Orange Chromide (Pseudetroplus maculatus) Care Guide
Pseudetroplus maculatus is a small Indo-Sri Lankan cichlid of fresh and brackish streams, suited to hard-water community tanks in groups.
Overview
Pseudetroplus maculatus, the Orange Chromide, is a small cichlid endemic to the fresh and brackish streams, lagoons and estuaries of southern India and Sri Lanka. It grows to about 8 cm and is paler than the Green Chromide, with most body scales bearing an orange-red centre. It frequently co-occurs with Etroplus suratensis.
Taxonomy
- Family: Cichlidae
- Genus: Pseudetroplus
- Scientific name: Pseudetroplus maculatus
- Described by Bloch, 1795
Habitat
It is a euryhaline species of brackish estuaries, coastal lagoons and the lower reaches of rivers in peninsular India and Sri Lanka, and also occurs in freshwater. It is noted to perform cleaning symbiosis, removing parasites from the larger Green Chromide, and will also predate on that species' eggs and larvae.
Tank requirements
- Minimum tank volume: 80 L (about 21 gal)
- Temperature: 22-28 °C (72-82 °F)
- pH: 7.0-8.5
- GH: 10-25 °dGH
- Group size: loosely gregarious; 8+ recommended
- Lifespan: 5-8 years
Diet
It feeds on zooplankton and algae in nature. In aquaria it grazes aufwuchs and accepts prepared foods, plus live or frozen items such as chironomid larvae (bloodworm), Tubifex and Artemia, supplemented with vegetable matter like Spirulina and peas.
Compatibility
A peaceful, middle-water cichlid outside of breeding, it will not predate on any but the smallest fishes. It mixes well with gregarious pelagic dither fish and other brackish-tolerant species; aggressive fish should be avoided. Mature individuals form a loose dominance hierarchy.
Breeding
It is a biparental substrate spawner that forms temporary pair bonds and deposits eggs on rocks. Incubation takes about two days at 27 °C, with fry free-swimming a further two to three days later. Young feed on parental mucous secretions, which increase markedly during brood care.