robertprice
June 11th, 2013, 08:34 PM
The Orange Chromide, Etroplus maculatus , found in rivers and estuaries in India and Sri Lanka, is the only true brackish water cichlid. It needs 1.5 -2% salinity. It is a small cichlid, reaching only 3.5 inches, and varies in base color from greyish-yellow to orange. It has 3 indistinct vertical dark bars on the body and 1 to 3 round dark midbody spots, of which only the central one is prominent. It may have a black belly and ventral fins. The other fins are tinted orange and yellow. Some Chromides are totally orange and yellow. It has a sloping, slightly pointy head, and forked tail fin.
Orange chromides make good community aquarium fish and tankmates for livebearers and Danios in tanks over 20 gallons. There are peaceful carnivores. They don't destroy or eat plants. They have an odd way of breeding. They clean off a spot and lay 200-300 black eggs which float towards the surface in strings. The fry don't hatch for 3-7 days, then they are picked up by the parents and put in shallow pits. The fry soon attach themselves to parents' sides, where some type of nutrient is provided. They will care for their fry up to four months. Orange chromides like pH from 7 to 9, and temepratures from 69 to 85 degrees. They olny breed at the higher temperatures, and will get sick quickly in fresh water.
See "Images of Orange Chromides" for pictures.
Orange chromides make good community aquarium fish and tankmates for livebearers and Danios in tanks over 20 gallons. There are peaceful carnivores. They don't destroy or eat plants. They have an odd way of breeding. They clean off a spot and lay 200-300 black eggs which float towards the surface in strings. The fry don't hatch for 3-7 days, then they are picked up by the parents and put in shallow pits. The fry soon attach themselves to parents' sides, where some type of nutrient is provided. They will care for their fry up to four months. Orange chromides like pH from 7 to 9, and temepratures from 69 to 85 degrees. They olny breed at the higher temperatures, and will get sick quickly in fresh water.
See "Images of Orange Chromides" for pictures.