The Orange Chromide, known scientifically as Pseudetroplus maculatus, delights aquarists with its vibrant colors and unique behaviors. This cichlid fish, native to southern India and Sri Lanka, comes in two striking variants. The wild form showcases a greenish or greyish hue with red-tipped spots, while the aquarium-bred form, often brighter and more orange, is a favorite in home tanks. These variants make the Orange Chromide a versatile and appealing choice for fishkeeping enthusiasts.
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The Orange Chromide, or Pseudetroplus maculatus, has a fascinating history that dates back to its first description by Marcus Elieser Bloch in 1795 as Chaetodon maculatus. Over time, its classification shifted, with a notable reclassification in 2014 from Etroplus to Pseudetroplus, reflecting its closer ties to damselfishes than traditional cichlids. This fish, part of the Cichlidae family and Etroplinae subfamily, thrives in both freshwater and brackish environments, making it adaptable and interesting. Its vibrant orange aquarium variant is especially popular, though the wild greenish form remains a unique sight in natural habitats.
This fish isn’t considered rare in its native range, where it populates lagoons and streams across southern India and Sri Lanka. However, the wild form is less common in the aquarium trade, with the bright orange variant being more accessible due to selective breeding. The Orange Chromide’s diet is omnivorous, including fish fry, zooplankton, and algae, which aligns with its natural foraging behavior. It’s also known for its cleaning symbiosis with the green chromide, Etroplus suratensis, removing parasites while sometimes preying on their eggs and larvae, showcasing a complex ecological role.
The Orange Chromide is euryhaline, meaning it can adapt to a wide range of salinity levels, from freshwater to brackish conditions. It prefers hiding places in aquariums, indicating a shy temperament, and is generally peaceful, especially in groups of six to eight. Its benthopelagic nature allows it to occupy both bottom and mid-water levels, often found among marginal roots and weeds. In captivity, it accepts a variety of foods, including flakes, pellets, and live options like bloodworm, with color-enhancing foods recommended to bring out its reddish hues.
Statistically, the Orange Chromide reaches a maximum length of 9.5 cm and can weigh up to 14 g, with a lifespan of up to eight years in captivity. It prefers water parameters with a pH of 7.0-9.0, temperatures between 20-25°C, and hardness of 179-357 ppm, with brackish conditions enhancing color and disease resistance. A minimum tank size of 60 liters is recommended, ensuring a mature tank with good filtration. Its ability to breed in varying salinities adds to its appeal for aquarists looking to study euryhaline adaptations.
Fun facts about the Orange Chromide include its role as one of only three cichlid species in Asia, making it a unique representative in the region. Both parents care for the eggs and fry, with spawning occurring in shallow water on soft depressions, laying about 200 eggs that hatch after five days. The fry are fed with skin mucus, similar to discus fish, which is essential for their survival. This parental care, combined with its cleaning behavior, makes the Orange Chromide a standout in fishkeeping communities.
The Orange Chromide’s popularity in aquariums dates back decades, with the orange form being a staple in the mid-1990s hobby. Recent efforts to reintroduce Czech-bred stocks highlight its enduring appeal. Its natural environment includes estuaries, rivers, and weedy lagoons, where it plays a dual role as both cleaner and predator. This adaptability, coupled with its peaceful nature, makes it compatible with schooling fish that serve as signal fish against danger, enhancing its suitability for community tanks.
Orange Chromide (Pseudetroplus maculatus) Profile
The Orange Chromide, or Pseudetroplus maculatus, is a delightful cichlid fish known for its vibrant colors and adaptable nature. This table provides a comprehensive overview of its care requirements, behaviors, and compatibility, ensuring aquarists have all the information needed for a thriving tank setup.
| Family | Cichlidae, Etroplinae |
| Price | $5-$15 per fish, depending on variant and availability |
| Common Names | Orange Chromide, Pallathi (Malayalam), Red Chromide |
| Variants | Wild (greenish/grey with red-tipped spots), Aquarium (bright orange/yellow) |
| Ideal Tank Size | Minimum 60 liters, mature tank with good filtration |
| Water Parameters | pH 7.0-9.0, temperature 20-25°C, hardness 179-357 ppm, brackish preferred |
| Lifespan | Up to 8 years in captivity |
| Full Size | Maximum 9.5 cm total length, 14 g maximum weight |
| Natural Environment | Brackish/freshwater lagoons, streams, estuaries in southern India, Sri Lanka |
| Behavior | Cleaner fish, peaceful in groups, shy, territorial during breeding |
| Habitat Preference | Benthopelagic, bottom to mid-water, among roots and weeds |
| Aquarium Decoration | Hiding places, plants, rocks, driftwood, soft substrate for breeding |
| Ideal Tank Mates | Schooling fish like tetras, rasboras, guppies; peaceful brackish species |
| Fish to Avoid | Aggressive cichlids, large predators, fin-nippers |
| Best Foods/Diet | Flakes, pellets, live/frozen foods (bloodworm), color-enhancing foods |
| Disease | Susceptible to ich, fin rot; brackish conditions reduce disease risk |
| Sex-Switch | No evidence of sex-switching |
| Gender Differences | Females may have white margins on caudal fin, less distinct in some variants |
| Care Level | Moderate, requires stable water conditions and hiding places |
| Breeding Level | Moderate, biparental care, requires soft substrate and stable parameters |
Ideal Tank Mates for Orange Chromide (Pseudetroplus maculatus)
The Orange Chromide, or Pseudetroplus maculatus, thrives in community tanks with peaceful, schooling fish that complement its shy temperament and brackish water preferences. These tank mates serve as signal fish, alerting the Orange Chromide to potential dangers, and their active swimming encourages natural behaviors. Below, we detail 15 ideal tank mates, explaining why each is compatible with the Orange Chromide.
