Not furry, but we like them anyway.

Uaru

Uaru amphiacanthoides Heckel, 1840

Also called Triangle cichlid

SpeciesShort profile

From South America: the Amazon basin in Brazil (Amazon-Solimoes from the Japura to the Tapajos River and the middle and lower Rio Negro), with records from Guyana.1 2

At a glance the quick version

Length25 cm1 2 3

Sizelarge

Surprisingly peaceful for its size

Largely plant-eating

Raises its fry in a discus-like way

Looks how to spot one

Large, disc-shaped cichlid

A big, high-backed, laterally flattened cichlid with a rounded, almost triangular profile. Males and females look alike.2 3

Personality what they are like

Gentle and sociable for a large cichlid; it lives happily with tetras, angelfish and larger characins that like warm water.2

Daily activity how busy a day looks

A calm cruiser that spends its time around submerged branches and roots and browsing for food.2 1

Grooming and care the hands-on bits

Keep the water clean, warm and soft; use hardy or artificial decor as it eats most live plants.2

Home where they are happiest

Warm, soft, acidic water of about 26 to 30 C, pH 5.0 to 7.0 and up to around 5-12 dH; a pair needs at least 120 x 45 cm (about 200 litres) with sand and bogwood.1 2

Food basics what goes in the bowl

Omnivore with a strong plant leaning; give plenty of vegetable foods along with small invertebrates such as worms and crustaceans.2 1

Company who they like around

A peaceful group or pair fish that fits a community of other warmth-loving, non-aggressive species.2

The story where it all began

Heckel described the uaru in 1840 from the Amazon. It is caught for food by local people and is also an established fish in the ornamental trade.1 3

Fun facts for the dinner table

1
Like discus, the young feed on the slime coat on their parents' skin.2
2
In the wild it even eats freshwater sponges along with plants and small invertebrates.2
3
Parents look after up to about 200 eggs and the hatched larvae.1

Recognised by the official bits

IUCN Red List: Least Concern (assessed 7 November 2018)1
Taxonomy: Described by Heckel in 1840; family Cichlidae1

The care rhythm Furry Diary remembers it for you

A typical home-care rhythm for a Uaru. It is our own starting plan, not a vet's advice, and you can change every line in the app.

FeedingSmall amounts once or twice a dayevery day
Temperature checkevery day
Water changeAbout 25% of the waterevery week
Water testevery week
Glass cleanevery week
Filter rinseRinse in old tank water, never tap waterevery month

Start a free diary

Severum

Discus

Chocolate Cichlid

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Where this comes from

Every breed page shows where each fact comes from. If we got something wrong, sorry, we are pet people, not a science magazine. Tell us at [email protected] and we will fix it.

FishBase: Uaru amphiacanthoides fishbase.seused for distribution, size, water parameters, IUCN, biology, trade
Seriously Fish: Uaru amphiacanthoides seriouslyfish.comused for habitat, size, tank size, water, diet, behaviour, breeding
Wikipedia: Uaru amphiacanthoides en.wikipedia.orgused for common names, size, food fish use

Checked 2026-09-30. Text is written in our own words from these sources.