Whitespot Eartheater
Satanoperca leucosticta
- Care level
- Advanced
- Adult size
- 15–20 cm
- Minimum tank
- 400 litres
- Temperature
- 24–29 °C
Species profile
Uaru Cichlid
Uaru amphiacanthoides
Common names: Uaru Cichlid, Triangle Cichlid
Recognized speciesCichlids
Adult size
Up to 30 cm
Typical adult length 20–30 cm.
Up to 30 cm
Countries of origin
Good fit for your tank?
Good fit for
- Mature planted aquarium setups
- Advanced shrimp keepers
Think carefully if
- The aquarium contains shrimp-eating fish
- The tank is newly cycled
- Water conditions change frequently
A large social Amazonian herbivorous cichlid requiring a spacious group aquarium, strong filtration, and substantial plant-based food.
Appearance and Identification
Adults are deep-bodied olive-brown fish with a large dark triangular flank patch, red eyes, and subtle blue or gold markings. Juveniles are strongly mottled.
The triangular adult flank patch and mottled juvenile pattern are distinctive. Uaru fernandezyepezi is a separate rarer species.
Sexes are difficult to distinguish externally. Mature males may be larger, while females become fuller before spawning.
Tank Requirements
- Suggested filter
- About 1,200–1,800 litres an hour
- Suggested heater
- About 600–900 W for this tank
- Minimum tank volume
- 600 litres
- Minimum tank length
- 180 cm
- Minimum group size
- 5
- Recommended group size
- 6
- Activity level
- Moderate
- Flow preference
- Low
- Planting preference
- Moderately planted
- Hiding places
- Yes
- Lid recommended
- Yes
- Jumping risk
- Low
Keep a group in a large aquarium with heavy filtration, open swimming space, substantial wood, smooth substrate, and hardy or protected plants.
Behaviour and Tankmates
Generally peaceful, intelligent, social, and prone to stress when isolated or crowded.
Maintain a group of five or more so a natural hierarchy can form. Pairs separate to breed.
Breeding pairs defend a vertical or flat spawning surface and surrounding area.
Suitable with peaceful medium to large Amazonian fish. Avoid aggressive cichlids, small fish, shrimp, and valuable soft plants.
Water Parameters
Warm soft slightly acidic water is preferred. Excellent water quality is essential for this large social fish.
Parameter caveat
Do not keep one isolated individual long term. A protein-heavy diet and poor water quality contribute to digestive and head-line problems.
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Manual aquarium siphon and gravel cleaner
A manual siphon for routine aquarium water changes and accessible waste removal. The seller lists a hose approximately 1.6 m long.
Control the flow and keep the intake clear of fish and delicate planting. Clean the areas appropriate for your substrate and layout rather than disturbing the entire planted bed.
Daraz NepalCheck availability on Daraz
Feeding
- Diet types
- Herbivore, Omnivore
- Feeding frequency
- Daily
- Preferred foods
- Quality sinking cichlid pelletUse a staple pellet appropriate to the fish size and mouth shape.
- Chopped shrimp, mussel, or earthwormOffer clean unseasoned portions as rotating protein foods.
- Blanched leafy greens or peasUseful for omnivorous and plant-eating species; remove leftovers promptly.
- Frozen krill or mysisFeed in moderation to add variety and support colour.
Primarily herbivorous and frugivorous, with some invertebrate feeding.
Make greens, vegetables, and plant-rich pellets the main diet. Use animal protein sparingly.
Breeding
- Breeding type
- Egg Layer, Substrate Spawner
- Breeding difficulty
- Difficult
- Breeding temperature
- 28 °C
- Breeding pH
- 6.2
- Brood or egg count
- Several hundred eggs.
- Incubation
- 3 days
- Parental care
- Biparental care
- Baby foods
- Parental skin mucusYoung fry may graze mucus from the parents.
- Newly hatched brine shrimpIntroduce as fry become free-swimming.
- Fine plant-rich fry foodAdd gradually while maintaining clean water.
A biparental substrate spawner. Eggs are laid on a vertical or flat surface, and both parents guard the clutch and produce skin mucus used by fry.
Habitat and Origin
- Geographic origin
- Amazon Basin, Brazil, South America
- Natural habitat
- Floodplain, Slow River, Vegetated Shoreline
- Aquarium contexts
- Breeding Aquarium, Freshwater Aquarium, Freshwater Community, Large Freshwater Aquarium
- Audience level
- Advanced
Classification
- Profile type
- Recognized species
- Genus
- Uaru
- Family
- Cichlidae
- Species group
- Cichlids, Fish, South American Cichlids
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Yellow Acara
Aequidens metae
- Care level
- Intermediate
- Adult size
- 12–18 cm
- Minimum tank
- 250 litres
- Temperature
- 24–29 °C
Altifron Eartheater
Geophagus altifrons
- Care level
- Intermediate
- Adult size
- 20–27 cm
- Minimum tank
- 500 litres
- Temperature
- 24–29 °C
Altum Angelfish
Pterophyllum altum
- Care level
- Advanced
- Adult size
- 18–22 cm
- Minimum tank
- 400 litres
- Temperature
- 27–31 °C