Care guide · Freshwater · fish
Whitespot eartheater care guide
Satanoperca leucosticta
The whitespot eartheater, Satanoperca leucosticta, is a large, social cichlid from the Guiana Shield. It sifts sand for small invertebrates and organic food, so it needs a soft fine-sand bed and generous floor space. This is not a fish for a small community aquarium: a specialist profile recommends a footprint of at least 180 by 60 centimetres and a mature aquarium. Sources differ on temperature and acidity, so this guide shows only the cautious overlap of their stated values and avoids false precision about hardness. Check the fish’s identity when buying it as well: trade names such as jurupari are not always used consistently. This page explains the verifiable traits and what they mean for day-to-day care.
Plan your aquarium →At a glance
- Temperature
- 27–28 °C
- pH
- 6.0–7.0
- GH
- 2–12 °dGH
- Aquarium length
- At least 180 cm
- Minimum aquarium volume
- At least 648 L
- Adult size
- Up to 15 cm
- Group size
- At least 5 individuals
- Temperament
- Peaceful, Territorial
About this species
Satanoperca leucosticta was described by Müller and Troschel in 1849. It was formerly known as Geophagus leucostictus; Satanoperca macrolepis is treated as a synonym. The conspicuous white spots or pale worm-like markings on the side of the head help distinguish it. Confusion with S. jurupari occurs, so a shop label alone is not a secure identification. The specialist source gives a maximum of about 15 cm standard length, measured without the tail fin.Natural habitat
The species occurs on the Guiana Shield: eastern Venezuela, Guyana, north-western Suriname and northern Brazil. Confirmed river systems include the Essequibo, Demerara, Nickerie and Branco. It inhabits main channels, smaller tributaries and floodplain lakes, often over sand or mud with leaf litter and submerged branches. This habitat is consistent with its sifting behaviour, but does not justify using coarse gravel in an aquarium.Aquarium and layout
Plan for a minimum aquarium footprint of 180 × 60 cm, approximately 648 litres. This is intended for a large social fish, and floor area matters more than volume alone; a short, tall tank is not an equivalent substitute. Use soft fine sand so the fish can forage safely. Coarse gravel and small pebbles can interfere with feeding, damage gill filaments or be swallowed. Furnish calmly with securely placed wood and roots. Use strong biological filtration plus mechanical filtration able to capture fine suspended particles. The fish is sensitive to deteriorating water quality and swings, so introduce it only to a mature aquarium. Avoid strong current and plan large weekly water changes of about 50–70%, as the specialist source recommends.Water conditions
The specialist profile lists 20–28 °C, pH 5.5–7.5 and 2–12 °dGH. Another species-focused source describes warmer native water, around 27–30 °C and pH 6–7. Because the temperature recommendations differ, this guide uses only their overlap, 27–28 °C and pH 6–7, as a cautious guide. No hardness target is given because the sources do not provide sufficiently consistent advice. Keep water clean and stable, monitor it regularly, and avoid abrupt changes during maintenance or acclimation. The 2–12 °dGH figure follows only the specialist aquarium profile; the other species-focused source does not provide a comparable target.Behaviour and group size
Outside breeding, the species is generally peaceful, but that does not make it an automatic choice for a typical community tank. It is social and should be kept in a group; its size requires a very large aquarium, and breeding pairs may defend an area. The specialist source advises careful tankmate selection. No specific fish are linked here: similar water values alone do not prove a safe pairing. Avoid small animals that could become prey and fish that aggressively claim the same bottom space.Feeding
Satanoperca leucosticta takes mouthfuls of sand and sifts out edible particles. Wild foods include small aquatic and terrestrial invertebrates, insect larvae, seeds and organic detritus. Offer fine sinking complete food, varied with small portions of frozen or live foods such as bloodworm, Daphnia and Artemia. The specialist source notes that coarser foods are less readily accepted. Feed a varied diet and prevent leftovers from degrading water quality. No exact product with an approved current offer has been confirmed, so no product link is shown.Breeding
This is a larvophilous mouthbrooder: after spawning, the mother takes the larvae into her mouth once they are free-swimming. Aquarium breeding has been reported. The sexes are difficult to identify reliably outside breeding condition. To form a pair, a group of juveniles may be raised together, but they need an appropriately large aquarium. Give a breeding pair space and allow other fish to avoid the defended area. No fixed clutch size or exact timing is stated because available information does not support a dependable general figure.Sources & review
This care guide draws on several specialist sources and was last checked on .