Dwarf Flag Cichlid
Laetacara curviceps
- Care level
- Beginner
- Adult size
- 5–8 cm
- Minimum tank
- 80 litres
- Temperature
- 23–28 °C
Species profile
Demon Eartheater
Satanoperca jurupari
Common names: Demon Eartheater, Jurupari Eartheater
Recognized speciesCichlids
Adult size
Up to 25 cm
Typical adult length 18–25 cm.
Up to 25 cm
Countries of origin
Good fit for your tank?
Good fit for
- Mature planted aquarium setups
- Advanced shrimp keepers
Think carefully if
- The aquarium contains shrimp-eating fish
- The tank is newly cycled
- Water conditions change frequently
A peaceful, social sand-sifting cichlid that needs a large group, pristine water, and a broad bed of fine sand.
Appearance and Identification
A tall silver-gold eartheater with blue-green iridescence, reddish fins, and a small dark flank mark that may be faint.
The Satanoperca jurupari group contains several similar species. Opercular lines, flank spots, fin pattern, locality, and adult morphology should be checked.
Sexes are similar. Mature males may be larger and longer-finned, while ripe females become fuller.
Tank Requirements
- Suggested filter
- About 2,000–2,500 litres an hour
- Suggested heater
- About 500–750 W for this tank
- Minimum tank volume
- 500 litres
- Minimum tank length
- 180 cm
- Minimum group size
- 5
- Recommended group size
- 6
- Activity level
- High
- Flow preference
- Moderate
- Planting preference
- Moderately planted
- Hiding places
- Yes
- Lid recommended
- Yes
- Jumping risk
- Low
Keep at least five or six over a wide bed of fine sand with powerful filtration, high oxygen, wood, and open swimming room. Avoid sharp substrate and cramped décor.
Behaviour and Tankmates
Peaceful for its size, highly social, and continuously sifts sand for food.
A group forms a hierarchy. Small groups produce persistent bullying and should be avoided.
Pairs defend a temporary spawning area but usually return to group life outside breeding.
Suitable with peaceful medium to large South American fish that do not dominate the bottom. Small fish and shrimp may be eaten.
Water Parameters
Stable warm, clean, well-oxygenated water is essential. The species is prone to stress and head-and-lateral-line erosion in poor conditions.
Parameter caveat
Do not disturb the substrate with deep anaerobic pockets, and never keep the fish over coarse gravel. Maintain low nitrate and a varied mineral-balanced diet.
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Manual aquarium siphon and gravel cleaner
A manual siphon for routine aquarium water changes and accessible waste removal. The seller lists a hose approximately 1.6 m long.
Control the flow and keep the intake clear of fish and delicate planting. Clean the areas appropriate for your substrate and layout rather than disturbing the entire planted bed.
Daraz NepalCheck availability on Daraz
Feeding
- Diet types
- Detritivore, Insectivore, Omnivore
- Feeding frequency
- Daily
- Preferred foods
- Quality sinking cichlid pelletUse a staple pellet appropriate to the fish size and mouth shape.
- Chopped shrimp, mussel, or earthwormOffer clean unseasoned portions as rotating protein foods.
- Blanched leafy greens or peasUseful for omnivorous and plant-eating species; remove leftovers promptly.
- Frozen krill or mysisFeed in moderation to add variety and support colour.
An omnivorous benthic sifter taking invertebrates, detritus, seeds, and prepared foods.
Feed several small sinking meals spread across the substrate. Include plant matter and avoid rich protein-only feeding.
Breeding
- Breeding type
- Egg Layer, Mouthbrooder, Substrate Spawner
- Breeding difficulty
- Difficult
- Breeding temperature
- 27 °C
- Breeding pH
- 6.2
- Brood or egg count
- Several hundred eggs.
- Incubation
- 3 days
- Parental care
- Biparental care
- Baby foods
- Newly hatched brine shrimpSuitable after yolk absorption for most cichlid fry.
- Crushed high-quality cichlid pelletIntroduce gradually as fry grow.
- Finely chopped frozen cyclopsUseful supplementary food for larger fry.
A biparental larvophilic mouthbrooder. Eggs are laid on a cleaned surface and guarded; after hatching, parents take larvae into the mouth.
Habitat and Origin
- Geographic origin
- Amazon Basin, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Peru, South America
- Natural habitat
- Floodplain, Freshwater River, Lake, Sand/Mud Substrate
- Aquarium contexts
- Breeding Aquarium, Freshwater Aquarium, Freshwater Community, Large Freshwater Aquarium
- Audience level
- Advanced
Classification
- Profile type
- Recognized species
- Genus
- Satanoperca
- Family
- Cichlidae
- Species group
- Cichlids, Fish, South American Cichlids
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Electric Blue Ram Cichlid
Mikrogeophagus ramirezi var. "Electric Blue"
- Care level
- Intermediate
- Adult size
- 4–6 cm
- Minimum tank
- 60 litres
- Temperature
- 27–31 °C
False Green Terror
Andinoacara rivulatus
- Care level
- Intermediate
- Adult size
- 20–30 cm
- Minimum tank
- 400 litres
- Temperature
- 22–28 °C
Flag Cichlid
Mesonauta festivus
- Care level
- Intermediate
- Adult size
- 12–18 cm
- Minimum tank
- 300 litres
- Temperature
- 24–29 °C