Order Perciformes
Family Cichlidae
As is well known, only three native species of cichlids inhabit Asia. These are fish belonging to the genera Etroplus and Iranocichla. The smallest among the etroplus species is Etroplus maculatus, or the orange chromide, which fits the definition of dwarf cichlids best of all. The size of these fish rarely reaches 8 cm.
Subfamily Etroplinae
Genus Etroplus
Etroplus inhabit the brackish waters of India and Sri Lanka. Two species of cichlids live exclusively in brackish water. Both species inhabit the coastal waters of Southern India and Sri Lanka, mainly estuaries and lagoons. The salinity of both types of habitats fluctuates depending on the tide cycle and freshwater inflow, which also changes from season to season.
Both species are closely related and live where sea grass (Halophila) is present, providing them with shelter and spawning sites. The orange chromide (Etroplus maculatus) spawns on narrow plant leaves. Larger Ceylon etroplus (Etroplus suratensis) prefer to lay their eggs in pits by digging under sea grass roots, and sometimes use them as a spawning substrate.
— Etroplus maculatus [Bloch, 1795] — Orange Chromide. Synonym: Chaetodon maculatus, Etroplus coruchi. (Eng.: Orange Chromide). Inhabits brackish and freshwater bodies of Southeast Asia, on the southern coast of India and Sri Lanka. 8 cm, in an aquarium 5-10 cm. In the wild, it is usually olive-colored with dark gray spots, but partially or fully orange-red forms have been bred in aquarium culture. The original (as well as the bred) form features a curved, disc-shaped body. The high body is strongly laterally compressed. Head and gill covers without scales. Sides are shiny, lemon-yellow, gray-violet, bluish, and yellowish specimens occur. Belly is reddish-blue. Lips are blue.
The male is grayish-brown or greenish-yellow with a bluish sheen, with longitudinal rows of red dots on the body. There are 2-3 spots on the sides, of which the larger one (usually black) is located almost in the middle of the body and two smaller ones follow it. Small shiny green-blue dots are scattered on the tip of the snout, under the eye, and on the gill cover.
The dorsal and anal fins in these fish are relatively low, long, with a red border in the male and blue in the female. A red border runs along the outer edge of the caudal fin. Black-blue stripes of varying intensity may appear in the lower part of the body, sometimes merging with each other. During the breeding season, the male’s coloration is brighter, but a marbled pattern appears on his body. In an excited state and during the mating season, the lower part of the body, pelvic fins, and partially the anal fin are black.
The female is smaller, fuller than the male, with a silvery-brown coloration. Adult females during breeding (or immediately before it) develop white markings on the upper and lower edges of the tail. Growing fry are remarkably beautiful: their head is one large black eye, the chest is bright orange, and the rest of the body is dark brown. Golden and orange-red varieties are known, bred on farms in Southeast Asia. They are somewhat smaller in size, but more demanding and heat-loving.
They peacefully coexist with proportionate, calm tankmates, but become aggressive when space is deficient. When kept in an aquarium, a pair of fish requires a territory of 180 cm². A schooling species, they can be kept in pairs, both in a community and a species aquarium. They are not aggressive toward each other, but guard their territory from other cichlid species of similar size.
Do not dig up the substrate. An aquarium with hard-leaved long, narrow-leaved plants (Vallisneria), stones, various rocky shelters, and flower pots firmly fixed to the bottom. Looks great against a background of dark substrate and lush greenery. Soft-leaved plants are eaten. This peaceful fish has high adaptability, and in its homeland even reaches water mixed with sea water.
Young striped etroplus can still normally exist in fresh water, but adult fish need a salted (3-5 ppt) habitat. Without harm to health, this inhabitant of the estuarine waters of Sri Lanka also tolerated a salinity of 10-15 ppt, making it suitable for keeping in a brackish marine aquarium. Tankmates and plants are chosen to tolerate salt water. Aeration, filtration, and water changes are mandatory. They tolerate sudden changes in water composition poorly.
An insectivorous fish that requires live food: pieces of milt, cod, chopped shrimp, Artemia, and appropriate dry food. Animal and plant food in equal proportions. The coloration of the fish can be significantly enhanced by including carotenoid-rich foods in their diet.
In fresh water, it easily falls ill with fungal and parasitic diseases, primarily ichthyophthiriasis. Resistance to diseases is higher in water mixed with sea salt (1-2 tablespoons of salt per 10 liters). Mature at 10-12 months. Spawn on narrow plant leaves. Parents care for the offspring and tend to their fry for weeks and even months. dH 8-20°; pH 7.5-8.5; T 20-25°C, salinity 1-5%.
