Yellow Acara
Aequidens metae
- Care level
- Intermediate
- Adult size
- 12–18 cm
- Minimum tank
- 250 litres
- Temperature
- 24–29 °C
Species profile
Whitespot Eartheater
Satanoperca leucosticta
Common names: Whitespot Eartheater, White-Spotted Eartheater
Recognized speciesCichlids
Adult size
Up to 20 cm
Typical adult length 15–20 cm.
Up to 20 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 Guianan eartheater with pale spotting, requiring fine sand, group maintenance, and very clean water.
Appearance and Identification
A silver to olive Satanoperca with pale blue-white spotting across the head and body, reddish fins, and subtle dark flank pattern.
The dense pale spotting is characteristic, but similar Satanoperca should be checked by locality and complete adult pattern.
Sexes are similar. Mature males may become slightly larger and longer-finned.
Tank Requirements
- Suggested filter
- About 1,600–2,000 litres an hour
- Suggested heater
- About 400–600 W for this tank
- Minimum tank volume
- 400 litres
- Minimum tank length
- 150 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
Maintain a group over fine sand with powerful filtration, high oxygen, wood, open floor space, and low social disturbance.
Behaviour and Tankmates
Peaceful, social, and continuously sifts sand.
Keep at least five or six to distribute hierarchy pressure.
Pairs defend a temporary spawning site.
Use peaceful medium-sized companions. Small fish and shrimp may be eaten.
Water Parameters
Soft acidic to neutral water is suitable. Pristine conditions and low nitrate are essential.
Parameter caveat
Coarse gravel, small groups, and dirty water commonly lead to chronic stress and disease.
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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 small invertebrates, detritus, seeds, and prepared foods.
Feed several small sinking meals across the substrate and include plant matter.
Breeding
- Breeding type
- Egg Layer, Mouthbrooder, Substrate Spawner
- Breeding difficulty
- Difficult
- Breeding temperature
- 27 °C
- Breeding pH
- 6
- 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 substrate-spawning mouthbrooder. Eggs are laid and guarded on a surface; larvae are later taken into the mouth.
Habitat and Origin
- Geographic origin
- Guyana, South America, Suriname
- Natural habitat
- Blackwater, Clearwater, Freshwater River, 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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Altifron Eartheater
Geophagus altifrons
- Care level
- Intermediate
- Adult size
- 20–27 cm
- Minimum tank
- 500 litres
- Temperature
- 24–29 °C
Altum Angelfish
Pterophyllum altum
- Care level
- Advanced
- Adult size
- 18–22 cm
- Minimum tank
- 400 litres
- Temperature
- 27–31 °C
Argentine Humphead
Gymnogeophagus balzanii
- Care level
- Intermediate
- Adult size
- 12–20 cm
- Minimum tank
- 300 litres
- Temperature
- 18–26 °C