Uaru

Uaru amphiacanthoides

Animalia›Chordata›Actinopterygii›Cichliformes›Cichlidae

📍 Amazon Basin, Brazil & Venezuela

Large, regal cichlid with a triangle-shaped black patch on the flank. Requires very soft, warm, and clean water. Fry feed on a specialized mucus secreted from the parents' skin — a rare trait among fish.

Size10"

Min Tank75g

peaceful

Zonemid

Care Guide

Diet

Uaru are primarily herbivorous omnivores that require a diet rich in vegetable matter. Feed high-quality spirulina-based flakes, algae wafers, and blanched vegetables (spinach, zucchini, cucumber) once daily. Supplement occasionally with small amounts of frozen foods like bloodworms or brine shrimp to provide variety and essential nutrients.

Behavior

Uaru are peaceful, somewhat shy cichlids that spend much of their time in mid-water zones grazing on plants and substrate. They are social fish that do best in pairs or small groups and exhibit minimal aggression toward non-cichlid tankmates. These fish are known for their distinctive triangular black flank patch and regal bearing, though they can be skittish in bare tanks.

Breeding

Breeding Uaru in captivity is extremely difficult and rarely successful in home aquariums. They are monogamous pair-spawners that require pristine water conditions, soft acidic water (pH 5.5-6.0), and significant space. Fry are fed exclusively on parental skin mucus for the first weeks—a specialized trait that makes rearing nearly impossible without expert knowledge and ideal conditions.

Tank Mates

Cardinal Tetra

Small, peaceful schooling fish that thrive in soft, acidic water matching Uaru requirements

excellent

Otocinclus

Peaceful algae eaters that share identical water chemistry needs and won't compete with herbivorous Uaru

excellent

Rummy Nose Tetra

Schooling fish requiring soft, acidic water; peaceful and won't harass Uaru

excellent

Bristlenose Pleco

Herbivorous bottom-feeder that shares vegetable-based diet preferences and soft water tolerance

good

Common Diseases

Ich (White Spot Disease)

Symptoms

White spots on body and fins, rapid breathing, flashing against objects, lethargy

Treatment

Raise temperature gradually to 28-30°C, perform 25% water changes daily, use aquarium salt (1 tsp per 5 gallons) or ich-specific medication; maintain excellent water quality

Fin Rot

Symptoms

Frayed or deteriorating fin edges, discoloration at fin bases, progressive fin loss

Treatment

Perform frequent partial water changes to improve water quality, remove any sharp tank décor, treat with antibacterial medication if severe; ensure pH and temperature stability

Bacterial Infection

Symptoms

Open sores, cloudy eyes, loss of appetite, color fading, torn fins

Treatment

Isolate affected fish in quarantine tank, perform daily 50% water changes, treat with broad-spectrum antibiotic medication; maintain pristine water conditions

Hole-in-the-Head Disease

Symptoms

Small holes or pits developing on head and lateral line, loss of appetite, lethargy

Treatment

Perform frequent large water changes, improve diet with quality foods and vegetables, use metronidazole-based treatment; ensure water quality and avoid poor nutrition