Eartheater

About

Found in the blackwater and clearwater rivers of Guyana and Suriname, this eartheater cichlid, Satanoperca leucosticta, is one of the more accessible members of its genus and a genuinely rewarding fish once you understand its social needs. It's most easily identified by the distinctive white spots and worm-like markings on the sides of the head, a feature that separates it from the closely related and frequently confused S. jurupari, which lacks those markings. Despite its genus name invoking something sinister, this fish is quite peaceable outside of breeding periods and poses no threat to tankmates of any reasonable size. The catch is that it needs to be kept in a group, ideally five to eight individuals. Kept in smaller numbers, dominant fish tend to bully weaker ones or the group simply never settles. Like most eartheaters, it will sift through soft substrate constantly, so a sandy bottom is a practical necessity. Breeding is fascinating, with the female brooding larvae in her mouth for roughly a week after hatching. Sexing is difficult, so starting with a group and letting pairs form naturally is the sensible approach. Wild-type spawning behavior can vary across different regional forms, and there's still genuine taxonomic uncertainty around some of the populations available in the trade.