All fish / Osphronemidae

Redtail Licorice Gourami

Parosphromenus phoenicurus

Also known as red tail licorice gourami, redtail liquorice gourami, phoenix licorice gourami, licorice gourami, liquorice gourami, パロスフロメヌス・フォエニクルス, Cupang Parosphromenus, 红尾巧克力丽丽, 火尾雨林丽丽

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A tiny licorice gourami with dark and light horizontal stripes on the body, and males that show a fiery red tail and dark-edged, red-banded fins when displaying. It is kept by blackwater enthusiasts who enjoy its subtle colours and courtship behaviour in a quiet, dimly lit tank.

Care at a glance

Care level

Hard

Temperament

Peaceful

Adult size

3 cm

Temperature

24 to 28 °C

pH

4 to 6

Smallest tank

30 litres

Keep as

A pair or small group in a species tank

Diet

Carnivore: live foods such as baby brine shrimp, microworms, daphnia and cyclops; few accept dry food

Swims

Bottom of the tank

Lifespan

3 to 5 years

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

Sumatra, Indonesia (Jambi province peat swamps)

Breeding

Males build a small bubble nest in a cave, usually under the roof of a leaf or small pot, and guard the eggs and fry. Spawning is possible in very soft, acidic water with live food, but fry are tiny and need infusoria at first.

Good to know

Needs very soft, acidic blackwater and should not be kept with boisterous fish. Its peat swamp habitat is threatened, and it is easily confused with related licorice gourami species, so buy correctly labelled stock.