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Sharphead demonfish

Satanoperca acuticeps

Also known as Acuticeps eartheater, Sharphead satanoperca

FreshwaterFish

Sharphead demonfish (Satanoperca acuticeps)

Care at a glance

Temperature
77–84°F
25–29°C
pH
5.5–7.0
Adult size
7.9 in
20 cm
Minimum tank
119 gal
450 L
Temperament
Mostly peaceful
Social behavior
Social
Swim level
Bottom
Difficulty
Medium
Breeding
Mouthbrooder · Medium
Rarity
Rare
Family
Cichlidae
Origin
Lower Amazon basin

Overview

The sharphead demonfish is a gentle eartheater for the bottom of a large, soft-water tank. It is best with a little experience.

Did you know

The sharphead demonfish's genus name, Satanoperca, translates as Satan's perch. The fearsome label comes from folklore rather than behavior. Few cichlids are as mild-mannered as these sand-sifting eartheaters.

Caring for the sharphead demonfish

Keep sharphead demonfish as a group of five or more, where they settle a loose pecking order. A group of these large sifters needs at least 119 gal (450 L). Give them a deep bed of soft sand to sift, with some wood and leaf litter.

They are very sensitive to poor water quality, so keep the water pristine in a mature, stable tank. Run it soft, acidic and warm, at 77 to 84°F (25 to 29°C) and a pH of 5.5 to 7.0.

Feed sinking pellets and frozen foods that reach the floor, where they take mouthfuls of substrate. The sharphead demonfish is peaceful and safe with calm tank mates, but it is easily out-competed. Keep it away from pushy or fast feeders.

It is a mouthbrooder like other Satanoperca, taking the eggs or larvae into its mouth for protection. Breeding is of medium difficulty.

Good to know

The sharphead demonfish, Satanoperca acuticeps, is a cichlid also sold as the acuticeps eartheater or sharphead satanoperca. Three dark blotches on the flank and a notably drawn, pointed head set it apart from its jurupari relatives.

In the wild

The sharphead demonfish sifts fine sand in the lakes and slow rivers of the lower Amazon basin. That water is soft, acidic and warm.

Weekly picks

Tank mates

The sharphead demonfish 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 sharphead demonfish need?

A sharphead demonfish needs at least 119 gal (450 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.

What temperature and pH does a sharphead demonfish need?

A sharphead demonfish is comfortable at 77–84°F (25–29°C) with a pH of 5.5–7.0.

What does a sharphead demonfish eat?

A sharphead demonfish eats sinking pellets and frozen foods that reach the floor. It takes mouthfuls of substrate as it feeds.

How big does a sharphead demonfish get?

An adult sharphead demonfish reaches about 7.9 in (20 cm).

How does a sharphead demonfish breed?

The sharphead demonfish is a mouthbrooder, like other Satanoperca, and takes the eggs or larvae into its mouth for protection. Breeding it is of medium difficulty.

Related species