Identification: Orange Chromide — Etroplus maculatus.
— Etroplus suratensis [Bloch, 1790] — Banded Chromide, Green Chromide, Pearlspot Cichlid. Synonyms: Chaetodon suratensis, Etroplus meleagris. (Eng.: Banded Chromide, Green Chromide, Pearlspot Cichlid). Coast and river mouths of India and Sri Lanka. Lives in brackish water, thus this fish is poorly suited for aquarium keeping. 25-30 cm. Body is high, disc-shaped. Main body background ranges from bluish-brown to gray-green of various shades with a pearlescent sheen.
There are 6-8 vertical greenish stripes along the body. The entire body is dotted with small pearlescent spots. Anal fins have a blue iridescence. There is no known real way to determine sex differences in the Ceylon etroplus. It is best to purchase half a dozen young specimens, raise them together, and let them form pairs on their own.
A large aquarium is required. A territorial aggressive species, especially during the breeding season. Forms a so-called “small family” consisting of parents and their offspring. Keeps in the middle and lower water layers. Shelters are necessary: pots and stone caves. Substrate — coarse coral sand.
Must be kept in groups of 6 or more. Quarreling occurs in smaller groups. Tankmates — large active fish, such as rainbowfish. They can also be kept with other brackish water fish, such as scatfish and argus fish — however, in this case, a deep (60 cm) aquarium will be required for the vertical distribution of these species.
The aquarium can be planted with large, sturdy plants, although they are known plant eaters. Without a small addition of salt to the aquarium, it is impossible to keep a specimen in a healthy state for a long period. Artificial plants are an ideal shelter for these fish: live plantings will be gladly eaten. But a few salt-tolerant live plants are still necessary in the aquarium.
Filtration, aeration, weekly water changes. Etroplus should be fed plant matter. Herbivorous species, food is mainly vegetable, as well as live and combined. Prefer to lay eggs in pits by digging under plant roots, and sometimes use roots as a spawning substrate. T 24-28°C; pH 7.4-8.4; dH up to 20°, salinity 3-15%.
— Etroplus canarensis [Day, 1877] — Canara Pearlspot. (Eng.: Canara Pearlspot, Orange Chromide). Southwest India, lives exclusively in fresh water, unlike other members of the genus. 25 cm, in an aquarium 10-15 cm. Body is strongly laterally compressed and has a high oval shape. Main color is yellow; dark, almost vertical stripes run in the middle of the body, which are not perfectly straight and intersect in places forming shapes similar to the Latin letters “V” and “X”.
There are no stripes on the back and belly, but the scales have dark edges. The gill covers have an attractive blue wavy pattern. Dorsal and anal fins are transparent and low. The caudal fin is symmetrical and also transparent. There are almost no external differences between male and female.
Very peaceful cichlids that can be kept with many other species. Do not add large or aggressive species to them. Best kept in a school in a spacious aquarium; they have very low intraspecific and interspecific aggression. Decorate the aquarium with large stones, driftwood, and hard-leaved plants. Water must be oxygenated, and the water flow must be strong. Filtration, aeration, weekly water changes.
Adult fish are mostly herbivorous, but also eat live food. Live, frozen, and dried products are used for feeding, but the main food should be vegetarian. Timid and shy fish, voracious species can outcompete them for food. Mature in the second year of life. Unfortunately, breeding in aquarium conditions is very difficult. Spawn on a flat stone. Lifespan is 6 years. pH 6.0-7.0; dH 5-10°; T 22-28°C.
Identification: Canara Pearlspot — Etroplus canarensis.
Subfamily Pseudocrenilabrinae
Genus Iranocichla
— Iranocichla hormuzensis [Coad, 1982]. Iran. Male 9 cm, female 5 cm. The male is brick-brownish on the lower side of the head and black in the fronto-occipital part, sometimes the lower part of the head is also black. The chin is white. The entire body and fins are covered with white spots. On the dorsal fin, the spots are arranged in oblique rows.
On the anal fin, spots are present only at the beginning, and the second half is black. Pectoral fins lack spots, but are black. Dominant males during the spawning season turn black with shiny turquoise spots on the body and especially on the fins. Some variants have an absolutely dark body coloration, as well as lips.
Females are silvery, with up to 9 incomplete stripes on the body, fins are yellowish. Dorsal fin with a black spot. Juveniles are silvery-green in color, have a black spot on the soft rays of the dorsal fin and 7-11 stripes on the body. Water with a high salt content. Spirulina should be present in the diet. Of interest mainly to collectors. pH 7.8-8.6; T 20-30°C.
Cichlids of Madagascar Island.
Latest changes and additions made on April 26, 2014.
