{"id":3094,"date":"2026-02-16T23:23:52","date_gmt":"2026-02-16T23:23:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/aquadistribution.co.uk\/product\/canara-pearl-spot-cichlid-etroplus-canarensis-5cm\/"},"modified":"2026-02-16T23:23:52","modified_gmt":"2026-02-16T23:23:52","slug":"canara-pearl-spot-cichlid-etroplus-canarensis-5cm","status":"publish","type":"product","link":"https:\/\/aquadistribution.co.uk\/?product=canara-pearl-spot-cichlid-etroplus-canarensis-5cm","title":{"rendered":"Canara Pearl Spot Cichlid Etroplus Canarensis 5cm"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Canara Pearl Spot Cichlid<\/p>\n<p>Scientific Name: Etroplus canarensis<\/p>\n<p>Common Names: Canara Pearl Spot Cichlid, Malabar Cichlid<\/p>\n<p>Overview<br \/>\nThe Canara Pearl Spot Cichlid (Etroplus canarensis) is a beautiful and relatively lesser-known species of cichlid that is native to the coastal rivers of the Western Ghats in India. Known for its striking appearance, this cichlid has a pearlescent, iridescent body with distinct spot patterns that resemble pearls, which gives it its &#8220;Pearl Spot&#8221; name. These fish are peaceful, though they can be territorial, especially during breeding. They thrive in well-planted aquariums with stable water conditions and are ideal for experienced aquarists looking to add a unique species to their tank.<\/p>\n<p>Key Information<br \/>\nSize: 4\u20136 inches (10\u201315 cm)<br \/>\nLifespan: 5\u20138 years<br \/>\nTemperament: Semi-aggressive, territorial during breeding<br \/>\nDiet: Omnivore<br \/>\nSwimming Level: Mid to bottom level<\/p>\n<p>Habitat &amp; Tank Setup<br \/>\nTank Size: Minimum 30 gallons for a pair, larger for a group<br \/>\nGroup Size: Best kept as pairs or small groups (if the tank is large enough)<br \/>\nSubstrate: Fine sand or smooth gravel<br \/>\nDecor: Rocks, driftwood, and plants for hiding and territorial areas<br \/>\nPlants: Hardy plants such as Java Fern, Anubias, and Amazon Sword<br \/>\nLighting: Moderate to bright<br \/>\nFiltration: Moderate filtration with gentle water movement<\/p>\n<p>Water Parameters<br \/>\nTemperature: 75\u201382\u00b0F (24\u201328\u00b0C)<br \/>\npH: 7.0\u20138.0<br \/>\nHardness: Moderately hard (6\u201312 dGH)<br \/>\nWater Quality: Clean, well-oxygenated water with regular water changes<\/p>\n<p>Feeding<br \/>\nDiet Type: Omnivore<br \/>\nSuitable Foods:<br \/>\nHigh-quality flakes or pellets<br \/>\nFrozen or live foods (brine shrimp, daphnia, bloodworms)<br \/>\nVegetables like spinach, zucchini, or peas<br \/>\nFeeding Frequency: 1\u20132 times per day, in moderate portions<\/p>\n<p>Tankmates<br \/>\nCompatible With:<br \/>\nPeaceful to semi-aggressive species, including other Indian subcontinent fish<br \/>\nOther medium-sized cichlids<br \/>\nPeaceful bottom dwellers like Corydoras or small loaches<br \/>\nAvoid:<br \/>\nVery aggressive fish or overly large species<br \/>\nSpecies that might outcompete them for food or invade their territories<\/p>\n<p>Care Notes<br \/>\nBreeding: Canara Pearl Spot Cichlids are egg layers. During breeding, they can become territorial and may guard their eggs or fry aggressively. Providing plenty of hiding spots and space is important.<br \/>\nTemperament: While peaceful under normal conditions, they can show aggression during the breeding season. It is recommended to provide visual barriers or multiple hiding places to reduce territorial disputes.<br \/>\nWater Quality: These fish thrive in clean, stable water conditions. Regular water changes are important to maintain optimal health.<br \/>\nSocial Nature: While they can coexist with other species, care must be taken when keeping them with other territorial or aggressive fish.<\/p>\n<p>Fun Fact<br \/>\nThe Canara Pearl Spot Cichlid is one of the lesser-known cichlids from India, making it a unique addition to any cichlid lover\u2019s collection. The males tend to have more vivid coloration and larger fins, especially during the breeding season. This species is named for the pearlescent spots that appear on its body, a characteristic that makes it particularly stunning in aquariums with bright lighting.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Canara Pearl Spot Cichlid Scientific Name: Etroplus canarensis Common Names: Canara Pearl Spot Cichlid, Malabar Cichlid Overview The Canara Pearl Spot Cichlid (Etroplus canarensis) is a beautiful and relatively lesser-known species of cichlid that is native to the coastal rivers of the Western Ghats in India. Known for its striking appearance, this cichlid has a [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":3093,"template":"","meta":[],"product_brand":[],"product_cat":[29],"product_tag":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-3094","1":"product","2":"type-product","3":"status-publish","4":"has-post-thumbnail","6":"product_cat-african-cichlid-other","8":"first","9":"instock","10":"taxable","11":"shipping-taxable","12":"purchasable","13":"product-type-simple"},"group_of_quantity":0,"min_quantity":0,"max_quantity":"","exclude_order_quantity_value_rules":"no","exclude_category_quantity_rules":"no","combine_variations":"no","exclude_global_add_ons":[],"addons":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/aquadistribution.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/product\/3094","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/aquadistribution.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/product"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/aquadistribution.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/product"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aquadistribution.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/3093"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/aquadistribution.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=3094"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"product_brand","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aquadistribution.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fproduct_brand&post=3094"},{"taxonomy":"product_cat","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aquadistribution.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fproduct_cat&post=3094"},{"taxonomy":"product_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aquadistribution.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fproduct_tag&post=3094"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}