Why did my Uaru change colour so drastically?

Uaru undergo a dramatic ontogenetic (developmental) colour shift. Juveniles are dark and heavily mottled to camouflage against leaf litter. As they mature and become less vulnerable to predators, they develop their adult yellowish-olive colouration and the distinct black teardrop marking.

Can I keep Uaru in a planted aquarium?

It is highly unadvisable. Uaru are voracious herbivores with strong jaws designed to sheer through plant material. They will rapidly eat almost any aquatic plant, even tough species like Anubias or Java Fern.

Why do Uaru fry stay attached to the sides of their parents?

Like Discus, adult Uaru secrete a highly nutritious mucus from their skin when breeding. The fry feed exclusively on this slime coat for the first few weeks of their lives, and removing them from the parents too early will usually result in starvation.

Do Uaru need to be kept in a group?

Yes, they are highly gregarious fish. Keeping a single Uaru often leads to stress, shyness, and poor health. They thrive best in groups of four to six, which allows them to display their natural social behaviours.

What temperature should the water be for an Uaru?

Uaru require warm water, ideally between 27°C and 30°C. This makes them excellent tank mates for other warmth-loving Amazonian species, but unsuitable for fish that prefer cooler temperatures.

FreshwaterTropicalIntermediate

Uaru

Uaru amphiacanthoides

The Uaru is a large, intelligent, and relatively peaceful South American cichlid famed for its unique teardrop markings, dramatic juvenile-to-adult colour change, and fascinating parental care.

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Ideal Conditions

Temperature: 27 – 30 °C
pH range: 5.5 – 7
Hardness: 1 – 10 dGH
Adult size: 25 – 30 cm
Adult group: 400 litres+
Lifespan: 8 – 12 years
Diet: Omnivore (Primarily Herbivorous)
Water flow: low
Preferred setup: Soft sand, large pieces of smooth bogwood, and leaf litter. Live plants will be eaten.

About the Uaru

Often affectionately known as the 'Poor Man's Discus', the Uaru (Uaru amphiacanthoides) is anything but a poor relation. This chunky, oval-shaped cichlid hails from the warm, acidic waters of the Amazon basin. While juveniles sport a cryptic, mottled brown pattern designed to camouflage them among leaf litter, adults undergo a dramatic transformation. They develop a striking yellowish-brown to olive body dominated by a massive, dark teardrop-shaped patch on the flank. They are highly intelligent, social fish that thrive in groups, often displaying complex social hierarchies and forming deep bonds with their keepers.

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Is it right for your tank?

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Where Uaru comes from

Native range

Amazon River basin, Rio Solimões, Rio Negro

Countries / regions

Brazil, Guyana

Habitat

Clearwater and blackwater tributaries, often flooded forests with dense submerged roots and leaf litter.

Primarily found in the upper and middle sections of the Amazon basin, closely tied to shaded, slow-moving waters.

Similar species

Discus
Symphysodon aequifasciatus
Banded Severum
Heros severus
Panda Uaru
Uaru fernandezyepezi

We’re adding more full species guides as the catalogue grows.

Compatible tank mates

Reviewed guidance based on this species' recorded traits.

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Discus
Symphysodon spp.
Share the exact requirement for warm, pristine, soft water, and both are relatively peaceful.
Great
Geophagus
Geophagus spp.
Peaceful, large South American eartheaters that inhabit similar environments and occupy the lower water column.
Great
Sterba's Corydoras
Corydoras sterbai
One of the few Corydoras species that comfortably tolerates the high temperatures Uaru require.
Great
Severum
Heros spp.
Similar in size and dietary needs, but can be slightly more territorial; requires a very large tank if housed together.
Compatible with caution
Neon Tetra
Paracheirodon innesi
Too small; despite the Uaru's generally peaceful nature, bite-sized fish may be viewed as an opportunistic snack.
Not recommended
Oscar
Astronotus ocellatus
Too robust, fast-growing, and boisterous, which will easily intimidate and outcompete the more sensitive Uaru.
Not recommended

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