In this newly set up 55G devoted to my two brackish water Etroplus species, maculatus and suratensis, a pair of Orange chromides has spawned on an air stone. The sexual dimorphism of the male and female is very apparent when in their breeding dress. The male assumes a light grey background color and shows some darkening on the sides below the lateral line, along with some splotches higher up. The female turns a yellow color and takes on darker, 'sooty' colored flanks. She is also smaller than the male of the same age. When out of breeding coloration , they look very similar, except the female has very faint white tips on the top and bottom lobes of the caudal fin. Notice that the eggs are on tiny threads or stocks and wave about in the current. Here's a video of the happy couple.
[video=youtube_share;mAaidO3X2w4]http://youtu.be/mAaidO3X2w4[/video]
[video=youtube_share;mAaidO3X2w4]http://youtu.be/mAaidO3X2w4[/video]
