How important is substrate size for Eartheaters?

[Dan F]

I have read that Eartheaters need a fine substrate to avoid them getting gravel stuck in their mouths. How true is this? Have many of you had first-hand experience with Geo's being unable to spit out a piece of gravel?

I added three Geo. Altifrons (I think, they were sold as Surinamensis) to my tank a few months ago. The substrate is a mixture of different sized natural gravel, ranging form about 1mm up to about 12mm. The gravel is mostly smooth and rounded. There are a few irregularly shaped pieces, but nothing jagged.

The fish seem to have no trouble sifting through the coarser gravel to get mouthfuls of fine stuff, but have I just been lucky so far? Replacing the substrate would be a lot of work as the tank has a lot of rockscaping and driftwood. It would also be a fair amount of money, the tank is 72x18x24 with around 150-175 pounds (my best estimate, maybe 200 #) of gravel.

Thanks for your help.

 

[flowerpower]

I keep steindachneri with a mixed substrate which includes flourite, fine gravel and sand. While I'm no geo expert, I see them sifting selectively through the sandy parts while avoiding the larger particles. They seem to be doing just fine.

 

[peathenster]

^ Had similar experience. I have pool filter sand gravel mixed together in two Geo tanks. I'd say 80% sand vs. 20% gravel. The Geos have no problem doing what they want....

I don't think you have to change all the substrates. Just get whatever you can out of there with a dustpan, then dump some clean sand in there.

 

[knifegill]

My little two-incher satanoperca jurupari (leucistica?) is doing fine with pea gravel from Lowe's. Most pieces are bigger than his mouth, but he still sifts through the finer particles and has managed to dig a pit. So far so good, here.

 

[darth pike]

I've had to do a pebbleoctomy on three geos ... 1 Satanoperca and 2 Geophagus species, all at least 6" SL. Lost 2 of them. This was regular gravel in the LFS I worked at.

 

[bbortko]

Had pea sized gravel with a jurapari and at 4" he would suck on gravel and spit it out without incident. Changed substrate to 2mm gravel and added 2" red caps and everyone was fine. Upgraded my 55g to a 125g and decided to go pool filter sand and while the gravel worked the sand is more entertaining as they'll pick up a mouthful and swim away while filtering it through their gills. I paid $25 for 200 pounds of sand

 

[Dan F]

Thanks for the replies. I may still change out the substrate, mostly because I think a solid colored substrate might look better.