Threespot eartheater
Satanoperca daemon
Also known as Three-spot eartheater, Demon eartheater, Geophagus daemon
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 79–86°F (26–30°C)
- pH
- 4.5–6.5
- Adult size
- 9.8 in (25 cm)
- Minimum tank
- 119 gal (450 L)
- Temperament
- Peaceful
- Social behavior
- Social
- Swim level
- Bottom
- Difficulty
- Difficult
- Breeding
- Hard
- Rarity
- Rare
- Origin
- Blackwater of the Rio Negro basin and upper Orinoco in Brazil, Venezuela, and Colombia, over clean sand in soft, acidic water.
- Family
- Cichlidae
Overview
Keep a group in a tank of at least 450 liters at 26 to 30 C and pH 4.5 to 6.5, with soft water and a deep sand bed. Provide wood and leaf litter and only very peaceful tankmates. Feed sinking foods and frozen foods, and keep nitrate low. This is a peaceful but demanding fish for experienced keepers.
In the wild
The threespot eartheater lives in blackwater of the Rio Negro basin and upper Orinoco in Brazil, Venezuela, and Colombia. It occupies soft, acidic, tannin-stained water over clean sand. This is a delicate specialist that suffers in hard water or a new tank. It needs mature, pristine water and a deep sand bed.
Good to know
Satanoperca daemon was described by Heckel in 1840 and reaches about 25 cm. Unlike the mouthbrooding jurupari group, the daemon group are substrate spawners that bury their eggs in the sand. It is named for the dark blotches along its flanks and tail base.
Did you know
It buries its eggs under a layer of sand, a nesting method that is unusual among the eartheaters.
Where to buy
Some links may not be the exact species or variety.
…or ask your local fish store.
Appears in
Freshwater fish · Cichlids · Advanced fish · Community fish · Bottom dwellers
Keeping Threespot eartheater?
Track water tests, reminders and stocking fit.
Related species
Demon eartheater
Satanoperca jurupari7.1 in (18 cm)119 gal (450 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)
Whitespot eartheater
Satanoperca leucosticta7.1 in (18 cm)79 gal (300 L)75–84°F (24–29°C)
Xingu eartheater
Retroculus xinguensis9.8 in (25 cm)185 gal (700 L)79–86°F (26–30°C)
Pearl eartheater
Geophagus brasiliensis11 in (28 cm)75 gal (284 L)68–79°F (20–26°C)
Eartheater cichlid
Geophagus altifrons9.8 in (25 cm)115 gal (435 L)79–90°F (26–32°C)
Spadetail checkerboard cichlid
Dicrossus maculatus3.5 in (9 cm)24 gal (90 L)79–86°F (26–30°C)