HomeFreshwater aquarium fishSouth & Central American cichlidsDemon eartheater Demon eartheater (Satanoperca jurupari) Scientific name: Satanoperca jurupari Heckel, 1840 The Demon eartheater (Satanoperca jurupari) is a freshwater fish of the family Cichlidae that grows to about 25 cm (9.8 in). It is moderate to keep and peaceful and needs a tank of at least 210 L (55 US gal), water at 23–28°C (73–82°F) and a pH of 6.3–7.0. Native range: South America, Amazon River basin, from Peru, Ecuador and Colombia to the mouth of Amazon River, in Amap? (Brazil), and eastern French Guiana. . Demon eartheater care at a glanceCare levelModerateTemperamentPeacefulAdult size25 cm (9.8 in)Minimum tank210 L (55 US gal)Temperature23–28°C (73–82°F)pH6.3–7.0Hardness5–10 dGH (89–178 ppm)DietOmnivore. Accepts flakes, pellets, live foods and vegetables. BiologyTypical of quiet water, occurring in freshwaters of estuaries and coastal swamps. Digs into the muddy substrate looking for food which includes fruit seeds, crustaceans and insects. Maximum length 25 cm TL.Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0. Species factsScientific nameSatanoperca jurupariFamilyCichlidae (Cichlids)OrderPerciformes (Perch-like fish)ClassActinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)Maximum length18.5EnvironmentFreshwater;; pH range: 6.3 - 7.0; dH range: 5 - 10 benthopelagicClimateTropicalDistributionSouth America: Amazon River basin, from Peru, Ecuador and Colombia to the mouth of Amazon River in Brazil, in Amap? (Brazil), and eastern French Guiana, also in the Bolivian Amazon drainage except the Guapor? River.Conservation status (IUCN)Not EvaluatedThreat to humansHarmlessUsesFisheries: minor commercial; aquarium: commercialResilienceHigh, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (Preliminary K or Fecundity.) More south & central american cichlidsGoldeneye cichlidNannacara anomalaRed discusSymphysodon discusUaruUaru amphiacanthoidesUmbrella cichlidApistogramma borelliiFlag acaraLaetacara curvicepsRedbreast acaraLaetacara dorsigeraSee all south & central american cichlids Can it live with...?Demon eartheater and Cockatoo cichlidDemon eartheater and Flag acaraDemon eartheater and Goldeneye cichlidDemon eartheater and Green terrorDemon eartheater and Ram cichlidDemon eartheater and Red discusDemon eartheater and Redbreast acaraDemon eartheater and Redhump eartheaterDemon eartheater and Threespot eartheaterDemon eartheater and UaruDemon eartheater and Umbrella cichlid SourcesTaxonomy, distribution and biology data: FishBase (Froese, R. and D. Pauly, eds.), licensed CC BY-NC 4.0. Aquarium care parameters compiled, checked and converted to metric and imperial units by Guppies.za.net.Last updated 28 September 2026