All fish / Cichlidae

Uaru

Uaru amphiacanthoides

Also known as waroo, triangle cichlid, chocolate cichlid, uaru cichlid, triangle uaru, waroo cichlid, ウアル, 三角丽鱼, 黑云

The Uaru is a big, deep-bodied cichlid with a disc shape. Adults are golden brown to yellowish, with a large black triangular blotch on the flank and orange-red eyes. Keepers like it because it is a gentle giant that eats lots of plants and has plenty of character, and it suits big South American tanks alongside discus, angelfish and other calm cichlids.

Care at a glance

Care level

Moderate

Temperament

Semi

Adult size

25 cm

Temperature

26 to 31 °C

pH

5 to 7

Smallest tank

400 litres

Keep as

Group of 4 to 6 or more

Diet

Omnivore: mostly plant matter, so offer spirulina pellets, blanched greens such as spinach, lettuce and peas, plus some frozen and live foods

Swims

Middle of the tank

Lifespan

8 to 12 years

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

Amazon and Rio Negro basins, and Essequibo in Guyana; Brazil, Colombia, Guyana, Venezuela

Breeding

Pairs lay eggs on a flat rock or a piece of wood and both parents look after them. For the first few weeks the fry feed on mucus from the parents' skin, much like discus fry. Breeding in captivity happens but is not common, because you need a settled pair, a large tank and soft, acidic water.

Good to know

These fish grow large and are social, so they need a big tank with very clean, soft water. They will strip most live plants. Juveniles are spotted and look nothing like the adults, and the related Uaru fernandezyepezi is sometimes sold under the same name.