|
Name: Etroplus maculatus |
| Size |
Tank | pH | Temp |
|
Origin: India, Sri Lanka |
|
10 cm |
100 L |
8.0 |
25°C |
The Orange Chromide is an artificial improvement on the wild Etroplus maculatus from India, which is pale colored with black stripes and spots (the only known Asian Cichlid). It is originally a brackish water fish and will appreciate the addition of a little aquarium salt to the water.
The Orange Chromide is one of my favorite cichlids. The first post described this as the only Asian cichlid, which is incorrect. The Orange Chromide is often found in the same brackish waters where the Green Chromide, a much larger food cichlid, is found. The Orange Chromide's wild color variety, in my opinion, is far more beautiful than it's orange variety that is often found in the trade. If you only have the orange morph and have room for a few more I recommend that you find and buy some of the wild color morphs, you won't be disappointed.
These fish are very peaceful. We currently have them in a tank with various sail fin mollies. They are the first to the front of the tank when feeding time arrives. Because they like a little salt they do fine with the larger mollies. At the moment they are only about 2-3 cm but they are already becoming very tame.
I currently have and orange chromide in my tank (sold to me as a "red chromide"). The LFS employee said that this fish was a "real bad boy", but he seems to do just fine in my community tank. In fact, one of my gold rams (who is 1/4 the size of the chromide) will occasionally chase the chromide around! The other funny thing about these fish is their expression, kinda like a Robert De Niro "you talkin' to me?!" expression. He is a very friendly and peaceful fish, and a very colorful addition to the aquarium.
The Orange Chromide is one of my favourite cichlids, they are so peaceful. I have 6 of these beauties. Add 1-2 teaspoons of seasalt, or the fry will be attacked by fungus.
I have four of these guys (sold as red chromides) in my 150 L brackish tank. I started out with one, but he always seemed so lonely. Ever since I bought him three friends, they always stay in their little group, totally peaceful, very friendly and tame. Their tankmates are two adult mollies, two large mono argentus, three small ruby scats, one 18 cm silvertip shark, and a pair of black knight gobies. I fluctuate the salinity from 1.005 in the beginning and end of the month to 1.015 in the middle of the month, everybody is thriving.
This is another one of the beautiful fish, which has spectacular coloration if fed properly. It stays in groups. If kept alone it would not be energetic and brilliant. It is always viable to keep them in groups. They are much peaceful in comparison to the other groups of cichlids.
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