Description
Gymnogeophagus balzanii – The Argentine Eartheater
(Gymnogeophagus balzanii)
The Gymnogeophagus balzanii, also known as the Argentine Eartheater or Balzani’s Eartheater, is a peaceful and elegant South American cichlid found throughout slow-moving rivers and lagoons in Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay. This species is known for its fascinating sand-sifting behaviour and the striking appearance of mature males, which develop a pronounced nuchal hump during the breeding season.
Unlike most Geophagus species, G. balzanii thrives in cooler water, making it a great choice for unheated or temperate aquariums. They display attractive golden and turquoise hues with subtle iridescence that becomes more vivid in mature specimens.
Key Features:
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Peaceful, intelligent, and social South American cichlid
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Males develop impressive head humps during breeding
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Beautiful golden and turquoise colouration
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Prefers cooler water conditions than most tropical cichlids
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Natural sand-sifting behaviour adds character to the aquarium
Care Information:
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Scientific Name: Gymnogeophagus balzanii
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Adult Size: 10–12 cm
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Temperature: 18–25°C
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pH Range: 6.0–7.5
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Tank Size: Minimum 150 litres
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Diet: Omnivorous – accepts sinking pellets, frozen, and live foods
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Compatibility: Peaceful with other calm South American or temperate species
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Tank Setup: Soft sandy substrate for digging, open swimming space, and gentle filtration
Why Choose Gymnogeophagus balzanii?
The Gymnogeophagus balzanii is a charming, peaceful eartheater that stands out for its unique appearance, calm nature, and cooler temperature tolerance. A superb addition for aquarists seeking something a little different from the usual tropical cichlids.
Click & Collect
Livestock will only be bagged once you arrive, or if you contact us in advance to request it ready beforehand.
Local Delivery
Order anything from our in-store range and have it delivered right to you.
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Minimum spend: £50
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Delivery up to 10 miles: £10
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Delivery up to 25 miles: £20
Distances are measured “as the crow flies”, not by road.
Once your order is placed, we’ll be in touch to arrange a suitable delivery date and time.
Please note, delivery may take a little longer as we often group orders together to build an efficient delivery run.
Important: If you’re ordering a large aquarium, please ensure someone is available to help unload the van on arrival.
Dry Goods Delivery
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DX Express: 1 working day, same-day dispatch before noon 0-75kg
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Express Pallet: 1–3 working days 75-500kg
If you'd like to add more items to an existing order that hasn't yet been dispatched, please place a Click & Collect order and leave a note asking us to combine the orders.
Please note: We currently only dispatch parcels Wednesday to Friday.
Pre-Order
Want the full details? Check out our Terms & Conditions.
Livestock Delivery
Thursday Delivery – £24
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Dispatched Wednesday afternoon
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Delivered Thursday before 1pm
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Order by Wednesday 12 noon
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Minimum spend: £50
Friday Delivery – £24
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Dispatched Thursday afternoon
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Delivered Friday before 1pm
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Order by Thursday 12 noon
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Minimum spend: £50
Saturday Delivery – £29
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Dispatched Friday afternoon
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Delivered Saturday before 1pm
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Order by Friday 12 noon
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Minimum spend: £50
📦 Want to Add to an Existing Order?
No problem! Just place a Click & Collect order and leave a note asking us to link it with your original one (as long as it hasn’t been dispatched yet).
🛒 Dry Goods Now Included!
You can now include dry goods in your livestock delivery – perfect for topping up supplies in one go.
❄️ Please note: We can’t send frozen food with livestock – please order frozen items separately.
⚠️ Delivery Exclusions
Unfortunately, we’re unable to deliver livestock to the following postcodes:
Scotland & Isles:
AB30–AB56, DD8–DD10, DG3–DG9, DG12–DG14, FK17–FK21, KA18–KA19, KA26–KA30, PA20–PA38, PA80, PH3–PH40
Cornwall Isles: TR21–TR25
All of the following postcodes are excluded:
BT, HS, IM, IV, JE, KW
Plus Channel Islands and Shetland Islands
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