Red Chromide

[SCM_2123]

I know it's an Asian cichlid but how many of you have kept these? What group size works best, what tankmates work best, and how aggressive are they? Are they brackish or not? I'm finding conflicting information.

 

[tlindsey]

I know it's an Asian cichlid but how many of you have kept these? What group size works best, what tankmates work best, and how aggressive are they? Are they brackish or not? I'm finding conflicting information.

duanes

 

[duanes]

I have kept both Etroplus suratensus and canarensus and found both to be unaggressive, and do well in shoals.
The Orange Chromide Pseudetroplus maculatus is found in brackish and freshwater environments,
I believe the red version, is a color morph developed thru line breeding to develope the more red hues, and will probably be more adaped to fresh water, but still retain its ability to handle saline conditions.
Etroplus canarensis hails from fore fresh water riverine environments, being aboout the size of maculatus, I kept them in a tank as small as 55 gals.

Etroplus were equally not aggessive but get much larger, I had a few grow to almost a foot, so a minimum 6 ft tank would be my minium.

The genus Etropinus (their close relatives) are some of my favorites cichlids

 

[duanes]

If your tap water is soft, with pH in the 6.5 range, Etroplus canarensis might be a better choice.
If your tap water hard with a pH of 7.5 to 9, the other Etroplines may adapt better.
In nature barbs, rasboras and danios are found in the sames waters.

 

[SCM_2123]

Thanks for all of the information! How would they do with rainbowfish?

 

[duanes]

Being a geographic purist, I have never tried to combine Australian, or Papua island fish with cichlids.
I would suppose those that hail from similar water parameters in nature, would work in aquaria.