Kingdom Animalia Order Perciformes Subfamily Etroplinae Higher classification Etroplus | Phylum Chordata Family Cichlidae Scientific name Etroplus maculatus Rank Species | |
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Genus Pseudetroplus
Bleeker, 1862 Similar Etroplus, Cichlid, Green chromide, Canara pearlspot, Cichlasoma | ||
Pseudetroplus maculatus, also known as the orange chromide, is a species of fish endemic to freshwater and brackish streams, lagoons and estuaries in southern India and Sri Lanka. It is also known as pallathi (Malayalam: പള്ളത്തി) in Malayalam. The species is popular with fishkeeping hobbyists, and is kept frequently in aquariums. The species is part of the family Cichlidae and is included in subfamily Etroplinae.
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Diet
The species co-occurs throughout its range with Etroplus suratensis. Orange chromides prey on the eggs and larvae of E. suratensis and also act as a "cleaner fish" removing parasites from the larger green chromides in a cleaning symbiosis. Other fish that exhibit such cleaning behavior include cleaner wrasses and goby fish (Elacatinus spp.) The species also feeds on zooplankton and algae.
Parental care
According to (citing Ward and Ballow, 1967 and Wyman and Ward, 1973), young Entroplus maculatus feed on mucous coating of their parents; this is essential for the small fry survival. During the feeding period, the parent fish mucous glands increase 34%.