Eartheater Cichlid
Satanoperca leucosticta
Min Tank Size
300L
Adult Size
20 cm
Lifespan
10 years
School Size
6+
About
Satanoperca leucosticta comes from the slow, blackwater and clearwater rivers of northern South America, particularly the Guianas and parts of the Amazon basin. It's a stunning fish when mature, covered in iridescent blue-green spots scattered across a warm olive-tan body, with a large eye and a subtly elongated snout built for a very specific purpose.
That purpose is sifting. These fish spend most of their waking hours vacuuming up mouthfuls of substrate, filtering out edible bits, and expelling the sand through their gills in a constant, methodical cycle. It's mesmerizing to watch and one of the main reasons people fall in love with the species.
They need deep, fine sand, ideally 7 to 10 centimeters of it, to do this comfortably. Skip that and you'll have a stressed, inactive fish prone to mouth injuries. Water chemistry matters more here than with most cichlids. They do best in soft, slightly acidic to neutral water, pH 5.5 to 7.2 with very low hardness. Temperatures should stay warm, between 26 and 30 degrees Celsius. They're not forgiving of ammonia spikes or pH swings, so good filtration with minimal flow is essential.
Diet in captivity accepts quality cichlid pellets, frozen bloodworms, and blackworms readily, and they'll naturally supplement themselves by sifting if the substrate has any microfauna in it.
Browse real setups featuring Satanoperca leucosticta on Shimmerscape to see how other hobbyists have built out biotope tanks around this species.
Water Parameters
Temperature
°CpH
GH
dGHKH
dKHSwimming Level
Flow Preference
Keeping multiple Eartheater Cichlid together
Eartheater Cichlid are shoaling fish and need company of their own kind. Keep a group of at least 6. Smaller groups leave them stressed, washed-out in color, and prone to hiding.
Compatibility
This species pairs exceptionally well with discus and angelfish, sharing nearly identical water parameter needs and a mutual lack of aggression. Other geophagines like Geophagus surinamensis or smaller Satanoperca species work well if the tank is large enough. Mid-water schoolers like rummy-nose tetras, cardinal tetras, and bleeding heart tetras are classic companions that thrive in the same soft, warm conditions. Avoid any fish that would bully slow, methodical feeders, and keep shrimp out entirely. Dwarf cichlids like Apistogramma can coexist if the tank is spacious, but may be harassed near spawning time.
Commonly kept with
Species this one is most often paired withCommonly tried but avoid
Often paired, but shouldn't beCare Notes
The biggest beginner mistake is using gravel or coarse sand. These fish will sift regardless, and sharp substrate abrades the delicate mouth tissue, leading to infection. Deep, fine-grain sand is not optional. The second issue is water quality: their sensitivity to dissolved waste means you need robust, consistent filtration, but not strong flow, as they come from sluggish rivers. Skipping pH and hardness testing is a common failure point. They'll survive in harder water short-term but never truly thrive or color up properly.
Behavior & Aggression
By cichlid standards, leucosticta is remarkably well-mannered. Aggression is almost entirely limited to spawning periods, when a bonded pair will claim a flat surface or a patch of sand and chase off anything that drifts too close. Outside of breeding, they largely ignore tankmates unless crowded. Conspecific tension is mild at worst, though two males in a smaller tank can develop low-level chasing. Providing visual breaks and adequate space resolves most of it quickly.
Things to Know
- Fine sand substrate is non-negotiable, coarse gravel injures mouth tissue
- Jumps during stress, use a lid or tight-fitting cover
- Can uproot plants by sifting around roots constantly
- Breeding pairs become territorial and may harass tankmates
- Very sensitive to nitrates and poor water quality.
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