All fish / Osphronemidae

Opal Licorice Gourami

Parosphromenus opallios

Also known as opal licorice gourami, opal liquorice gourami, parosphromenus opallios, licorice gourami, liquorice gourami, パロスフロメヌス・オパリオス, 欧泊巧克力丽丽

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A tiny blackwater gourami with dark and pale brown body stripes, and males that show opalescent blue edges on the unpaired fins when displaying. Specialist keepers value it for its subtle beauty, calm behaviour and its place in conservation of threatened peat swamp fishes.

Care at a glance

Care level

Hard

Temperament

Peaceful

Adult size

3 cm

Temperature

23 to 28 °C

pH

4 to 6

Smallest tank

25 litres

Keep as

A pair or small group in a species-only tank

Diet

Carnivore: live foods such as baby brine shrimp, daphnia, cyclops, grindal worms and small mosquito larvae

Swims

Bottom of the tank

Lifespan

2 to 4 years

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

Central Kalimantan, Borneo (Indonesia)

Breeding

Males build small bubble nests under leaves or inside caves, usually upside down on the ceiling, and guard the eggs and fry. Spawning is achievable in very soft, acidic, tannin-stained water with plenty of cover, but fry are tiny and need infusoria or similar first foods.

Good to know

Needs very soft, acidic water and is easily outcompeted, so keep it alone or with only tiny peaceful fish. Wild habitat is under heavy pressure from peat swamp clearance, and similar licorice gouramis are often mislabelled in the trade.