Cichlid Profiles - Uaru amphicanthoides

[robertprice]

The Uaru has been kept in Germany since 1913, but is seldom seen in the USA. It is similar in shape to a Discus, but is slightly more oval and elongated. The base color is silvery gray to olive green, with a large black tear drop in the center of the body pointing to the back, a black spot on the caudal peduncle, another below the eye, and another over the pectoral fin. They get 10 inches long and almost as tall. It is common food fish, especially in the Amazon. their range is from the Orinoco to Amazon Rivers, where it is found in acid (ph as low as 5.5) black water and white water. It likes warm water, about 81-83 degrees. They can live at neutral pH and down to 75 degrees though. They are mid-level swimmers.

Uaru are omnivores that eat small crustaceans, insects, worms, and plants, and sift bottom sands for detritus. A pair can be kept in a 55 gallon tank, with rock hides and plants. They should be fed bloodworms., brine shrimp, pellets, and algae wafers, as well as blanched lettuce and other greens, fruits, and parboiled zucchini. This will help keept the amount of plant damage they do down. Feed them 2-3 times a day. Otherwise, they will eat aquarium plants down to the roots. They still like to hide in dense plants. They like subdued light and floating plants. They are good tankmates for other midly aggressive cichlids.

In breeding season their color changes to all black with a copper colored eye. The males and females are very difficult to tell apart. They lay 100-400 eggs on flat surfaces, and are good parents until the fry are free swimming. To get a pair it is advised to raise a bunch of fry together. See "Images of Uaru" for pictures.