Keeping, Breeding and Raising Uaru amphiacanthoides

My experiences from Aug 2022 thru Dec 2024. Shows both the successes and failures. Video was first presented to the Raleigh Aquarium Society on Jan 4, 2025.

Table of contents and video chapters

0:00 Initial housing.
The five adult Uaru in 90gal planted tank (36” x 24” x 24”)

0:45 First spawning.
After 2months a spawning occurred. Showing impact on the plants, changes in the substrate and revised occupants in the 90gal
1:35 the 5 Uaru were moved into a 120gal (72” x 24”x 17”h) South American community.

2:30 A new breeding pair is acquired.
They were placed in the 90gal. Shortly afterwards, the male beat up the female and she was moved.

2:48 The new female joins the other fishes.
After the new female was moved to the 72” community, along with other fauna. She paired with another male and spawned. The other Uaru were moved elsewhere. Weekly spawns of the new pair which did not hatch

3:33. External hatching.
I removed the eggs from spawn #13. Macro photos of a developing embryo and some hatched eggs. No fry.

3:55 A successful spawn on Jan 12. Showing parents tending eggs, wigglers and initial days with the free swimming fry.

4:45 Tank is divided.
A divider was added to separate the uaru from the other fishes. Parents comfortably caring for the babies

5:54 some babies removed.
12 fry temporarily moved to 2.5 gal tank

6:36 Divider removed.
After rehoming most of the metynnis removed the tank divider to create a smaller S. American community (with the school of emporer tetras and the other cichlid species) The 12 fry from 2.5gal subsequently reunited with the now smaller uaru family

7:23 Progression of the uaru babies
thru their first 60 days, showing changes in shape and pattern.

8:02 Monthly changes in the Uaru family
in the 72” tank from April through December 2024 showing growth rate and interactions (among the 7 surviving babies together with the parents)

8:51 Another spawn of the adult pair
in the Uaru community tank. This increased in the existing Uaru family. Growth of new babies and parental care is shown.

8:26 Community feeding
of Purina AquaMax pellets and green peas.

9:53 Newest babies with parents at 50 days of age,
still in the greater Uaru community. The newer baby’s pattern is different than the ones from the January 12th spawn at the same age.