Edit Pseudetroplus maculatus

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Name

Scientific name

Pseudetroplus maculatus

Described by

Authority Bloch, Year 1795, Bracketed

Family

Cichlidae

Common names

Orange Chromide

Photograph credits

All 12 credited

Summary

The orange chromide, Pseudetroplus maculatus, is a euryhaline cichlid native to peninsular India and Sri Lanka. It mostly inhabits brackish…

Size and aquarium

Maximum size

80mm, standard length

Aquarium size

Minimum length 120 cm, Minimum depth 60 cm

Water

Water conditions

Temperature 20–28°C, pH 7–8.5

Hardness

10–20dGH

Conductivity

Not recorded

Behaviour

Temperament

Peaceful

Community suitability

Not for a community

Where it lives

Countries, regions, rivers and lakes

India, Sri Lanka, Achankovil, Adyar, Ariankuppam, Bharatapuzha, Bolgoda, Cauvery, Chalakudy, Chembarambakkam Lake, Chunnambar, Gingee, Gingy, Karamana, Kaveri, Kelani, Krishna, Malattar, Meenachil, Negombo Lagoon, Netravati, Nila, Pamba, Penniar, Periyar, Tungabhadra, Vembanad

Writing

Etymology

Pseudetroplus: from the Ancient Greek ψευδής (pseudēs), meaning 'false', and Etroplus, the closely related genus in which this species was placed until 2014. E…

Distribution

Native to peninsular India and Sri Lanka. In the former its range stretches southwards down the western coast from the state of Maharashtra through Goa, Karnat…

Habitat

This species is euryhaline and mostly inhabits brackish estuaries, coastal lagoons and the lower reaches of rivers. It also occurs in freshwater habitats, howe…

Aquarium size

An aquarium with base dimensions of 120 ∗ 60 cm should be the smallest considered to house a group (see 'Behaviour and Compatibility').

Maintenance

This species can be maintained in fresh or brackish water so long as acidic conditions are avoided. Décor is largely down to personal choice although a degree …

Water conditions

Not written yet

Diet

Observations of wild fish suggest it to be something of a generalist with a tendency to graze aufwuchs and filamentous algae from solid surfaces although it ha…

Behaviour and compatibility

Relatively peaceful unless breeding and will not predate on any but the smallest fishes. In a community setting the addition of a group or two of gregarious, p…

Sexual dimorphism

Conflicting information exists with some examples as follows: either males or females have red pigmentation in the dorsal and anal fins; females have white str…

Reproduction

This species is a biparental substrate spawner which forms temporary pair bonds when reproductively active. Observations of wild fish in Sri Lanka suggest that…

This species is a biparental substrate spawner which forms temporary pair bonds when reproductively active.

Observations of wild fish in Sri Lanka suggest that there are two such periods each year represented by the dry pre-monsoonal (December to April) and monsoonal (June to September; the monsoon season is dry in parts of Sri Lanka) seasons when water salinity increases and turbidity decreases, the latter thought to benefit the fish via improved visual contact between adults and fry.

E. suratensis always spawned in isolated pairs and displayed a preference for sites with better chances of fry survival, and both parents remained with the eggs and fry at all times, never leaving to forage.

This behaviour was in contrast to P. maculatus, which selected areas of dense vegetation in order to better protect the eggs when spawning in isolation, but during peak breeding season (July) eggs were laid in sparser vegetation, seemingly a 'trade-off' between fry protection and food for the adults.

The latter sites were also occupied by foraging, non-nuptial conspecifics which were seen to actively prey on fry, and these additional pressures caused pairs to choose spawning sites close to one another in order to reduce the risks.

Reductions in both actual and attempted cannibalism were recorded when the fish were breeding in such colonies, while during fry care one parent would normally remain with the brood while the other left the territory to forage with the roles reversed every few minutes.

E. suratensis was thus considered to expend twice as much time and energy on brood-care as P. maculatus but with a decreased risk of fry predation.

In the aquarium it's recommended to purchase a group of fish and allow them to select their own partners.

During courtship a particular site, normally a rock although even the aquarium glass will do, is selected and the surrounding area defended against intruders from that point on.

Eggs are deposited in typical fashion and attached via short filaments permitting a degree of movement.

Both parents participate in guarding the territory and general brood-care such as fanning and mouthing the eggs to keep them sediment-free.

Incubation is approximately 2 days at a temperature of 27 °C81 °F with the fry swimming freely in a further 2-3 days.

Prior to hatching the adults excavate a number of nursery pits in the substrate surrounding the spawning site and the fry are moved between these until their yolk sacs are absorbed.

If the fry remain with the adults they will graze on their parents' body mucus when they are 1-3 days free-swimming.

Parental care can be highly-extended and a pair may even continue to defend their fry until they are almost as large as themselves.

Some breeders prefer to remove the eggs prior to hatching as they 're often eaten by tankmates or the parents themselves, with the most common method being to remove the rock with eggs attached and place it in a separate container with water from the adults' tank.

Water movement across the eggs is maintained by placing an air-line or filter outlet close to the rock while any displaying signs of fungus should be removed as they're noticed.

Once free-swimming the fry are large enough to accept Artemia nauplii and similar immediately.

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Where does this come from?

My own experienceFor example, I've kept twelve in a planted 60 cm tank since March 2024.A website I sawFor example, an IUCN Red List assessment, a museum catalogue or a FishBase page.A paperFor example, Marshall et al. (2011), Water temperature differences in interfluvial palm swamp habitats of Paracheirodon axelrodi and P. simulans.A book, or something not onlineFor example, Tappin (2010), Rainbowfishes: their care and keeping in captivity.Something already on the pageFor example, the Behaviour and compatibility section already says this.

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Notes

Wild examples are rarely-seen in the aquarium hobby although selectively-bred ornamental strains are widely-available. These are normally traded as 'red' or 'y…

References

9 on this profile

Name

Scientific name

Described by

Family

Common names

Photograph credits

Summary

Size and aquarium

Maximum size

Aquarium size

Water

Water conditions

Hardness

Conductivity

Behaviour

Temperament

Social needs

Community suitability

Where it lives

Countries, regions, rivers and lakes

Writing

Etymology

Distribution

Habitat

Aquarium size

Maintenance

Water conditions

Diet

Behaviour and compatibility

Sexual dimorphism

Reproduction

Notes

References

References