Slender Mandarinfish — a Percichthyidae from 中国, assertive but manageable with space and structure. Reaches 28–41.1 cm; singly, in pairs, or as a harem — never crowded. 4–22 °C.
Care parameters
Water temperature
4–22 °C
pH
7–7.4
GH hardness
2–5 dGH
Adult length
28–41.1 cm
Minimum tank
500 L
Water layer
Middle to bottom
Difficulty
Moderate
Temperament
Assertive but manageable with space and structure
Origin
中国
Species overview
Percichthyidae species Siniperca roulei comes from 中国. Territory is its whole worldview; rocks arranged as walls calm what open water cannot. It lives on the bottom. Adults reach 28–41.1 cm. Singly, in pairs, or as a harem — never crowded. Strong filtration, hardscape boundaries and a steady routine turn a brawler into a showpiece. Maintain 4–22 °C at pH 7–7.4. Water quality and diet matter more than décor.
Native biotope
Habitat
River rapids and rocky lakeshores
Flow
Moderate to strong current
Dissolved O₂
High
Aquascape & hardware
Substrate
Gravel and rock
Hardscape
Rock piles and boulders
Plants
Hardy species
Temperament, diet & tankmates
Schooling
Singly, in pairs, or as a harem — never crowded
Diet
Accepts all foods; emphasise quality over variety
Recommended tankmates
Other cichlids of similar size and temperament — Balance aggression across the tank
Avoid keeping with
Delicate planted-tank species — Uprooted and outcompeted
Breeding & notes
Sexual dimorphism
Breeding colours differ
Breeding method
Cave or substrate spawner with prolonged parental care