All fish / Osphronemidae

Swamp Licorice Gourami

Parosphromenus paludicola

Also known as swamp liquorice gourami, paludicola licorice gourami, licorice gourami, liquorice gourami, parosphromenus paludicola, パロスフロメヌス・パルディコラ, 沼泽小丑斗鱼

A tiny, slender gourami with lengthwise dark and pale bands, and males show blue-edged unpaired fins when displaying. It is one of the larger, longer-bodied licorice gouramis and is kept by specialists for its delicate looks and interesting behaviour in dim, blackwater tanks.

Care at a glance

Care level

Hard

Temperament

Peaceful

Adult size

3.5 cm

Temperature

24 to 28 °C

pH

4 to 6

Smallest tank

30 litres

Keep as

Pair or small group in a species tank

Diet

Carnivore: live foods such as daphnia, cyclops, brine shrimp nauplii, microworms and grindal worms

Swims

Bottom of the tank

Lifespan

2 to 4 years

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

Peninsular Malaysia (Terengganu peat swamps) and southern Thailand

Breeding

Males build small bubble nests under leaves or in caves, usually upside down, and guard the eggs and fry. Spawning happens fairly readily in very soft, acidic water, but raising fry needs tiny live foods and stable conditions.

Good to know

Needs very soft, acidic, clean water and is unsuited to community tanks with boisterous fish. Its peat swamp habitat is threatened, so captive-bred stock should be preferred.