All fish / Osphronemidae

Red-backed paradise fish

Macropodus erythropterus

Also known as red-back paradise fish, redback paradise fish, red-backed paradisefish, vietnamese paradise fish, レッドバック・パラダイスフィッシュ, 红背天堂鱼

A small labyrinth fish described in 2002, close kin to the common paradise fish but marked by a reddish back and long fins, with faint dark bars on the flanks and bluish edges to the fins. Keepers value it for its hardiness, vivid male courtship colours and interesting bubble nest behaviour.

Care at a glance

Care level

Easy

Temperament

Semi

Adult size

7 cm

Temperature

20 to 28 °C

pH

6 to 7.5

Smallest tank

60 litres

Keep as

One male with one or more females; avoid keeping two males together in small tanks

Diet

Omnivore: quality flakes and small pellets, plus live or frozen bloodworm, daphnia and brine shrimp

Swims

Top of the tank

Lifespan

5 to 8 years

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

Vietnam (Mekong and coastal basins of central and southern Vietnam)

Breeding

Males build a bubble nest at the surface, usually among floating plants, and guard the eggs and fry after spawning. Breeding is fairly easy in a quiet, well planted tank, though the female should be removed afterwards and the fry need infusoria at first.

Good to know

Males are territorial and can harass each other or slow, long-finned tankmates, so give plenty of cover. It may be confused with Macropodus opercularis or M. spechti in the trade, and a tight lid is needed as it can jump.