All fish / Osphronemidae

Paradise Fish

Macropodus opercularis

Also known as paradise gourami, paradisefish, blue paradise fish, albino paradise fish, black paradise fish, common paradise fish, paradise fish gourami, ปลาพาราไดซ์, ikan laga cina, タイワンキンギョ, パラダイスフィッシュ, ikan paradise

A hardy labyrinth fish with bold red and blue vertical bars and long, trailing fins in males. It was one of the first ornamental fish kept in Europe and remains popular because it tolerates cool, unheated tanks and shows lively, characterful behaviour.

Care at a glance

Care level

Easy

Temperament

Semi

Adult size

8 cm

Temperature

16 to 26 °C

pH

6 to 8

Smallest tank

80 litres

Keep as

One male alone or with one or more females

Diet

Omnivore: quality flakes and pellets, bloodworm, brine shrimp, daphnia and insect larvae

Swims

Top of the tank

Lifespan

6 to 8 years

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

Southern China, Taiwan, northern Vietnam, Korea

Breeding

Males build a bubble nest at the surface, embrace the female beneath it and guard the eggs and fry. Breeding is easy, but the female should be removed after spawning and the male once fry swim freely.

Good to know

Males fight fiercely with each other and may nip or bully small, slow or long-finned tankmates, so choose robust companions. Keep a tight lid, as they can jump.