All fish / Osphronemidae

Lined Paradise Fish

Macropodus lineatus

Also known as lined paradisefish, vietnamese paradise fish, striped paradise fish, macropodus lineatus, マクロポダス・リネアトゥス, 线纹叉尾斗鱼

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This is a small labyrinth fish with a brownish body crossed by dark vertical bars. Males have long, pointed fins edged in blue with a reddish tinge in the tail. People keep it because it is hardy, copes with cooler water than most tropical fish and is not as quarrelsome as the common paradise fish.

Care at a glance

Care level

Easy

Temperament

Semi

Adult size

6 cm

Temperature

18 to 26 °C

pH

6 to 7.5

Smallest tank

60 litres

Keep as

One male with one or two females, or a pair

Diet

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

Swims

Top of the tank

Lifespan

4 to 6 years

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

Northern and central Vietnam (Red River and nearby coastal basins)

Breeding

The male builds a bubble nest at the surface among floating plants, spawns with the female beneath it and then guards the eggs and fry. Breeding is fairly easy in a quiet, well planted tank. Take the female out after spawning and feed the fry infusoria and then newly hatched brine shrimp.

Good to know

Males fight each other and can bother long-finned or very small tankmates. It is sometimes muddled up with Macropodus opercularis and other Macropodus species, so buy from a seller who can confirm the identity.