Jurupari Eartheater (Satanoperca jurupari) Care Guide
Satanoperca jurupari is a peaceful sand-sifting eartheater cichlid from the Amazon basin, reaching about 15-18 cm standard length.
Compiled by Aquairi from published sources · Published · Updated
Overview
Satanoperca jurupari is an eartheater cichlid of the family Cichlidae. According to Seriously Fish it reaches 150-185 mm standard length and is one of the most widely kept members of the genus. Wikipedia notes that Satanoperca are sand-sifters that pick up mouthfuls of substrate to extract food items.
Taxonomy
- Family: Cichlidae
- Genus: Satanoperca
- Scientific name: Satanoperca jurupari
Habitat
Seriously Fish records S. jurupari from the Amazon basin across Brazil, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador and Colombia, with a type locality at the mouth of the Rio Negro. It inhabits main river channels, tributaries and floodplain lakes over sandy or muddy substrates with leaf litter and submerged branches. Seriously Fish notes that S. jurupari represents a species complex, with several populations possibly forming distinct taxa.
Tank requirements
- Minimum tank volume: 350 L
- Temperature: 25-30 °C (77-86 °F)
- pH: 5.0-7.0
- GH: 2-8 °dGH
- Group size: 5 or more individuals
- Lifespan: 8-12 years
Diet
Seriously Fish describes S. jurupari as a benthophagic substrate sifter that consumes small invertebrates such as cladocerans, ostracods and chironomid larvae, alongside plant material and detritus. In aquaria it accepts fine-grade prepared foods and small frozen foods including bloodworm, Tubifex and Artemia, fed in three to four daily portions.
Compatibility
Seriously Fish describes the species as peaceful except when breeding, gregarious and forming dominance hierarchies; groups of five to eight individuals are recommended. The KB record lists severum, festivum, discus, angelfish and bristlenose pleco as compatible, while aggressive cichlids and very small tetras are best avoided.
Breeding
According to Seriously Fish, S. jurupari is an ovophilous maternal mouthbrooder. Pairs form territories around driftwood, and the female collects the fertilised eggs into her mouth. Fry accept powdered foods and Artemia nauplii once free-swimming.
Satanoperca jurupari Breeding Guide
Overview
Satanoperca jurupari is a peaceful eartheater from the Amazon basin that constantly sifts sand. According to Seriously Fish it is an ovophilous maternal mouthbrooder that has been bred in aquaria: the female immediately collects the fertilised eggs in small batches and eventually carries several hundred. The species record lists it as a biparental mouthbrooder, but the source describes a maternally dominated, female-mouthbrooding strategy with the male typically ejected after spawning; this guide follows the source.
Sexing
Accurate sexing is very difficult. Adult females tend to grow slightly smaller than males and become deeper-bodied when gravid, but the safest route is to grow on a group and let pairs form. Sexual maturity takes at least a year, often two or more.
Conditioning
No specific environmental trigger exists. The requirements are a good diet and a stringent maintenance regime involving relatively large weekly water changes.
Breeding Setup
- Soft sand with driftwood and flat surfaces; a large aquarium with a base of about 210 × 60 cm
- Temperature: 20-28 °C (Seriously Fish range)
- pH: 5.5-7.5 (Seriously Fish)
- Hardness: 36-215 ppm (Seriously Fish)
- Relatively large weekly water changes
Spawning Behavior & Trigger
The male initiates courtship and paired individuals establish a territory around objects such as driftwood. Gravid females are courted, and when a pair forms they may defend the territory together for a few days before spawning. The female is typically ejected after spawning, though some males show extended brood care. No particular trigger is needed.
Egg & Fry Care
The female picks up fertilised eggs in small batches until she is carrying several hundred. Once the fry are free-swimming they readily accept good-quality powdered dry foods, Artemia nauplii and microworm. In community tanks the brooding female should be removed because the fry become vulnerable to predation.
Common Challenges
Sexing is unreliable and maturity is slow, so a group is needed to obtain a breeding pair. The species needs a very large footprint and soft, clean water; community predation pressure makes isolating the brooding female advisable for raising fry.