Sexing Uarus....

[mattlee]

i am looking at getting a couple or a trio of Uaru. as usual ive been offered several excellent specimins but they are in London, Liverpool and Wales they may as well be in Australia
any way im planning another trip to wharf at the weekend and we all know what happens when i go there so im after tips on how to sex the Uaru as from what ive read they are pretty much impossible to sex unless caught in the act. the fish they have at wharf were about 6 inches ish so if possible they should be able to be sexed.
can anyone give me any tips on this please?

also is a trip better than a pair? especially if they cant be sexed.....

 

[star4]

I have no idea at all, but I want to see pics as soon as you get them and I will be utterly jealous I would say 3 better chance of a pair than 2 or even 4 Out of interest how much are they at that size, I maybe having some changes after Christmas which would possible mean I would have space for 2.

 

[snowflake311]

You can sex them like you sex discus. Wait till you see them spawn. There is no sure way to sex uarus. The male will be larger then the female once fully matured that's about it. Maybe if you vent them you could tell but by looking just guess.

I have 2 uarus and they are always together they act like a pair. I have no clue the sex. They never have tried to spawn. One is smaller then the other. All I care about is that they get along and they do. Uarus are like discus but smarter and bossy IME. They will be happy with other uaru whatever the sex is.

3 IME is the worst number when it comes to cichlid or other more aggressive fish. I have had too many fish I get in groups of 3 die from being bullied. 2 or 4+ would be best. When you have 3 there is always an odd man out and he never does well.

 

[Ryan_W]

I'm waiting on some info in the form of an email for the ones I was telling you about mate..... Don't go buying any just yet!!!!

 

[mattlee]

I have no idea at all, but I want to see pics as soon as you get them and I will be utterly jealous I would say 3 better chance of a pair than 2 or even 4 Out of interest how much are they at that size, I maybe having some changes after Christmas which would possible mean I would have space for 2.

of course i will add some pics

they were for sale at about £25 each i think but this is lfs prices im affraid there seems to be better deals privately but they are all too far away

You can sex them like you sex discus. Wait till you see them spawn. There is no sure way to sex uarus. The male will be larger then the female once fully matured that's about it. Maybe if you vent them you could tell but by looking just guess.

I have 2 uarus and they are always together they act like a pair. I have no clue the sex. They never have tried to spawn. One is smaller then the other. All I care about is that they get along and they do. Uarus are like discus but smarter and bossy IME. They will be happy with other uaru whatever the sex is.

3 IME is the worst number when it comes to cichlid or other more aggressive fish. I have had too many fish I get in groups of 3 die from being bullied. 2 or 4+ would be best. When you have 3 there is always an odd man out and he never does well.

from what i have researched the colour of the eye can sometimes give a clue but its not 100%. i think 2 would be more suitable anyway room wise

I'm waiting on some info in the form of an email for the ones I was telling you about mate..... Don't go buying any just yet!!!!

ooooh ok ill hold on then

 

[LIflynn]

I have two uarus in a 125 gallon tank and theyre both juveniles but the one i think is a male has a bit of a protruding forehead nothing crazy like a mature green terror or frontoza but he seems bigger then the female already

 

[snowflake311]

I have heard the eye color thing and don't buy it. I also have read about the head shape but its so hard to see the difference unless you know your fish. The males will have a more squared off forehead. The female more sloping. I found a photo of a proven pair and you can see what I mean.

Uaru pair

can you tell what one if male and female in that pair?

 

[simonas]

I could tell my pair apart as the male had a slight reddy hue
I could tell they were a pair when settled in the tank and they proceeded to spawn
Its hard to explain and maybe my pics of my pair would help but that was the only difference

 

[mattlee]

thanks guys. simon i saw your pics and i did see the red hue you mentioned, ill keep an eye out for it but i guess its going to be pot luck as im going for just 2.

simon what temp were yours kept at mate?

 

[LIflynn]

i keep mine at 81 degrees F

 

[simonas]

I have no idea what temp they were mate I;ve just raised it this week for the discus, propb about 27ish?