All fish / Osphronemidae

Spike-tailed Licorice Gourami

Parosphromenus filamentosus

Also known as spiketail licorice gourami, filament licorice gourami, spike tailed paradise fish, licorice gourami, liquorice gourami, filamentosus licorice gourami, パロスフロメヌス・フィラメントーサス, ikan api-api, 丝鳍巧克力娃娃, 丝尾甘草丝足鲈

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A tiny, slender gourami with dark horizontal bands on a buff body, and males show red, blue and black edged fins with a pointed spike in the centre of the tail. It is kept by specialists who enjoy recreating soft, tea-stained blackwater habitats with leaf litter and dim light.

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

40 litres

Keep as

A pair or small group in a species tank

Diet

Carnivore: live foods such as Artemia nauplii, Daphnia, Cyclops, grindal worms and mosquito larvae

Swims

Middle of the tank

Lifespan

3 to 5 years

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

Southern and central Borneo, Indonesia (Kalimantan)

Breeding

Males build small bubble nests under caves or leaves and guard the eggs and fry after spawning upside down beneath the roof. Breeding is quite achievable in very soft, acidic water with few disturbances, though broods are small and fry need infusoria at first.

Good to know

Needs very soft, acidic blackwater and is easily outcompeted, so keep alone or with very small, calm fish. Wild habitat in Borneo's peat swamps is threatened, so captive-bred stock is preferable.