm · Medium care · 4–28 °C (39–82 °F)
- Pearl Cichlid is bite-sized to a 90 cm koi — it will be eaten.
- Your 200 L tank is below the ~3800 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Redtail Catfish⛔ Not recommendedAggressive · 120 cm · Hard care · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)
- Two assertive fish, one genuinely aggressive: Pearl Cichlid and Redtail Catfish will hold territory and clash.
- Pearl Cichlid is bite-sized to a 120 cm predatory redtail catfish — it will be eaten.
- Your 200 L tank is below the ~5700 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Spotted Gar⛔ Not recommendedAggressive · 90 cm · Hard care · 18–26 °C (64–79 °F)
- Two assertive fish, one genuinely aggressive: Pearl Cichlid and Spotted Gar will hold territory and clash.
- Size gap is too large (90 vs 28 cm): Spotted Gar will treat Pearl Cichlid as food.
- Your 200 L tank is below the ~600 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Wels Catfish⛔ Not recommendedAggressive · 300 cm · Hard care · 15–25 °C (59–77 °F)
- Two assertive fish, one genuinely aggressive: Pearl Cichlid and Wels Catfish will hold territory and clash.
- Size gap is too large (300 vs 28 cm): Wels Catfish will treat Pearl Cichlid as food.
- Your 200 L tank is below the ~20000 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Wolf Cichlid⛔ Not recommendedAggressive · 72 cm · Hard care · 24–30 °C (75–86 °F)
- Pearl Cichlid and Wolf Cichlid are both territorial and at least one is outright aggressive — expect serious fighting.
- Wolf Cichlid (72 cm) is big enough to swallow the 28 cm Pearl Cichlid whole.
- Your 200 L tank is below the ~760 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
Compatibility is computed from each species' care data — a strong starting point, not a guarantee. Individual temperament varies, so always introduce new fish slowly and watch them.
Pearl Cichlid care specs
- Care level
- Medium
- Breeding
- Medium
- Max size
- 28 cm (11 in)
- Min tank size
- 200 L (52.8 gal)
- Temperature
- 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
- pH
- 6.5–7.8
- Hardness
- 4–15 dGH
- Lifespan
- 8–12 years
- Diet
- Omnivore
- Swim level
- Bottom
- Group size
- Best alone or in a pair
- Family
- Cichlidae
- Origin
- South America — coastal and inland drainages of southeastern Brazil, Uruguay and northeastern Argentina
What is a Pearl Cichlid?
The Pearl Cichlid (Geophagus brasiliensis) is one of the most visually impressive South American cichlids in the freshwater hobby. Adults reach up to 28 cm (11 in) and are blanketed in iridescent blue-green spots that shimmer like inlaid mother-of-pearl across an olive-grey body — hence all three of its common names. Breeding males flush with colour and develop a rich red border along the dorsal and caudal fins that turns them into genuine display fish.
As a Geophagus — Latin for “earth-eater” — this species feeds by scooping mouthfuls of substrate and sifting out edible particles through the gills, a behaviour that defines how you set up and plant its tank. Alongside that quirky feeding style comes strong biparental brood care: a bonded pair guards eggs and wrigglers with impressive intensity, which makes breeding Pearl Cichlids one of the more rewarding experiences in cichlid keeping.
Where do Pearl Cichlids come from?
Pearl Cichlids are native to southeastern South America, inhabiting coastal river drainages and inland waters across southeastern Brazil, Uruguay and northeastern Argentina. This is a notably temperate range compared with most aquarium cichlids — these rivers are not the warm Amazonian lowlands but moderate, seasonally variable systems with sandy or muddy bottoms, submerged roots and marginal vegetation.
That cooler, more temperate origin has practical consequences. The Pearl Cichlid tolerates temperatures as low as 22 °C (72 °F) and handles a wider pH and hardness range (pH 6.5–7.8; 4–15 dGH) than many Amazonian relatives, making it more forgiving for keepers in regions with harder or near-neutral tap water.
What tank size and setup does a Pearl Cichlid need?
The minimum recommended tank is 200 litres (approximately 53 US gallons) for a single adult or a pair, and larger is strongly preferred if you plan to keep tank-mates alongside them. These are active, roving fish that use every centimetre of floor space; a footprint of at least 120 cm (48 in) in length allows them to establish territory without being permanently compressed.
Substrate is the central design decision. Fine sand — ideally 5–8 cm (2–3 in) deep — is essential because the Pearl Cichlid will sift it constantly. Coarse gravel frustrates the eartheating behaviour and can damage gill tissue over time. Smooth river sand or fine play sand works well.
Hardscape of smooth rounded rocks and driftwood creates territory breaks and gives the fish places to stake claims. For plants, expect significant disturbance: anchored java fern and anubias on hardscape, or plants in weighted pots buried flush with the sand, are the practical solutions. Floating plants like frogbit tolerate the digging and provide overhead cover that reduces stress. Strong filtration is important — eartheating constantly kicks up fine particles, so a canister rated generously above the tank volume keeps water clear.
What water parameters does a Pearl Cichlid need?
- Temperature: 22–28 °C (72–82 °F). The broad range reflects their temperate origin; aim for the middle of the range (24–26 °C / 75–79 °F) for everyday keeping.
- pH: 6.5–7.8. Near-neutral water (7.0–7.5) is the practical sweet spot that covers the full range without chasing extremes.
