Uaru Cichlid

Uaru cichlid is a freshwater fish native to the Upper Orinoco and the Amazon basins in South America. The fish is popular for its unique triangular shape and coloring, unlike any other fish in the cichlid family. Although native to South America, you can find Uaru fish in aquariums all over the world. 

5 Uaru Cichlid Facts 

• The Uaru is one of the least aggressive cichlids. 
• The average lifespan of a Uaru is about 8 to 10 years.
• Male and female Uaru cichlids have similar appearances, and it’s difficult to tell them apart. 
• The color of this fish changes during the spawning season.
• It is an intelligent fish. The Uaru may even be able to recognize its feeders. 

Classification and Scientific Name

The Uaru is a genus of small to medium-sized cichlid fish native to the blackwaters and whitewaters of South America. The name “Uaru” is the local Amazonian word for toad. The Uaru fish have a number of nicknames. The native name of this fish is Waroo. People call them “triangle cichlids” in reference to the triangular shape of the adult and “chocolate cichlid” (a name it shares with Hypselecara temporalis, another species of cichlid fish). 

The Uaru belongs to the order Cichliformes, which includes two families. The cichlid family is the largest in this order and one of the largest vertebrate families. There are more than 202 genera in this family, with about 1,700 species identified so far. 

Types of Uaru Cichlid

The Uaru genus lives naturally in the wild in South America. Hobbyists also keep them as pets in aquariums all over the world. This genus has two main species: Uaru amphiacanthoides and Uaru fernandezyepezi.

• Uaru amphiacanthoides: This is a cichlid species native to the streams of the Amazon River Basin in South America. Uaru amphiacanthoides can reach lengths of up to 10 inches or more. Native people eat this fish, but it is also a popular pet in aquariums.
• Uaru fernandezyepezi: This species of Uaru lives in the Orinoco Basin. It typically grows to a maximum size of about 9.4 inches. Although it is also found in the aquarium trade, it is less common than the other variety. 

Uaru Cichlid Appearance — How to Identify a Uaru Cichlid 

The Uaru has an oval disc-shaped body typical of cichlids. However, the row of the spine in the fish’s dorsal fin gives it a more triangular shape. This is why people call it the triangular cichlid. The Uaru has a long anal fin, which is nearly as long as the rest of the fish’s body. The long anal fin makes it a powerful swimmer.

Uaru species demonstrate different coloration depending on their age. Juvenile fish are often a bland color with a mottled pattern. This dull coloration is an important camouflage that helps to protect this fish. The color makes them look like dead leaves, so larger fish ignore them. 

As the fish matures, the color turns from a subdued gray-brown to a yellowish color. It may also have small brown blotches. The eyes of large mature fish are typically bright yellow with black pupils. The fish typically has a large tear-shaped black mark running across the lower end of their body, as well as a smaller mark at the base of the tail. The mark can be distinct or subdued from one individual to another. Uaru species have scaly bodies. However, the small size of these scales gives their body a smooth and leathery appearance.

In its natural habitat, the Uaru can grow to lengths of up to 12 inches, but it only grows to about 10 inches in a tank. Adult Uaru changes color just before spawning season. The color of their entire body becomes darker, with a bit of brown coloration along the edges. Their yellow eyes also become reddish, giving the fish a fiercer appearance. 

Distribution, Population, and Habitat

The Uaru cichlid is native to South America. The two species in this genus have varying ranges and distributions. Uaru amphiacanthoides are found in the clear streams of the Amazon Basin in Northern Brazil and Guyana. Uaru fernandezyepezi, on the other hand, is found in the Orinoco Basin in Venezuela and Colombia. 

In the wild, this freshwater fish is mainly found in blackwaters and whitewaters. As a popular fish in the aquarium trade, this fish is also bred in captivity. It is best kept in a large, roomy aquarium with gravel or sand as a substrate. The tank is typically decorated with roots and bogwood. 

Since they’re raised in home and commercial aquariums, Uarus are not at risk of extinction. It is listed as a species of Least Concern on the IUCN Red List, which means the population is relatively stable and not under threat. 

Evolution and History

Fishes are the first vertebrates to have ever evolved. The ancestors of modern fish first appeared about 530 million years ago during the Cambrian explosion. The earliest fish were primitive filter-feeders. It wasn’t until the Late Ordovician that the first fish with defined jaws appeared. They became more widespread during the Devonian, which is commonly referred to as the “age of fishes.” 

The ray-finned fish (class Actinopterygii) evolved about 420 million years ago. They’re the dominant vertebrate group today. Within this group, the family Cichlidae is the biggest and most diverse. They arose within the order of Cichliformes about 100 to 80 million years ago. 

Cichlids are renowned for their rapid evolutionary radiation and diversity across different habitats. There are several instances of their lineage evolving the same traits and even reversion to ancestral traits within the family. 

Predators and Prey

The Uaru is an omnivore, which means it eats anything from small fish, shrimp, worms, and aquatic plants. 

What Eats Uaru Cichlid?

Uarus don’t have a lot of natural enemies. They are mostly threatened by humans, who catch them for food. They are also preyed on by other bigger fish within their ecosystem.

What Does the Uaru Cichlid Eat?

In its natural habitat, the Uaru cichlid is an omnivore that eats crustaceans, insects, detritus, worms, fruits, and plants. In an in-home aquariums, the fish is not a picky eater. It can be fed with frozen bloodworms, live earthworms, blackworms, frozen brine shrimp, blanched lettuce, and peas.

Reproduction and Lifespan

Male and female Uaru cichlids appear very similar to one another. This makes it difficult to distinguish between them. They reach maturity between five and six months of age and then move in pairs to mate. During the breeding season, their appearance changes to a darker color with coppery red eyes.

The female produces between 100 and 400 eggs and lays on a flat rock surface for the male to fertilize. The pair (male and female) take turns guarding the eggs against predators. Males eat non-viable eggs. However, in some cases, they may end up eating the entire clutch. 

The Uaru eggs hatch within five days and are then moved to a shallow nest by their parents, who feed them with secretions from their skin for a week. Once the fry start swimming, they become independent of their parents. However, the fry still stays close to the parent. The average lifespan of the Uaru cichlid is between 8 and 10 years.

Uaru Cichlid in Fishing and Cooking

Uaru fish are native to South America, especially in the Amazon and Orinoco Rivers. They are not endangered and are relatively common in their native habitat. Natives consider them important food fish. It is mainly kept as a pet in other regions of the world. They are mostly sold in pet stores and can also be purchased online.