Sharphead demonfish

Satanoperca acuticeps

Also known as Acuticeps eartheater, Sharphead satanoperca

FreshwaterFish

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: Medium
Rarity: Rare
Origin: Lower Amazon basin
Family: Cichlidae

Overview

The sharphead is a gentle eartheater that sifts sand for food and does best as a group of five or more, where the fish settle a loose pecking order. It is peaceful, but it is also sensitive and easily out-competed, so keep it in a species-only tank rather than mixing it with pushy or fast feeders. Give it a deep bed of soft sand to sift and pristine water. Feed sinking pellets and frozen foods that reach the floor, where it can take mouthfuls of substrate. A tank of around 450 liters suits a group of these large sifters.

In the wild

Satanoperca acuticeps sifts fine sand in the lakes and slow rivers of the lower Amazon basin. That water is soft, acidic, and warm, and the fish is very sensitive to poor quality. Recreate it with a deep, soft sand floor, some wood and leaf litter, and soft, acidic, warm water at pH 5.5-7.0 and 25-29 C in a mature, stable tank.

Good to know

Satanoperca acuticeps is a cichlid reaching about 20 centimeters, set apart from its jurupari relatives by three dark blotches on the flank and a notably drawn, pointed head. Like other Satanoperca it is a mouthbrooder that takes the eggs or larvae into the mouth for protection. Breeding is of medium difficulty.

Did you know

Satanoperca translates as Satan's perch, a fearsome label the whole genus wears. It comes from folklore rather than behavior, because few cichlids are as mild-mannered as these sand-sifting eartheaters.

Tank mates

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