image courtesy: Walter Soestbergen (http://www.dph.nl/)
Common name: Uaru Cichlid
Scientific name: Uaru amphiacanthoides
Size: 12 inches
The Uaru Cichlid is a harmless, peaceful, schooling fish of the Rio Negero river of Brazil. Like the Cardinal Tetra, it inhabits
waters which are extremely soft and acidic and is stained like tea. The water is a tea color because of the decaying vegetation in
the river. This type of river ecosystem is called blackwater. This fish is also known as the Triangle Cichlid and has a thick black
marking running from the gills to the caudal fin. Older individuals have a fatty cushion around the neck. Uaru Cichlids feed on
worms, crustaceans, and insects.
These fish break off into pairs during the spawning season. They have a parental family and take care of their young. This
species of fish is an open brooder meaning that it lays its eggs on flat rocks or plants. Uaru Cichlids lay about 300 eggs. They
then fan the eggs and clean them from any invading fungal infestation. When the young hatch they feed on skin secretions for the
first few weeks of their lives. This species of fish is not endangered and is kept rather commonly as an aquarium fish by people
with very large aquariums.