Whitespot Eartheater - (Satanoperca leucosticta)

🐟 Whitespot Eartheater - (Satanoperca leucosticta) – Peaceful South American Cichlid

The Whitespot Eartheater (Satanoperca leucosticta) is a peaceful and elegant South American cichlid named for its unique feeding behavior of sifting through the substrate for food. Its shimmering silver body is adorned with tiny white speckles that resemble stars, creating a stunning visual effect in the aquarium. This species is known for its calm demeanor, making it an excellent choice for community tanks with other peaceful fish.

Native to slow-moving rivers and floodplains, the Whitespot Eartheater thrives in aquariums with sandy substrates, gentle water flow, and plenty of open swimming space. It does best in groups and will reward keepers with its graceful swimming and natural foraging behavior.

🔎 Quick Facts – Whitespot Eartheater

• 📛 Common Name: Whitespot Eartheater
• 🔬 Scientific Name: Satanoperca leucosticta
• 🌍 Origin: South America (Guyana, Venezuela, Brazil)
• 🎨 Appearance: Silver body covered with fine white speckles, elongated fins
• 📏 Max Size: 8–10 inches (20–25 cm)
• 💎 Availability: Occasionally available; popular among cichlid keepers

😇 Behavior & Temperament

• 🤝 Peaceful for a cichlid; great in community setups
• 🐟 Best kept in groups of 5 or more
• 🌿 Constantly sifts sand for food
• ⚔️ Not aggressive except during breeding

🏠 Aquarium & Tank Requirements

• 📦 Minimum Tank Size: 75+ gallons
• 🏖️ Sandy substrate to allow natural foraging
• 🪵 Driftwood, rocks, and open swimming areas
• 🌊 Gentle water flow with good filtration

💧 Water Parameters

• 🌡️ Temperature: 76–82°F (24–28°C)
• ⚗️ pH: 6.0–7.5
• 💧 Hardness: Soft to moderately hard

🍽️ Diet – Omnivorous

• 🐟 High-quality sinking pellets and granules
• 🦐 Frozen or live foods like bloodworms, brine shrimp, mysis shrimp
• 🌽 Vegetables such as blanched spinach or peas

📋 Overview Table

✨ Highlight:
The Whitespot Eartheater is a gentle, substrate-sifting cichlid with shimmering white speckles, perfect for adding beauty and tranquility to a large, well-aquascaped aquarium.