The Orange Chromide’s peaceful nature makes it compatible with small, non-aggressive fish that share similar water parameters. Schooling fish like tetras and rasboras are excellent choices, as their active movements provide a sense of security. Brackish-tolerant species, such as certain guppies and mollies, also align well with the Orange Chromide’s habitat preferences. These tank mates enhance the tank’s dynamics, ensuring a harmonious environment for Pseudetroplus maculatus.
Neon Tetra
Neon tetras are small, peaceful, and schooling, making them ideal for the Orange Chromide. Their vibrant colors add visual appeal, and their preference for soft, slightly acidic to neutral water aligns with the Orange Chromide’s needs, ensuring a stress-free tank.
Harlequin Rasbora
Harlequin rasboras are active swimmers that thrive in groups, complementing the Orange Chromide’s shy temperament. Their peaceful nature and preference for slightly acidic to neutral water make them compatible, encouraging natural foraging behaviors.
Guppy
Guppies are brackish-tolerant and peaceful, making them suitable for the Orange Chromide. Their active swimming and vibrant colors stimulate the tank, and their adaptability to varying water conditions aligns well with Pseudetroplus maculatus.
Endler’s Livebearer
Endler’s livebearers are small, peaceful, and brackish-tolerant, ideal for community tanks with the Orange Chromide. Their active nature and preference for stable water conditions ensure compatibility, enhancing the tank’s dynamics.
Cherry Barb
Cherry barbs are peaceful and schooling, complementing the Orange Chromide’s temperament. Their preference for slightly acidic to neutral water and active swimming behavior make them suitable, encouraging natural interactions.
Zebra Danio
Zebra danios are hardy, active, and schooling, making them compatible with the Orange Chromide. Their preference for neutral to slightly alkaline water aligns with Pseudetroplus maculatus, and their fast swimming encourages activity.
Molly
Mollies are brackish-tolerant and peaceful, ideal for the Orange Chromide. Their adaptability to varying salinities and active swimming behavior complement Pseudetroplus maculatus, ensuring a harmonious tank environment.
Platy
Platies are peaceful and brackish-tolerant, making them suitable for the Orange Chromide. Their vibrant colors and active nature stimulate the tank, and their preference for stable water conditions aligns with Pseudetroplus maculatus.
White Cloud Mountain Minnow
White cloud mountain minnows are small, peaceful, and schooling, complementing the Orange Chromide. Their preference for neutral water and active swimming behavior make them compatible, encouraging natural interactions.
Siamese Algae Eater
Siamese algae eaters are peaceful and brackish-tolerant, ideal for the Orange Chromide. Their algae-eating behavior helps maintain tank cleanliness, and their preference for stable water conditions aligns with Pseudetroplus maculatus.
Kuhli Loach
Kuhli loaches are peaceful and bottom-dwelling, complementing the Orange Chromide’s benthopelagic nature. Their shy temperament and preference for neutral to slightly alkaline water make them compatible, enhancing tank dynamics.
Bumblebee Goby
Bumblebee gobies are brackish-tolerant and peaceful, making them suitable for the Orange Chromide. Their small size and preference for stable water conditions align with Pseudetroplus maculatus, ensuring a stress-free environment.
Swordtail
Swordtails are peaceful and brackish-tolerant, ideal for the Orange Chromide. Their active swimming and vibrant colors stimulate the tank, and their adaptability to varying salinities complements Pseudetroplus maculatus.
Corydoras Catfish
Corydoras catfish are peaceful and bottom-dwelling, complementing the Orange Chromide’s shy temperament. Their preference for neutral water and scavenging behavior make them compatible, enhancing tank cleanliness.
Glassfish
Glassfish are brackish-tolerant and peaceful, making them suitable for the Orange Chromide. Their unique transparent appearance adds visual interest, and their preference for stable water conditions aligns with Pseudetroplus maculatus.
Orange Chromide (Pseudetroplus maculatus) FAQs
The Orange Chromide, or Pseudetroplus maculatus, sparks curiosity among aquarists with its unique behaviors and care needs. Below, we address additional questions not covered earlier, providing fresh insights to enhance your fishkeeping experience.
How can I enhance the Orange Chromide’s coloration in my tank?
Color-enhancing foods fortified with beta-carotene, such as specialized flakes or pellets, can bring out the reddish hues in Pseudetroplus maculatus. Maintaining brackish water conditions also helps, as it mimics their natural environment and boosts color vibrancy.
What signs indicate stress in my Orange Chromide?
Look for faded colors, reduced activity, or hiding more than usual, as these can signal stress in the Orange Chromide. Check water parameters, ensure adequate hiding places, and confirm tank mates are compatible to reduce stress.
Can the Orange Chromide live with plants in the tank?
Yes, Pseudetroplus maculatus can live with hardy plants like Java fern or Anubias, which tolerate brackish conditions. These plants provide hiding spots and enhance the tank’s natural feel, supporting the Orange Chromide’s shy nature.
How do I acclimate my Orange Chromide to a new tank?
Slowly acclimate the Orange Chromide by floating the bag in the tank for 15-20 minutes to match temperatures, then gradually mix tank water into the bag over 30 minutes. This gentle process reduces shock and ensures a smooth transition.
What should I do if my Orange Chromide stops eating?
Check water quality, as poor conditions can affect appetite in Pseudetroplus maculatus. Offer varied foods like live or frozen options to stimulate interest, and ensure tank mates aren’t outcompeting them for food. If issues persist, consult a vet.
