All fish / Osphronemidae

Bintan Licorice Gourami

Parosphromenus bintan

Also known as bintan licorice gourami, bintan liquorice gourami, licorice gourami, liquorice gourami, parosphromenus sp. bintan, パロスフロメヌス・ビンタン, cupang lakrik bintan, 宾坦古代战船, 宾坦锯盖足鲈

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A tiny, slender gourami with brown and dark lengthwise bands, and males show dark fins edged in pale blue or white when displaying. It is kept by enthusiasts of blackwater fish and conservation-minded keepers who want to maintain rare peat-swamp species in dimly lit, leaf-filled tanks.

Care at a glance

Care level

Hard

Temperament

Peaceful

Adult size

3.5 cm

Temperature

22 to 28 °C

pH

4 to 6

Smallest tank

30 litres

Keep as

A pair or small group in a species-only tank

Diet

Carnivore: small live foods such as daphnia, cyclops, grindal worms and newly hatched brine shrimp; frozen foods sometimes taken

Swims

Bottom of the tank

Lifespan

2 to 4 years

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

Indonesia (Bintan and Bangka islands, Riau Archipelago) and possibly southern Malay Peninsula

Breeding

Males build a small bubble nest under cover, usually beneath a leaf or in a cave, and guard the eggs and fry. Breeding is achievable in very soft, acidic, quiet water, but broods are small and the fry need infusoria-sized first foods.

Good to know

Its peat-swamp habitat is badly threatened, so captive-bred stock is preferable, and it is easily confused with other licorice gourami species, so keep species and locations separate to avoid hybrids. Needs very soft, acidic water and should not be kept with boisterous fish.