All fish / Osphronemidae

Tweedie's Licorice Gourami

Parosphromenus tweediei

Also known as tweedie's liquorice gourami, tweedie's licorice gourami, tweediei licorice gourami, liquorice gourami, licorice gourami, パロスフロメヌス・トゥイーディエイ, 巧克力丽丽

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A tiny peat swamp gourami with a brown body marked by dark lengthwise stripes. Displaying males show dark unpaired fins edged in blue-white. Keepers value it as a rare, endangered blackwater species that is lovely in a quiet, dimly lit tank.

Care at a glance

Care level

Hard

Temperament

Peaceful

Adult size

3.5 cm

Temperature

22 to 27 °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

Swims

Bottom of the tank

Lifespan

2 to 4 years

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

Southern Peninsular Malaysia (Johor) and nearby Riau islands, Indonesia

Breeding

Males build small bubble nests under leaves or inside caves and guard the eggs and fry. Spawning is possible in very soft, acidic water with tannins, but fry are tiny and need infusoria at first.

Good to know

Classed as endangered because its peat swamp habitat is being destroyed, so choose captive-bred fish where you can. It needs very soft, acidic water and is easily mixed up with other Parosphromenus species, so keep each species apart to avoid hybrids.