Urau Cichlids

Key Details Appearance: Juveniles are speckled/mottled with brown/gray. Adults develop a silver-brown or greenish body with a signature black "triangle" or "tear drop" mark on their side and striking red/orange eyes. Size & Lifespan: They grow 10–12 inches, needing 125+ gallon tanks for a group (5–6 fish). They live 8–12 years. Temperament: Generally, they are considered "gentle giants" and are peaceful compared to other large cichlids, but they can be territorial during spawning. They are highly social and should be kept in groups. Diet: They are omnivores with strong herbivorous tendencies. Their diet must include fresh vegetables (zucchini, peas, lettuce) and algae, supplemented with frozen/live meaty foods. They will eat most aquarium plants. Water Parameters: They require soft, acidic to neutral water (pH 5.5–6.5) and warm temperatures (26–30^\circ\text{C} or ). Breeding: They are, like Discus, known to feed their young with a mucus secreted from their skin. They are pair-bonding, biparental caregivers. Varieties: While U. amphiacanthoides is common, the rarer "Panda Uaru" (Uaru fernandezyepezi) is also known in the hobby.