Not furry, but we like them anyway.
Demon Eartheater
Satanoperca jurupari (Heckel, 1840)
Also called Jurupari, Jurupari eartheater, Geophagus jurupari (former name)
From South America: much of the Amazon basin in Brazil, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia and Bolivia, plus French Guiana and the Araguari in north-eastern Brazil.12
At a glance the quick version
Looks how to spot one
Elongated eartheater cichlid
A long-bodied cichlid with a sloping, horse-like face and a mouth built for sifting sand. Females stay slightly smaller than males.2
Personality what they are like
Calm and gregarious outside the breeding season, getting more assertive only when spawning.23
Daily activity how busy a day looks
Busy bottom dweller that spends the day scooping and sifting sand; needs a big, open sandy floor.23
Grooming and care the hands-on bits
Use soft, fine sand so it can sift naturally, and offer several small meals a day.2
Home where they are happiest
Tropical water of about 24 to 28 C, pH roughly 5.5 to 7.5 and soft to medium (2-12 dGH); a large tank with a base of about 210 x 60 cm for a group.21
Food basics what goes in the bowl
Sifts the bottom for small invertebrates, insect larvae, seeds and plant matter; give fine sinking foods, bloodworm, Artemia and vegetable-based foods.21
Company who they like around
Keep in a group of about 5 to 8; good with other peaceful fish that like soft, acidic water.2
The story where it all began
Heckel described the species in 1840 and it was long placed in Geophagus. It is now in Satanoperca and is a well-established fish in the aquarium trade.132
Fun facts for the dinner table
- 1
Satanoperca means 'Satan perch', and jurupari is a Tupi name linked to a forest spirit in local belief.2
- 2
It takes mouthfuls of sand and sorts out food inside its mouth before letting the sand out again.3
- 3
Mothers carry the eggs in their mouths, and the young keep sheltering there for weeks afterwards.1
- 4
Young fish can anchor themselves inside the parent's mouth using a special gland.1
Recognised by the official bits
- IUCN Red List
- Least Concern (assessed 21 November 2020)1
- Taxonomy
- Described by Heckel in 1840; tribe Geophagini, family Cichlidae; populations from different rivers may be separate species2
The care rhythm Furry Diary remembers it for you
A typical home-care rhythm for a Demon Eartheater. It is our own starting plan, not a vet's advice, and you can change every line in the app.
- FeedingSmall amounts once or twice a dayevery day
- Temperature checkevery day
- Water changeAbout 25% of the waterevery week
- Water testevery week
- Glass cleanevery week
- Filter rinseRinse in old tank water, never tap waterevery month
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The breed atlas is free for everyone, with a source on every fact, and it will never show ads. If it helped you, a small tip keeps the research going. Any amount is lovely, and no is a perfectly fine answer too.
Where this comes from
Every breed page shows where each fact comes from. If we got something wrong, sorry, we are pet people, not a science magazine. Tell us at [email protected] and we will fix it.
- FishBase: Satanoperca jurupari fishbase.seused for distribution, size, water parameters, IUCN, breeding
- Seriously Fish: Satanoperca jurupari seriouslyfish.comused for habitat, size, tank size, water, diet, behaviour, etymology, taxonomy
- Wikipedia: Satanoperca jurupari en.wikipedia.orgused for size, feeding method, breeding, behaviour
Checked 2026-09-30. Text is written in our own words from these sources.