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Sharphead Eartheater

Satanoperca acuticeps

Freshwater South America

The sharphead eartheater is an exquisite, delicate cichlid displaying three distinct dark lateral blotches and a pointed snout. Like other eartheaters, it continually filters the substrate for small food items. It demands pristine, warm, acidic blackwater conditions alongside fine silica sand; coarse gravel impairs its feeding and erodes its gill filaments.

15 cm adult length, drawn to scale. deep body.

Try it in the planner Opens a tank sized to its minimum with 5 fish added.

What it needs

ItemValueBecause
Adult length 15 cm Used for the Space check: the tank must be long enough for the fish to turn round.
Smallest tank 350 L, at least 120 cm long estimated The least water and floor length this species is kept in for good, as a single fish or smallest group.
Extra water per added fish 40 L estimated What each further fish adds once the minimum is met.
Waste load Class 3 of 5 estimated How much waste an adult makes against its size. Feeds the Load check.
Temperature 26 to 30 C Stock sharing a tank need overlapping ranges.
pH 5.5 to 6.8 Compared with tankmates in the Water check.
Hardness GH 2 to 8, KH 1 to 4 Degrees of general and carbonate hardness.
Flow Low Low-flow fish are stressed in a strong current.
Light Dim Matched to the lighting class on the needs sheet.
Group size At least 5, ideally 7 Kept alone or in small numbers it hides, fades or turns on tankmates.
Temperament Peaceful Territorial: weak.
Swims in Near the bottom Fish that use different levels share a tank more easily.
Lifespan About 9 years A fish is a long commitment.
Experience Experienced keepers only A guide to how forgiving the species is of mistakes.

Tags marked estimated are judged from the size and habits of the species rather than measured, so treat them as a sensible default.

Diet and tank layout

Sharphead Eartheater is an omnivore that swims in the lowest part of the tank. It leaves most plants alone. Give it plenty of cover. It digs, so anchor plants and keep hard rock off loose sand.

Tankmates

Works with

No close matches in the data. Check the pair tool.

Depends

Avoid

Compare any two fish on the compatibility page, or print the equipment for a stock on the needs sheet. How this is worked out: the method.