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No federal permit to keepOrange chromide
Pseudetroplus maculatus
Fishes › Cichlids (Cichliformes) › Cichlidae (Cichlids)
The orange chromide (Pseudetroplus maculatus) is a species of cichlid endemic to freshwater and brackish streams, lagoons and estuaries of southern India and Sri Lanka.
Care at a glance
Species-specific values
Values researched for this exact species. Where they differ from the group guide below, follow these. Air, surface and water temperatures are listed separately, and each source is kept as published rather than averaged.
| Water temperature | 68–82 °F (20–28 °C) Maintenance recommendations from this source; do not replace with a multisource average. | 260 |
| Water pH | 7–8.5 Maintenance recommendations from this source; do not replace with a multisource average. | 260 |
| Water general hardness | 10–20 dGH Maintenance recommendations from this source; do not replace with a multisource average. | 260 |
| Adult standard length | 80 mm Maximum standard length reported by source; excludes caudal fin, not total body length. | 260 |
| Minimum tank base | length: 120 cm; width: 60 cm Minimum aquarium base recommended by this source, not a tank-volume specification. For a group, not one fish. | 260 |
| Water salinity | Freshwater or brackish conditions are acceptable; avoid acidic water. | 260 |
| Minimum social group | 8 fish Group recommendation from the compatibility section. | 260 |
Species-specific aquarium care
- Tank: At least 24 in long and 12 in front to back for one adult (adults commonly reach about 3.7 in / 9.5 cm).
- Water: Freshwater (tolerates brackish).
- Temperature: 68–77°F (range recorded for this species).
- pH: 8–9.
- Hardness: 9–19 dGH.
- Layout: Uses both the bottom and open water: give open swimming space plus cover near the substrate.
- Diet: Eats a varied diet: mix quality prepared foods with frozen and live foods. FishBase classes it as a omnivore.
Calculated from this species' own FishBase record: tank size from its typical adult length and swimming zone, water values from its recorded ranges. The group guide below fills in general care.
Care guide
Species care notes
- Tank: a base of at least 47 × 24 in (roughly 114 US gallons); space needed is rated “large tank”.
- Water: a fairly wide range, from slightly acidic to slightly alkaline, 68–82 °F, pH 7–8.5, 10–20 dGH.
- Behaviour: temperament peaceful; a shoaling fish best kept in a group of six or more; not a community fish.
- Difficulty: Moderate (Seriously Fish rating).
Short excerpts from the species profile:
- Setup: “This species can be maintained in fresh or brackish water so long as acidic conditions are avoided.”
- Diet: “Observations of wild fish suggest it to be something of a generalist with a tendency to graze aufwuchs and filamentous algae from solid surfaces although it has been observed acting as a 'cleaner' for the congener E.”
- Tankmates: “Relatively peaceful unless breeding and will not predate on any but the smallest fishes.”
- Breeding: “This species is a biparental substrate spawner which forms temporary pair bonds when reproductively active.”
From the Seriously Fish profile for this species, which has the full habitat, maintenance, diet, behaviour and breeding write-up 167
Asian and Malagasy cichlids
Applies to most species in this group. Habitat: Coastal India, Sri Lanka and Madagascar. Individual species can differ, so compare with the species numbers above and the linked sources.
Housing & setup
- Set salinity by species. Pseudetroplus maculatus can be maintained in freshwater or brackish water and should not be kept in acidic water.
Climate & lighting
| Water | 75–82°F |
Diet
- Omnivorous foods; chromides graze algae and biofilm.
Health watch
- For Pseudetroplus maculatus, maintain suitable pH, hardness and clean water; freshwater maintenance is acceptable.
Understanding the animal
About this animal
About this animal
It is popular with fishkeeping hobbyists, and reaches a length of up to 8 cm (3.1 in).
Quoted from the Wikipedia article “Orange chromide” (CC BY-SA 4.0) 174
In the wild
In the wild
From this species’ own FishBase record (habitat, bottom type, water and breeding data), not its family. Good care copies these conditions.1
| Where it lives | Lives in freshwater and brackish water, in rivers and streams, rice paddies, estuaries. Uses both the bottom and open water. Occurs in lagoons and small streams. Enters estuaries. |
| Ground it lives on | Over submerged roots, leaf litter. |
| Water it lives in | Freshwater / brackish water, 68–77 °F (20–25 °C), pH 8–9, hardness 9–19 dH. |
| Climate | Tropical climate. |
| Behavior to plan for | Breeding: nesters, biparental parental care. |
What this means for care
- Keep water within its wild range, 68–77 °F.
