GENUSSatanoperca, Günther 1862
Satanoperca was before included in Geophagus by Gosse in 1976, but rehabilitated by Kullander in 1986. And I guess the one of the Satanoperca we have had most of the time in our aquariums have been Satanoperca jurupari. Aquarist have seen, that we have had at least two different S. jurupari types in our aquariums. But, since we did not have any other name we call them both or the types we kept for S. jurupari. It was not untill Dr. Kullander in 1986 rehabilitated the name Satanoperca we was aware of that there was at least two different Satanoperca. Satanoperca leucosticta. Photo Jørgen Jørgensen I will start with Satanoperca leucosticta, and I will recommend you to read the description of the fish in the book "The Cichlids of Surinam, Kullander & Nijssen, 1989". It's not only a good book, but even I as a amateur could get plenty information. So if you look for scientific information (new) about Satanoperca leucosticta you'll find it here. So I it will save me some time and writing too. The fish is found in Surinam,and probably also in British Guiana, Demerara. Satanoperca is found in collection from French Guiana, (Kullander & Nijssen, 1989) but this fish is more similar to S. jurupari than to S. leucosticta. There is some simple marks we can see, if we're keeping S. leucosticta or S. jurupari. Satanoperca leucosticta is distinguised from all other Satanoperca species by absence of dark blotches on the sides, preorbital, cheeck and gill cover with numerous small whitish dots. There is some other differences too, but then you have to have some dead speciemen. (Kullander & Nijssen, 1989). The fish spawne as a substrate spawner and takes the egg in the mouth after about twentyfour hours. I keep my fish at around 26*C. and I feed the fish with all kind of food, peas, shrimps, earthworms, mosquito larves, and also flake food, Tetra bits and sticks. I have found out that these fishes is not fuzzy about the food. But, one thing is very, very important. And that is a good water quality. I change the half amount of the water in the tank every week. If I don't do this, I'll get problems. And I have learn the hard way, thinking of these rather "large" fish can go in a tank without changing water. I had a large external filter, this should do the cleaning. But, we all know (not all of us, I'm afraid) that clear water is not necessaary clean water. So, changing water is more important than a large filter. Think about the natural evironment to the fish, most of the fish lives in rivers. So what, you're probably thinking. Think again. Even when it's dry season, most of the rivers carrys water, it's a constantly water flow, or in our terms, a constant change of water. If you would like to copy this, then the water should be comming into your tank in one end, and out in the other. Then you need a large hotwater tank, if your are not living in the tropical zone. Well, I don't. I could, if I did not have anything else to do, change some of the water every day. This would be close to perfect, but I'm a little bit "lazy", and even if I want too, I can't, because I need to do somethings else too. I'm married, have house and kids, and I have to go to work every day. So, it's ending up to change water onece a week. But, my fish seems to be happy, and it has been a long time since I last had hole-in-the head disease. Satanoperca daemon. Photo Alf Stalsberg You can reach me by e-mail at: alf.stalsberg@c2i.net |