- Hardness: 4–15 dGH. Moderately soft to moderately hard tap water is fine.
Weekly partial water changes of 25–30 % are the single most effective husbandry tool. Pearl Cichlids produce significant waste, so a well-established biological filter and consistent water change schedule matter more than fine-tuning pH.
What do Pearl Cichlids eat?
Pearl Cichlids are omnivores with a bias toward benthic feeding. In the wild they process substrate for worms, insect larvae, crustaceans and organic detritus. In the aquarium this translates readily to a varied diet:
- Staple: Quality sinking cichlid pellets or granules sized appropriately for the fish.
- Protein supplement: Frozen or live bloodworms, earthworms, brine shrimp and chopped prawns. Live earthworms are particularly relished and trigger natural digging behaviour.
- Vegetable component: Blanched spinach, cucumber or spirulina-based wafers round out the diet and help with long-term health.
Feed once or twice daily; remove uneaten food promptly — it settles into sand and fouls water. Like most cichlids, Pearl Cichlids will readily overeat, so measured feeding maintains condition without compromising water quality.
How do Pearl Cichlids behave, and what fish can live with them?
Pearl Cichlids are semi-aggressive bottom-dwellers whose temperament is context-dependent. A single specimen in a spacious tank can be surprisingly tolerant of robust companions; a breeding pair becomes fiercely territorial and will press any fish — regardless of size — away from the nest and immediate surroundings.
Tank-mates need to be large enough not to be eaten — small tetras, livebearers and nano fish are at real risk. Good companions include large schooling tetras such as silver dollars, medium-to-large plecos, and similarly sized cichlids with compatible chemistry needs. Avoid other eartheaters unless the tank is very large; resource competition over feeding territory creates chronic stress.
For a detailed, filterable list of tested pairings, see Pearl Cichlid tank mates.
How do you tell male from female Pearl Cichlids?
Sexual dimorphism becomes clear once fish approach maturity. Males grow substantially larger — often reaching 25–28 cm (10–11 in) — and develop a pronounced nuchal hump on the forehead that becomes most prominent during breeding condition. The red border on the dorsal and caudal fins deepens significantly when displaying or spawning.
Females are smaller, typically 18–20 cm (7–8 in), with a rounder belly when carrying eggs. Their colouration is similar in pattern but generally less vivid, and the nuchal hump is absent or barely present. In a bonded pair the size difference alone is usually sufficient to sex them.
How do Pearl Cichlids breed?
Pearl Cichlids are substrate spawners with strong biparental brood care. A bonded pair cleans a flat rock or patch of bare sand and deposits several hundred adhesive eggs. Both parents fan the clutch and aggressively defend the site against any intruder.
Eggs hatch in roughly 48–72 hours at typical temperatures; fry become free-swimming after another four to five days and can be started on freshly hatched brine shrimp nauplii and finely crushed fry food. Parents guard the brood for several weeks, making the Pearl Cichlid one of the more accessible biparental cichlid breeders.
Conditioning pairs with high-protein live and frozen foods encourages spawning. Brood defence becomes extreme in a community tank — plan to either remove tank-mates or use a dedicated breeding setup.
What diseases are common in Pearl Cichlids?
Pearl Cichlids are generally hardy, but common freshwater diseases take hold when water quality slips:
- Ich (white spot): White cysts on body and fins, triggered by temperature swings or stress. Maintain stable temperature and quarantine new fish.
- Hole-in-the-head (HITH): Pitting around the lateral line and head, linked to poor water quality and dietary deficiencies. Excellent water quality and a varied diet are the primary prevention.
- Bacterial infections and fin deterioration: Usually secondary to fighting injuries or chronic water problems. Address root causes — water quality and social stress — before disease develops.
- Internal parasites: A risk in wild-caught individuals. Quarantine all new fish for two to four weeks before introduction.
Health note: disease diagnosis and medication dosing are beyond the scope of a care profile. For a sick fish, confirm the specific disease against a reputable veterinary or fish-health source before treating.
How long do Pearl Cichlids live?
With good husbandry, Pearl Cichlids typically reach 8–12 years in captivity. That lifespan makes them a real commitment: setting up a 200 L+ tank for one of these fish likely means a decade of care. The upside is a fish with genuine personality that recognises its keeper and may reward you with multiple breeding events. Consistent water quality, a varied diet and space to express natural behaviour are the pillars that reach the longer end of that range.
Frequently asked questions
Will Pearl Cichlids dig up my plants?
Yes — they sift substrate constantly as part of their eartheater feeding strategy. Use potted plants or heavy-rooted species like vallisneria and java fern anchored to hardscape, and expect substrate disturbance to be a permanent feature of their tank.
Can I keep Pearl Cichlids with other fish?
With careful selection, yes. Other robust South Americans of similar size — large tetras, peaceful larger catfish like plecos, or other medium cichlids with compatible chemistry needs — can work. Avoid small fish that will be eaten and delicate species that cannot tolerate the Pearl Cichlid's territorial bursts.
What you need to keep a pearl cichlid
The baseline is a heated, filtered 200 L+ tank: a reliable heater to hold 22–28 °C (72–82 °F), a gentle filter that won't batter a pearl cichlid in the current, and a tight-fitting lid. Cycle the tank fully before adding any fish.
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