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Fine-spotted eartheater

Satanoperca mapiritensis

Also known as Mapiritensis eartheater

FreshwaterFish

Fine-spotted eartheater (Satanoperca mapiritensis)
Imperial Tropicals · Used with permission

Care at a glance

Temperature
77–84°F
25–29°C
pH
5.5–7.0
Adult size
6.7 in
17 cm
Minimum tank
106 gal
400 L
Temperament
Mostly peaceful
Social behavior
Social
Swim level
Bottom
Difficulty
Medium
Breeding
Mouthbrooder · Medium
Rarity
Common
Family
Cichlidae
Origin
Orinoco basin

Overview

The fine-spotted eartheater is a Satanoperca, a genus that counts among the gentler large South American cichlids. It stays near the bottom and needs a little more care than a beginner fish.

Did you know

Old river stories say demonfish like the fine-spotted eartheater got their folklore by mouthing sand near burial grounds. The fish were only ever eating.

Caring for the fine-spotted eartheater

Keep fine-spotted eartheaters like the rest of their genus, as a group of five or six in at least 106 gal (400 L). Give them several centimeters of deep, soft, fine sand and quiet flow. They sift sand constantly, so substrate quality is the main care requirement. Sharp gravel will stop the behavior and damage their mouths.

Hold the temperature at 77 to 84°F (25 to 29°C) and the pH at 5.5 to 7.0. Feed sinking granules and frozen foods often and in small amounts.

Fine-spotted eartheaters are mostly peaceful, so keep them with peaceful, mid-sized company. Avoid anything nippy, or their trailing fins suffer.

It is a delayed mouthbrooder that takes the eggs up a day or so after they are laid. Breeding them is a moderate project.

Good to know

The fine-spotted eartheater's genus name, Satanoperca, means demon eartheater, from an old common name rather than any behavior. Its trade name comes from the dense iridescent speckling over its cheeks and gill cover. It is the Orinoco member of the jurupari group, and genetic work has yet to separate it cleanly from Satanoperca jurupari. Shops also apply its name loosely to S. leucosticta.

In the wild

Satanoperca mapiritensis lives in the Orinoco basin, over sand in warm water that runs soft to neutral.

Weekly picks

Tank mates

The fine-spotted eartheater is a mostly peaceful, social species that keeps to the bottom. These picks share a community profile with it, are safe together in both directions, and overlap on water type, temperature and pH.

Check the full mix in the stocking calculator

Common questions

What size tank does a fine-spotted eartheater need?

A fine-spotted eartheater needs at least 106 gal (400 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.

What temperature and pH does a fine-spotted eartheater need?

A fine-spotted eartheater is comfortable at 77–84°F (25–29°C) with a pH of 5.5–7.0.

What does a fine-spotted eartheater eat?

A fine-spotted eartheater eats sinking granules and frozen foods, given often and in small amounts.

How big does a fine-spotted eartheater get?

An adult fine-spotted eartheater reaches about 6.7 in (17 cm).

How does a fine-spotted eartheater breed?

The fine-spotted eartheater is a delayed mouthbrooder, taking the eggs into its mouth a day or so after they are laid. Breeding it is a moderate project.

Related species