Brackish Water Cichlids

The family Cichlidae evolved from marine ancestors, and many species remain very tolerant of brackish water, and a few species are even found in fully marine environments in some parts of their range.

Two cichlids from South Asia, the orange chromide Etroplus maculatus and the green chromide Etroplus suratensis, are almost entirely brackish water fish in the wild and must be kept in a brackish water aquarium to do well in captivity. Both species make excellent community fish. They are gregarious fish outside of breeding, but when breeding become territorial, with stable pairs defending their eggs and fry. Orange chromides may be kept singly, in matched pairs, or as groups; green chromides are somewhat more nervous despite their larger size and best kept in groups of six or more individuals. Neither species is particularly aggressive by cichlid standards.

The orange chromide only gets to about 8 cm in length, and mixes well with knight gobies and other medium-sized fish; the green chromide gets to about 30 cm in captivity (40 cm in the wild) and so mixes well with scats, monos, and archerfish. It is a schooling herbivore and should be kept as a group and offered a diet rich in greens, particularly algae.

The African cichlid Sarotherodon melanotheron is another species particularly associated with brackish water habitats, though aquarium specimens appear to do well in freshwater conditions as well. Its large size (up to 40 cm) and robust temperament make it a bit less amenable to community life than the two chromides.

Make a point of reading Saltwater cichlids: Knowledge of salinity tolerance and preference may allow new species combinations and improved husbandry in aquaria by Ronald G. Oldfield.

The following is a partial list of cichlids known to enter brackish or salt water in the wild. Not all species are widely traded.

Levant, South Asia and Madagascar

• Etroplus maculatus (not less than SG 1.002, and up to SG 1.010)
• Etroplus suratensis (not less than SG 1.005, and up to SG 1.012)
• Iranocichla spp. (low salinity, <SG 1.005)
• Paretroplus damii (low salinity, <SG 1.005)
• Ptychochromis grandidieiir (low salinity, <SG 1.005)
• Ptychochromis inornatus (low salinity, <SG 1.005)
• Ptychochromis makira (low salinity, <SG 1.005)
• Ptychochromis loiselli (low salinity, <SG 1.005)
• Ptychochromis oligacanthus (low salinity, <SG 1.005)
• Ptychochromis ‘Fort Dauphin’ (low salinity, <SG 1.005)

Africa

• Hemichromis bimaculatus (low salinity, <SG 1.005)
• Hemichromis letourneuxi (up to full-strength seawater)
• Oreochromis aureus (at least SG 1.010)
• Oreochromis mossambicus (up to full-strength seawater)
• Oreochromis niloticus (at least SG 1.010)
• Pelvicachromis pulcher (low salinity, <SG 1.005)
• Pelviachromis ocellatus (low salinity, <SG 1.005)
• Sarotherodon galilaeus (at least SG 1.010)
• Sarotherodon melanotheron (up to full-strength seawater)
• Tilapia guineensis (up to full-strength seawater)
• Tilapia rendalli (at least SG 1.010)
• Tilapia zillii (up to full-strength seawater)
• Tylochromis jentinki (low salinity, <SG 1.005)

South and Central America

• Amphilophus hogaboomorum (low salinity, <SG 1.005)
• Cichla ocellaris (low salinity, <SG 1.005)
• Cichlasoma beani (low salinity, <SG 1.005)
• Cichlasoma bimaculatum (up to SG 1.010)
• Cichlasoma urophthalmus (up to full-strength seawater)
• Geophagus brasiliensis (low salinity, <SG 1.005)
• Herichthys carpintis (at least SG 1.010)
• Herichthys pantostictus (low salinity, <SG 1.005)
• Herichthys pearsei (at least SG 1.010)
• Heros severus (low salinity, <SG 1.005)
• Nandopsis haitiensis (up to full-strength seawater)
• Nandopsis tetracanthus (at least SG 1.010)
• Parachromis friedrichsthalii (low salinity, <SG 1.005)
• Parachromis motaguensis (low salinity, <SG 1.005)
• Rocio octofasciata (low salinity, <SG 1.005)
• Vieja maculicauda (at least SG 1.010)
• Vieja synspila (low salinity, <SG 1.005)