These cichlids come from low pH (4 to 5) soft , and tannin stained waters of the Rio Orinoco/io Negro basin.
I have always wanted this species, but because of its specialized water parameter needs, I have never attempted to keep them.
My pH 7.8 in Wisconsin, and now in Panama pH of 8.2 and hard water, would make trying to keep them, an exercise in futility
The low pH, almost RO quailty softness, and tannins that have evolved and support very individual species and type of bacteria are those these cichlids have adapted to resist,
but the typical tap water where I lived, does not support these bacterial species, so makes this species of Uaru vulnerable to diseases more adaptive fish are not.
The conditions needed to breed Panda Uaru in captivity are similar to those needed to breed Altum Angels, so the breeders mimic those conditions to a tee,
so not try to buck them, and here in lies the rub.
The last time I saw them for sale, they wer $60 each, and because they are somewhat social, I figured I would beed at least 6.
So spending over $300 plus another $100 in shipping for a species that would probably die, or at best flounder health wise under my water parameters did not seem like a good investment to me.
If I had naturally low pH, soft water, that I could have easily inundated with tannins, I would have done it in a heartbeat.
Or if was willing to invest in an RO unit to make my water acceptable, although here in Panama the waste to create such water, would also have been prohibitive, and nion feasable,.
