Mapire demonfish

Satanoperca mapiritensis

Also known as Mapiritensis eartheater

FreshwaterFish

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: Medium
Rarity: Common
Origin: Orinoco basin
Family: Cichlidae

Overview

A Satanoperca kept the same way as the rest of the genus: a group of five or six over deep, soft sand in a 400 liter tank, with peaceful mid-sized company. It sifts sand constantly, so substrate quality is the main care requirement, and sharp gravel will stop the behavior and damage its mouth. Feed sinking granules and frozen foods often and in small amounts. Nothing nippy, or the trailing fins suffer.

In the wild

Satanoperca mapiritensis lives in the Orinoco basin, over sand in warm water running soft to neutral. Keep it at 25 to 29 degrees Celsius and pH 5.5 to 7.0, with several centimeters of fine sand and quiet flow.

Good to know

Satanoperca mapiritensis reaches about 17 centimeters. The genus name means demon eartheater, from an old common name rather than any behavior; they are among the gentler large South American cichlids. It is a delayed mouthbrooder, taking eggs up a day or so after they are laid.

Did you know

Demonfish earned their folklore by mouthing sand near burial grounds, say the old river stories; the fish were only ever eating.

Tank mates

Mapire demonfish is a mostly peaceful, social species that keeps to the bottom. These picks match on water type, temperature, pH, size and temperament.