Threespot eartheater
Satanoperca daemon
Parameter dashboard
24-28 °C
3.5-6
25 cm
8 years
Care guide
Satanoperca daemon, known as the Threespot Eartheater, is a large, gregarious cichlid from the upper Orinoco basin in Venezuela and Colombia, where it inhabits acidic, mineral-poor blackwater environments with tannin-stained water. Adults reach a standard length of 20–25 cm and require a very large aquarium with a base of at least 210 × 60 cm to accommodate both their size and social structure. Water conditions must be soft and acidic, with a pH of 3.5–6.0, temperatures of 24–28 °C, and negligible hardness of 18–90 ppm. A soft, sandy substrate is essential, as the species feeds benthophagously by taking mouthfuls of substrate and sifting edible items — coarse gravel can damage the gills or cause internal blockages. Additional furnishings should include driftwood, scattered roots, and dim lighting. S. daemon is surprisingly peaceful for a cichlid of its size and will not predate on fishes larger than a few millimetres. It is gregarious and should be maintained in groups of 5–8 individuals to establish a natural dominance hierarchy. Suitable tankmates include other peaceful species thriving in soft, acidic conditions such as small characins and other South American cichlids. The species accepts a varied diet of high-quality sinking pellets, live and frozen foods. Breeding pairs become temporarily territorial. The sexes are difficult to distinguish externally.
Source
Further reading on identification and aquarium care.
Tankmate compatibility (sample)
Pairwise screening against other species in the database (prioritizing the same family when data is available).
Review first (12)
Caution or avoid from automated rules — confirm before mixing.
| Species | Assessment | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Blue acara Andinoacara pulcher Caution | Caution | Species with non-overlapping pH ranges may not thrive together · close relatives, and one of them is territorial, so both claim the same kind of space Open pair in Compare → |
| Demon eartheater Satanoperca jurupari Caution | Caution | Multiple territorial species in the same swim layer cause stress · close relatives, and one of them is territorial, so both claim the same kind of space Open pair in Compare → |
| Firemouth cichlid Thorichthys meeki Caution | Caution | Fish 2x+ larger may eat smaller tankmates · Multiple territorial species in the same swim layer cause stress · Species with non-overlapping pH ranges may not thrive together · close relatives, and one of them is territorial, so both claim the same kind of space Open pair in Compare → |
| Gold severum Heros efasciatus Caution | Caution | close relatives, and one of them is territorial, so both claim the same kind of space Open pair in Compare → |
| Haitian cichlid Nandopsis haitiensis Caution | Caution | Multiple territorial species in the same swim layer cause stress · Species with non-overlapping pH ranges may not thrive together · close relatives, and one of them is territorial, so both claim the same kind of space Open pair in Compare → |
| Jack Dempsey Rocio octofasciata Caution | Caution | Multiple territorial species in the same swim layer cause stress · Species with non-overlapping pH ranges may not thrive together · close relatives, and one of them is territorial, so both claim the same kind of space Open pair in Compare → |
| Mendezs Dwarf Cichlid Apistogramma mendezi Caution | Caution | Fish 2x+ larger may eat smaller tankmates · Multiple territorial species in the same swim layer cause stress · close relatives, and one of them is territorial, so both claim the same kind of space Open pair in Compare → |
| Multies Neolamprologus multifasciatus Caution | Caution | Fish 2x+ larger may eat smaller tankmates · Species with non-overlapping pH ranges may not thrive together · close relatives, and one of them is territorial, so both claim the same kind of space Open pair in Compare → |
| Princess of Burundi Neolamprologus brichardi Caution | Caution | Fish 2x+ larger may eat smaller tankmates · Species with non-overlapping pH ranges may not thrive together · close relatives, and one of them is territorial, so both claim the same kind of space Open pair in Compare → |
| Ram cichlid Mikrogeophagus ramirezi Caution | Caution | Fish 2x+ larger may eat smaller tankmates · the two share only a narrow band of temperature, so one of them sits at the edge of its range · close relatives, and one of them is territorial, so both claim the same kind of space Open pair in Compare → |
| Rio Grande cichlid Herichthys cyanoguttatus Caution | Caution | Species with non-overlapping pH ranges may not thrive together · close relatives, and one of them is territorial, so both claim the same kind of space Open pair in Compare → |
| Temporaris Shell Dweller Telmatochromis temporalis Caution | Caution | Fish 2x+ larger may eat smaller tankmates · Species with non-overlapping pH ranges may not thrive together · close relatives, and one of them is territorial, so both claim the same kind of space Open pair in Compare → |
Same rule engine as Compare. Not a substitute for observation, tank size, or acclimation.
Related species
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