Demon Eartheater - spotted face
Satanoperca leucosticta
The splendid 'Spotted Face Satanoperca' (25 cm). For years this species has been mistakenly marketed under the name of its cousin "Jurupari". It shares with the Jurupari the same formidable hydrochemical tolerance, imposing size and absolutely peaceful nature. The Leucosticta elevates itself with a significantly brighter livery, dominated by a mask of luminous spots on the face.
Water Temperature
27 - 29 °C
pH Value
6 - 7
Water type
Freshwater
Tank level
Bottom
Adult size
25 cm
Minimum tank volume
>= 300 L
Minimum group
>= 1
GH
2 - 10 dGH
KH
1 - 5 dKH
TDS
40 - 200 ppm
Conductivity
63 - 313 uS/cm
Species description
Geographic Origin and Biotope: FishBase records Satanoperca leucosticta as tropical, freshwater and benthopelagic, at 27 °C–30 °C. This recovery does not state a geographic range.
Taxonomy and Morphology: FishBase records a maximum length of 15.0 cm SL.
Social Behaviour: FishBase records the species as a mouthbrooder.
Colouration and Sexual Dimorphism: This recovery makes no statement about colouration or sexual dimorphism.
Care, breeding and tankmates
Verified data (FishBase): Satanoperca leucosticta is a tropical freshwater, benthopelagic fish recorded at 27°C–30°C. FishBase lists it as a mouth breeder.
Geographic Origin and Distribution
This species originates from: Sud America (Guyana ed Essequibo).
Origin
Amazon, Orinoco, and GuianasCentral America and Caribbean
Fish profile
- Temperament
- Semi-aggressive
- They are incredibly peaceful, even slightly skittish. They are completely unbothered by other species. Their calm nature makes them excellent community fish.
- Diet
- Omnivore
- They need fine sand to sift for their omnivorous diet. Provide high-quality sinking cichlid pellets and frozen invertebrates. Vegetable matter can be supplemented occasionally.
- Life expectancy
- 8-12 years
- This species has an average lifespan of 8 to 12 years when kept in excellent environmental conditions. Clean water, guaranteed by regular partial water changes and proper filtration, is the main key to promoting its long-term health. Correct dietary management and minimal tank competition prevent the onset of debilitating diseases.
- Adult size
- 25 cm
- The catalog's scalar value is 25 cm. The FishBase SPECIES table (v25.04 snapshot) source reports a maximum adult measurement of 15 cm for this species, recorded as standard length (SL). The taxonomic record consulted is Satanoperca leucosticta (v25.04); male or unsexed record. These figures are not interchangeable: the first is the profile's editorial reference, whereas the second is a published maximum under a specific measurement convention; differences among sources can reflect sex, population, life stage and measuring method.
- Sex ratio
- Solitary
- Maintain them in groups of 6 or more for optimal social behavior. Aggression is distributed evenly within the group. They are very gregarious and stressed if kept singly.
- Feeding frequency
- Twice daily
- Feed two to three times a day to satisfy their constant foraging habit. Only feed what they can consume in a few minutes. Heavy feedings can quickly degrade water quality.
- Bioload
- They have a high bioload and constantly stir up the substrate. Over-filtration is highly recommended to keep the water clear. Strict adherence to weekly water changes is mandatory.
- Flow
- Stagnant
- They prefer slow to moderate water movement. Strong flow will blow the fine sand around, which is undesirable. Keep the environment tranquil and stable.
- Reproduction
- Oviparous
- They are ovophilic mouthbrooders, picking up eggs immediately after spawning. The female will carry the eggs and fry for weeks. Breeding requires excellent water conditions and a high-protein diet.
- Compatibility & tankmates
- They are very peaceful and do perfectly well in a biotope community setup. Keep with medium-sized tetras, peaceful catfish, and other non-aggressive cichlids. They will not bother plants but may uproot them while sifting.
- Tank level
- Bottom
- They inhabit the bottom zone of the aquarium exclusively. They are constantly moving sand through their gills. Provide plenty of open sandy areas for them.
Scientific Parameters & Models
FishBase
Window to the official scientific data of the species
Data synced on: 06/15/2026
- Trophic level
- 3.4 ± 0.46 se
- Resilience
- High (less than 15 months)
- Phylogenetic uniqueness (PD50)
- 0.5039
- Bayesian Length-Weight
- a = 0.02399, b = 3.01
- VulnerabilityLow vulnerability (10 / 100)
Image gallery
Licensed images linked to the species or, when marked, to the closest representative taxon.
Related species
Recommendations grouped by close relatives, companion choices, and similar care.
