Anyone withnexperience with Uarus?

[Eclipse390]

I recently bought a proven pair of Uaru cichlids. Their previous home was a 75 packed with other American cichlids. When they went into spawning mode - they tries to kill everything else in the tank, so the owners sold them to my LFS. When they were turned in they has fungal infections so have been in QT. I just went & picked them up last night - and have them in QT in a 20 gal.

They are still a little beat up, scales missing, etc. Does anyone have experience getting this species to breed? And what food to you recommend? Hopefully they will eventually be moved to my 150

 

[jonclark96]

Mine have laid eggs a few times but never made it to wigglers as there are too many tank mates. I feed a good quality pellet (nls, xtreme, kensfish) and supplement with romaine lettuce. Weekly 50-70% water changes.

 

[peathenster]

^ Good advice. They like clean water and plenty of veggies in their diet. Otherwise not too different from other SAs.

 

[importracer]

All cichlids pretty much have the same breeding requirments to start breeding.....It is just the size of the tank that may be the only hard difference to make possible...For example, it is easier breeding a pair of convicts in a 29g as compared to a pair of peacock bass needing a 300g............I am not sure if they are nest builders on the ground or egg layers on leaves like angelfish...Just do 50% water changes every week and keep a variable diet on hand...........And once the eggs start coming, POST PICTURES...........

 

[jonclark96]

Mine laid their eggs on a piece of driftwood. Surface was at about a 20 degree angle from the bottom of the tank. I have a trio in my tank, 2m 1f i think, and all three actually guarded the eggs. I'm pretty sure the plecos in the tank got the eggs once the lights went off.

Here is a thread from the first time they spawned with a few pics.

http://www.capitalcichlids.org/forums/showthread.php?t=10307

 

[cichlid2006]

They need plenty of greens to really shine along with a good quality pellet staple such as NLS. I used to throw in some very cheap plants for them and they relished them, NLS sinking wafers go down very well also ime. If you dont have an overflow then you can get fast growing duckweed/salviana type floating plants and the plants may be able to multiply faster than the fish can eat them leading to a steady supply of greens, unlikely though.

Frozen bloodworm is like crack to them as well, this is the only time when I saw mine snap at other fish.

 

[luvinbluegills]

If you can pick up bunches of anacharis on a regular basis that would be a great addition to their diet. You just have to watch for snails. Maybe buy several bunches and keep in a big jar or 2 gal tank outside to watch for intruders. I started doing this for my severums after seeing someone I know do it for his Uarus with great success.

 

[Eclipse390]

Do you think that they'd breed well in my 150? Or do you think I would be better off with them in a 55? Right now they're in a 20 high, and they're actually doing alright. I would love for them to breed for me in the 20, but I doubt that.

I'll def get the anacharis or romaine lettuce asap. This forum is so helpful, a lot of people with experience with fish I keep.

 

[jonclark96]

I would move them out of the 20 as soon as you can. Mine are in a 5 foot 120 and they have enough room to move around. The 55 may be okay for the pair, but bigger would be better IMO.

 

[peathenster]

Mine spawned on both vertical and horizontal surfaces. I don't think 55 is quite big enough - I had mine in a 90 for a little while and felt it was too small for them.