Green Horse Face (Satanoperca Leucosticta)
Green Horse Face (Satanoperca Leucosticta)
Green Horseface
Satanoperca Leucosticta
A popular and commonly traded species of earth eater, Green Horsefaces attain a manageable size whilst having a relatively peaceful temperament, like many eartheaters.
Locale: Much of South America such as Venezuela, Suriname, Guyana and Brazil - found in slow moving sandy river sections heavily scattered with wood and leaf/seed detritus.
Fun fact: The genus Satanoperca, translates roughly to Devil Perch, a name coined due to the first Satanoperca being collected from a cave pool at the end of a river branch, the scientists described them as ‘Devils’ as they came from a water body that was underground.
Care:
Care difficulty - Intermediate
Temperament - Semi-aggressive, best kept with other similarly sized eartheaters, relatively peaceful for a cichlid
Adult size - 24-26cm
Diet - Omnivorous; These fish pass sand through their mouth and out thorough the gill slits, separating any microorganisms from the sand in the process. Best fed a staple diet of small pellets and wafers, with high protein foods as a dietary supplement once or twice a fortnight
Habitat - A sandy substrate coupled with small rocks and larger driftwood is an easy way to replicate the natural environment, adding some leaf litter and botanicals is also beneficial.
Optimal Water Parameters:
Temperature: 24-28°c
pH: 5.5-7.0
GH: 3-10
KH: 1-3
Fish size, sex, exact colour and patterning may vary from photo.