Cichlids in India?

[Colby Dixon]

There is a chance I may find myself in Bangalore, India in the next year or so and it made me wonder: "What Cichlids, if any, live in India?"

If I do make it there, I'd like to take a trip to the local fish market and see what kind of interesting things show up. If possible, I'd like to do some collecting there, but realize that I will need to plan in advance to check on customs and game regulations. However, from what I understand of how Indian government works, any "reasonable" request can be negatiated (for a price )

Any advice?

[MatsP]

According to Fishbase, there are five species of Cichlidae in India, three of which are originating from India itself, and two that we've gone and introduced.

Etroplus canarensis Canara pearlspot endemic
Etroplus maculatus Orange chromide native
Etroplus suratensis Green chromide native
Oreochromis mossambicus Mozambique tilapia introduced
Oreochromis niloticus niloticus Nile tilapia introduced

Be aware that I've got absolutely no knowledge of fishes from India, I'm just using the existing information in Fishbase, and this may or may not be accurate...

--
Mats

[Colby Dixon]

I didn't even think to check fishbase...

Looks like I have a genus to start looking into now. Thank You!

[Don Hiatt]

Hi Seedy,
India is mostly dominated by Cyprinids (Barbs, Danios and Rasboras).
I have read theories that this may be the reason Cichlids are not well represented in India.

[nirmaldev]

yes.etroplus is the only native fish cichlid genre here in india.

[PsYcHoTiC_MaDmAn]

however there are some very intresting little fish under the genuses badis and dario there. from a bit of internet research i had been doing before (when i'd seen some dario dario(scarlet badis) in the shop) they were at 1 point described as dwarf cichlids, however their now in a seperate group.

their very pretty though (prefer cool temps though)

[jenelia]

Endemic cichlids are largely absent in Asia except for four species in the Jordan Valley in the Middle East, one in Iran, and three in India and Sri Lanka.

[Robert375]

Yes, You can find Cichlids in the east of India. Though it is small in number but it will increase in near future.

[faerrleah]

There are numerous cichlids kept in aquaria in India, and some exotic cichlids that have been introduced to Indian waters, but there are very few cichlids native to the Indian subcontinent. There are only three described species that I know of, all in the genus Etroplus. I am interested in them because they show some kinship with my favorite cichlids is the Paretroplus genus from Madagascar.

[Heiko Bleher]

Hi,

has anyone seen the beautiful video we made in January in southern India of the amazing colour population of Etroplus maculatus?

Have a look:
http://www.aquapress-bleher.com/index.p ... &Itemid=67

and enjoy,

best regrads
Heiko Bleher
www.aquapress-bleher.com

[Topielec]

Hello,

Yes, I've seen it in the past. Beautiful fish and video.
The thing that interested me is the comment about E. maculatus being a freshwater fish. It seems that this fact is mostly mistaken in the hobby?

[Heiko Bleher]

Hi,

yes, It seems that everyone copies everyone. I only write and document what I see with my own eyes (my grandfather was a great teacher to me, a fish and plant lover...).
I have done many expeditions to India (actually finishing a large book on its freshaeter fishes, over 850 species, hope to bring it out next year, first volume 2...) and on none of my field trips I found them in brackish water.

To me all 3 species are strickly freshwater dwellers. And I reserached extensively the brackishwater fishes around the entire Indian shelf (and found several marine fishes living in brackish and freshwaters...).

best regards
Heiko Bleher
www.aquapress-bleher.com

[Paulo José Alves]

Hi Heiko Bleher

Did I understand correctly, next year there will be a book from you about the Indian fish? I didnt understand the reference to a second volume. Are you going in the future to put out your Atlas of aquarium fish?

All The Best
Paulo José

[Bojan Dolenc]

I beleive Heiko menas "Bleher’s Discus 2" book
Dear Heiko, receive congratulations at the birth of you daughter Amanda Flora Bleher!
I also hope or beleive that she will surely continue to explore the last corners of this planet, as her father Heiko Bleher, her mother Natasha, her grandmother Amanda Flora Hilda Bleher (nee Kiel) and her grand-grandfather, Adolf Kiel, has done, to catalogue the last aquatic life forms in freshwaters of this planet before it is definitely to late.
Interview with: Heiko Bleher, Jul-2010

[blackghost]

Heiko,

Firstly, (I did not know, but) congratulations as Bojan offers.

I will never be qualified to argue with Heiko Bleher about fish, BUT...

......To me all 3 species are strickly freshwater dwellers. And I reserached extensively the brackishwater fishes around the entire Indian shelf (and found several marine fishes living in brackish and freshwaters...).

...are you saying that even E. suratensis is not found in brackish water? I have read that they are found in very soft freshwater with E. canarensis and E. maculatus (and that they do not grow as large here as they do in brackish water), but I also understand that they are more commonly found in coastal brackish lagoons.

???

[sidguppy]

adult suratensis aren't just brackish but can be caught near coral reefs (!)

from all accounts I've seen and read the suratensis really needs salt and often freshwater with a bit of salt won't do; it'll develop diseases once mature and does better when kept at a high brackish salinity

catch of a bunch of marine fish ; the suratensis is recognisable


another fisherman's catch.....



Etroplus suratensis in the brackish/marine swamp at Cyrene Reef, India

Etroplus suratensis has eshtablished itself in the coastal (!) waters of Singapore
http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/jour ... 1&SRETRY=0

definitely not a fresh water species; at best brackish, but likely often ventures in the deep blue sea

[blackghost]

Thank you sidguppy. I had thought that they might be sea tolerant. Its so exciting to see photo proof!