- Add plants, roots, wood or leaf litter like its wild habitat.
- It tolerates or needs brackish water; check salinity needs before setup.
- Parents guard eggs or young, so expect territorial behavior when breeding.
Native climate (measured)
Native climate (measured)
| Warm-season highs | about 95°F (up to 101°F in the hottest sampled areas) |
| Cool-season lows | about 69°F (down to 63°F in the coldest sampled areas) |
| Average temperature | 80–83°F across sampled records |
| Relative humidity | 65–76% on average (driest month about 60%) |
| Rainfall | about 1340 mm a year, with strong wet and dry seasons |
Measured at 49 wild occurrence records sampled against WorldClim 2.1 climate data (1970–2000 averages). Air conditions in the range are ecological context, not enclosure settings: microhabitats such as burrows, leaf litter or basking rocks can be cooler, warmer or more humid.
From the sources
From the sources
Quoted from the matching sections of reputable sources for this exact species. Specialist databases are used first; Wikipedia (community-edited, CC BY-SA 4.0) only fills gaps. Other sources are short credited quotes.
| Overview | The orange chromide (Pseudetroplus maculatus) is a species of cichlid endemic to freshwater and brackish streams, lagoons and estuaries of southern India and Sri Lanka. It is popular with fishkeeping hobbyists, and reaches a length of up to 8 cm. — Wikipedia (community-edited) |
| Where it lives | Home ranges Population dynamics Growth parameters Max. ages / sizes Length-weight rel. Length-frequencies Mass conversion Recruitment Abundance Life cycle Reproduction Maturity Maturity/Gills rel. — FishBase |
| Wild diet | This species co-occurs throughout its range with the green chromide (Etroplus suratensis) and preys on the eggs and larvae of the latter. Additionally, it removes parasites from the larger green chromide; this is an example of cleaning symbiosis. This species also feeds on zooplankton and algae. — Wikipedia (community-edited) |
| Reproduction | Spawns in shallow water, on a soft depression excavated by both parents. About 200 eggs are laid and hatch after 5 days, during which time the parents tend, and if necessary fan them. One parent always remains with the eggs while the other forages. — FishBase |
| Biology | Occurs in lagoons and small streams. Often found among marginal roots and weeds in lagoons and some dry zone tanks (now relatively rare in the latter habitat). Feeds on fish fry, zooplankton and algae. — FishBase |
Data and studies
The numbers
The numbers
Each bar is what one source reports. Where several sources weigh in, the dashed gold band marks their average.
Typical adult weight
Average adult body mass in each database (FishBase gives the maximum recorded weight).
Adult length
Maximum recorded length. Measured as total length. Fish in home aquariums often stay smaller than wild records.
Water temperature
Range the species tolerates in nature; aim for the middle.
Water hardness
Minimum tank footprint
Seriously Fish recommends a tank base of at least 47 × 24 in (about 114 US gallons).
Sources for this sheet
- FishBase (Froese & Pauly, eds.), version 24.07 Peer-reviewed researchThe global scientific database on fishes, maintained by a consortium of research institutions; every value is referenced.
- Seriously Fish species profiles Experienced keeper or breederLong-running aquarium reference written and peer-checked by experienced fishkeepers and ichthyologists; each profile covers habitat, tank size, water, diet, behaviour and breeding.
- Merck Veterinary Manual: Management of aquarium fish Zoo, university or veterinaryThe Merck Veterinary Manual: a standard veterinary reference written and reviewed by veterinary specialists.
- Merck Veterinary Manual: Types and features of aquatic systems Zoo, university or veterinaryThe Merck Veterinary Manual: a standard veterinary reference written and reviewed by veterinary specialists.
- Seriously Fish — Pseudetroplus maculatus Zoo, university or veterinaryAdded in the 2026 source-checked care-guide review.
- Wikipedia (species article) Community referenceFree encyclopedia; useful overviews with their own citations. Intro text is quoted under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- iNaturalist (captive observations) Community referenceCommunity observation platform run by the California Academy of Sciences and National Geographic; observations marked captive show animals living in homes, zoos and aquariums.
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