Photo: Herbisius, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Uaru
Uaru amphiacanthoides
25.5 cm
Adult size
500 L
Minimum volume
4
Minimum group
12 years
Lifespan
Water parameters
Understand these values- Genus
- Uaru
- Diet
- herbivore and omnivore
- Social life
- small group
In the wild
Overview
This large South American cichlid is surprisingly peaceful for its size. It needs clean, well-filtered and rather warm water. In the wild it eats a lot of plant matter, invertebrates and even freshwater sponges; trials in captivity show it to be mainly herbivorous.
- Scientific name
- Uaru amphiacanthoides Heckel, 1840
- Classification
- Cichliformes › Cichlidae
- IUCN Red List
- Least concern (LC)
Natural habitat
Amazon basin: middle and lower Rio Negro, and Solimões–Amazon from the Japurá to the Tapajós
Observations (GBIF) and localities Native countries Rivers and lakes
It lives in clear-water tributaries, often near submerged branches or roots, at a pH of around 6.8.
Behaviour
It can live with smaller fish such as tetras. Ideal companions: angelfish (P. altum and P. scalare), severums, eartheaters, Satanoperca and large characins (Anostomidae, Prochilodus, Metynnis), which must tolerate warm water. Avoid overly aggressive fish. It does well in a pair or group. Plenty of plant matter, with worms, crustaceans and insects.
Sources:FishBase Seriously Fish GBIF · Base map: Natural Earth