Deep beath the roots and blackwaters of this aquarium, we’re diving into the mighty Rio Atabapo. This river, which splits the borders between Colombia and Venezuela, is known to the aquarium trade for iconic fish such as the panda uaru and the altum angel. The river also plays a vital role in the livelihoods of many native people, rich in its biodiversity.
The 'good' whitespot
The focus of this tank is on a duo of whitespot eartheater, Satanoperca leucosticta, often confused with the similar demon cichlid, Satanoperca jurupari. Parting from the wider umbrella of eartheaters, the Satanoperca differ from the well-known Geophagus with their more elongated bodies, as well as different fin lengths and mouth structures. However, they do share the Geophagus propensity for digging, turning sandy tanks into lunar…
