Care
The Panda Uaru is known only from the Rio Atabapo (part of the Rio Orinoco drainage) which forms the international boundary between Venezuela and Colombia for much of its length. The water is warm, and very soft and acidic, and these conditions must be recreated in the home aquarium in order for this delicate species to thrive. In the wild, these majestic fish prefer the safety of shady areas amongst vegetation and fallen trees, so this should be replicated in the home aquarium as best as possible. The tank must be biologically mature, at least 48" long, and should incorporate dark substrate and décor. Lighting should be dim. The aquarium should be aquascaped with plenty of bogwood and robust plants such as Microsorum pteropus, or plastic/silk varieties. Panda Uaru very much enjoy eating fine-leaved or soft-leaved plants; indeed their faces will almost appear to "˜light up"™ if you present them with some Cabomba caroliniana from time to time, a particular favourite! Panda Uaru are peaceful fish and can be kept alongside other medium-large sized peaceable species. They should not be housed with aggressive or boisterous fish. The only time they are likely to become confrontational is if two of the fish pair off, at which time they should be separated from the rest of the group. Panda Uaru are very susceptible to poor water conditions, so good filtration and frequent partial water changes are a must. Young specimens show a "˜spotted"™ pattern and undergo a dramatic transformation into their adult form. Not recommended for beginners.
Feeding
It is important that Panda Uaru receive a varied diet, incorporating a good amount of vegetable matter. They can sometimes be a little picky, but will generally feed on: flake, green flake, slow-sinking pellets/granular foods, lettuce, spinach, kale, cucumber, soft-leaved aquatic plants (such as Cabomba caroliniana), frozen foods such as mosquito larvae, Mysis shrimp, Krill, chopped prawns (salad shrimp) etc.
Breeding
Although some aquarists have observed their U. fernandezyepezi depositing eggs, there are no reports of fry being successfully raised to adulthood in the home aquarium. This species would make an excellent breeding project for the experienced hobbyist.
