Whitespot eartheater
Satanoperca leucosticta
Also known as Whitespotted eartheater, Jurupari, Geophagus leucostictus
FreshwaterFish
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 75–84°F
- 24–29°C
- pH
- 5.5–7.5
- Adult size
- 7.1 in
- 18 cm
- Minimum tank
- 79 gal
- 300 L
- Temperament
- Peaceful
- Social behavior
- Social
- Swim level
- Bottom
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Breeding
- Medium
- Rarity
- Common
- Family
- Cichlidae
- Origin
- Guiana Shield rivers of eastern Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname, and northern Brazil, over sand and leaf litter in channels and floodplain lakes.
Overview
Keep a group of five or more in a tank of at least 300 liters at 24 to 29 C and pH 5.5 to 7.5. Provide open sand, some wood, and gentle tankmates. Feed sinking pellets and frozen foods along with whatever they sift from the sand. It is a peaceful, sociable eartheater that does poorly kept alone.
In the wild
The whitespot eartheater lives across the Guiana Shield in eastern Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname, and northern Brazil. It occupies river channels, tributaries, and floodplain lakes over sand and leaf litter. It feeds by taking mouthfuls of sand and sifting out small invertebrates. A deep, soft sand bed is essential for its natural feeding.
Good to know
Satanoperca leucosticta was described by Muller and Troschel in 1849 and reaches about 18 cm. It is covered in iridescent white and blue spangles, which give it its name. Most fish sold in shops as Satanoperca jurupari are actually this species.
Did you know
It is a delayed mouthbrooder, laying eggs on the substrate and then taking them into the mouth once they are ready to move.
Weekly picks
Tank mates
Whitespot eartheater is a 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.
Spotted metynnis
Metynnis maculatus
Freshwater7.1 in (18 cm) · 92 gal (350 L)73–82°F (23–28°C)
Giant river hatchetfish
Triportheus rotundatus
Freshwater9.8 in (25 cm) · 79 gal (300 L)73–82°F (23–28°C)
Red head Tapajos
Geophagus pyrocephalus
Freshwater6.3 in (16 cm) · 79 gal (300 L)79–86°F (26–30°C)
Filter-feeding cichlid
Chaetobranchopsis orbicularis
Freshwater5.9 in (15 cm) · 79 gal (300 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)
Largescale four-eyed fish
Anableps anableps
FreshwaterBrackish11.8 in (30 cm) · 70 gal (265 L)77–88°F (25–31°C)
Fog talking catfish
Rhinodoras boehlkei
Freshwater6.7 in (17 cm) · 79 gal (300 L)73–82°F (23–28°C)
Common questions
What size tank does a Whitespot eartheater need?
A Whitespot eartheater needs at least 79 gal (300 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.
What temperature and pH does a Whitespot eartheater need?
A Whitespot eartheater is comfortable at 75–84°F (24–29°C) with a pH of 5.5–7.5.
How big does a Whitespot eartheater get?
An adult Whitespot eartheater reaches about 7.1 in (18 cm).
Related species
7.1 in (18 cm)119 gal (450 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)Demon eartheater
Satanoperca jurupari
7.1 in (18 cm) · 119 gal (450 L)
9.8 in (25 cm)119 gal (450 L)79–86°F (26–30°C)Threespot eartheater
Satanoperca daemon
9.8 in (25 cm) · 119 gal (450 L)
- 6.7 in (17 cm)106 gal (400 L)77–84°F (25–29°C)
Fine-spotted eartheater
Satanoperca mapiritensis
6.7 in (17 cm) · 106 gal (400 L)
7.9 in (20 cm)119 gal (450 L)77–84°F (25–29°C)Sharphead demonfish
Satanoperca acuticeps
7.9 in (20 cm) · 119 gal (450 L)
11.8 in (30 cm)159 gal (600 L)77–84°F (25–29°C)Lilith demonfish
Satanoperca lilith
11.8 in (30 cm) · 159 gal (600 L)
7.1 in (18 cm)66 gal (250 L)75–84°F (24–29°C)Blue flash firemouth
Thorichthys aureus
7.1 in (18 cm) · 66 gal (250 L)