Sven's Eartheater tank mates
Geophagus sveni
5 rated pairings from the Sven's Eartheater care guide. Compatibility here means water, temperament, tank zone and adult size all line up — the note on each card says why. Sven's Eartheater needs at least 75 gallons on its own; every companion adds to that.
Good matches
5 · Compatible with normal care — watch space and numbers.Altum Angelfish
Pterophyllum altum
55 gal min · 8" adult · Semi-aggressive
Likes the same soft, warm, acidic water and stays mid-water; altums are delicate, so this pairing suits an experienced keeper
Silver Dollar
Metynnis argenteus
55 gal min · 6" adult · Peaceful
Peaceful, fast-moving schooler that stays in the upper water and is too big to be bothered
Keyhole Cichlid
Cleithracara maronii
20 gal min · 3.5" adult · Peaceful
Very peaceful cichlid that coexists without competing hard for bottom territory
Bleeding Heart Tetra
Hyphessobrycon erythrostigma
20 gal min · 3" adult · Peaceful
A deep-bodied tetra too big for adult eartheaters to swallow, and it likes the same soft, slightly acidic water; slender little tetras are safer kept elsewhere
Bristlenose Pleco
Ancistrus sp.
20 gal min · 5" adult · Peaceful
Grazes algae and wood; sinking wafers after lights out keep the eartheaters from eating its share
Planning this tank?
Run the whole stock list through the calculator — it checks bioload and schooling numbers, not just pairings.