Orange Chromide Cichlid - Etroplus maculatus

Orange Chromide Cichlid (Pseudetroplus maculatus)

The Orange Chromide Cichlid, Pseudetroplus maculatus, is an unusual South Asian cichlid with a compact body, golden-orange colouring and a distinctive dark shoulder spot. Also known as the Orange Chromide, Red Chromide, Spotted Etroplus or Orange Chromide Cichlid, this species is prized by aquarists who enjoy peaceful, characterful cichlids with specialist water requirements. Although often sold as a freshwater fish, it naturally occurs in both freshwater and brackish habitats, so it does best in hard, alkaline water and is especially suitable for carefully planned low-end brackish aquariums.

Common Name:
Orange Chromide Cichlid, Orange Chromide, Red Chromide, Spotted Etroplus.

Scientific Name (Latin):
Pseudetroplus maculatus
Formerly and still widely traded as Etroplus maculatus.

Maximum Size:
Up to around 9.5 cm.

Water Type:
Freshwater to brackish; best in hard, alkaline freshwater or low-end brackish conditions.

Origin / Natural Habitat:
Native to South Asia, including India and Sri Lanka. In the wild, Orange Chromides are found in lagoons, small streams, estuaries and weedy marginal areas, often among roots, plants and sheltered cover. Their natural range includes waters where salinity may vary, making them adaptable but not ideal for very soft, acidic aquariums.

Water Parameters:
Temperature: 20–26°C
pH Range: 7.2–8.5
Hardness or Salinity: Hard, alkaline freshwater to low-end brackish conditions. Avoid soft, acidic water. If kept brackish, salinity should be increased gradually and kept stable.

Temperament:
Peaceful to mildly territorial. Orange Chromides are generally sociable for cichlids and can work well in specialist communities, but pairs may defend a breeding area. They are not aggressive predators, but they should not be mixed with tiny fry or very delicate tank mates.

Diet:
Omnivorous. In the wild, this species feeds on zooplankton, algae, fish fry and small aquatic foods. In the aquarium, offer quality small cichlid pellets, tropical granules, flakes, frozen brineshrimp, mysis, daphnia, bloodworm, spirulina foods, algae-based flakes and occasional vegetable matter. A varied diet with both meaty and plant-based foods will give the best condition.

Minimum Tank Size:
A minimum of 120 litres is recommended for a small group or compatible pair, with larger aquariums preferred for mixed specialist communities. Provide plenty of floor space, plants or artificial cover, rocks, roots and broken lines of sight.

Behaviour & Activity:
A steady mid-to-lower level cichlid that spends much of its time exploring cover, grazing surfaces and interacting with its own kind. It can be kept in small groups when young, but adults may form pairs and become more territorial during breeding. This species shows interesting parental care and may become more protective when guarding eggs or fry.

Aquarium Category:
Community Fish
Best suited to a specialist hard-water or brackish community. Suitable tank mates may include other peaceful brackish-tolerant fish of similar size, such as certain livebearers, bumblebee gobies in appropriate setups, glassfish, mollies or other calm hard-water species. Avoid soft-water fish, aggressive cichlids, large predators, fin-nippers and species that need very different water chemistry.

Special Requirements or Care Notes:
This is not the best choice for a standard soft-water community aquarium. Keep in clean, stable, well-filtered water with regular maintenance, as Orange Chromides are sensitive to poor water quality. Hard, alkaline conditions are strongly preferred, and a low-end brackish setup can be beneficial when maintained consistently. Do not make sudden salinity changes. Provide cover, calm tank mates and a mature aquarium.

Suitable for:
Intermediate fishkeepers

Availability:
Occasional in trade / Specialist import or captive-bred where relevant

All images are a visual representation of the fish you will receive, made to be as accurate as possible. Please note that Mother Nature is a wonderful thing, and variation in patterns and colours will occur — that is part of the unique beauty of these animals.