Uaru cichlid

fish description – Uaru Cichlid Care Guide ($Uaru\ amphiacanthoides$)

Category	Detail
Scientific Name	$Uaru\ amphiacanthoides$
Common Name	Uaru Cichlid, Triangle Cichlid, Premium Uaru
Origin	Amazon River Basin (Brazil, Guyana, Peru)
Adult Size	10–12 inches (25–30 cm)
Temperament	Peaceful but shy; territorial only when breeding
Lifespan	8–12 years
Care Level	Advanced (Sensitive to water quality; challenging diet)

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Appearance and Sexual Differences

 

• Short Description: A deep-bodied, laterally compressed cichlid that is often likened to the shape of Discus or Severums. Juveniles are mottled with white spots, but adults typically develop a warm brown/olive color with a distinctive, large black tear-drop blotch on the flanks. They have large, intelligent eyes.
• Coloration: Adults are generally olive-brown with a large black lateral blotch. Juveniles have a cryptic, spotted pattern that disappears with age. Sexing is very difficult outside of spawning; males are usually slightly larger and may have more pointed fins.
• Fins: Large, proportional dorsal and anal fins.
• Behavior: A gregarious and somewhat shy fish that should be kept in a group to feel secure. They are peaceful toward most fish but are enthusiastic plant-eaters and diggers. Parents are known to secrete a nourishing mucus slime that their fry graze on for the first few weeks.

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Tank Requirements and Water Parameters

 

• Minimum Tank Size: 75 gallons is the minimum for a pair; a 125-gallon tank or larger is necessary for a group of adults or a community setting. The tank should be long and wide.
• Schooling: Best kept in a social group of at least 4–6 individuals to reduce timidity and encourage natural behavior.
• Temperature: High Tropical range: $78^\circ$–$86^\circ\text{F}\ (26^\circ$–$30^\circ\mathrm{C})$. High temperature and stability are crucial.
• pH Level: Soft and acidic conditions are crucial: 5.5 to 7.0. They are highly susceptible to poor water quality and diseases like Hole-in-the-Head (HITH), requiring pristine water, strong filtration, and frequent water changes (20–30% weekly).
• Aquascape: Requires a dark, fine sand substrate (they are diggers). Provide vertical driftwood and roots, and secure rockwork to offer cover. Avoid delicate live plants as they will be eaten; use only robust species (Anubias, Java Fern) tied to decor, or use artificial plants. Dim lighting is preferred.

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Diet and Feeding

 

The Uaru Cichlid is a herbivorous/omnivorous fish with a strong demand for plant matter.

• Staple Diet: The diet must be high in vegetable matter. Use high-quality spirulina flakes/pellets and sinking foods.
• Supplementation: Must receive frequent servings of blanched fresh vegetables (lettuce, spinach, zucchini, cucumber, peas). Supplement with frozen foods (bloodworms, brine shrimp) but avoid excessive protein, which can cause bloat.
• Schedule: Feed small portions 2–3 times a day to satisfy their constant grazing needs.

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Compatibility

 

• Caution: Will consume soft-leaved live plants. They are sensitive and should not be housed with aggressive or overly boisterous fish. They will eat fish small enough to fit in their mouths.
• Good Tank Mates: Peaceful to moderately aggressive large South American cichlids and characins that tolerate soft, warm, acidic water. Examples include Discus (if kept at proper temperature), Angelfish (large), Severums, Geophagus species, and peaceful L-number Plecos or Corydoras (large species).