All fish / Osphronemidae

Spike-tailed Paradisefish

Pseudosphromenus dayi

Also known as brown spike-tailed paradisefish, day's paradise fish, days paradisefish, brown spiketail paradise fish, spiketail paradisefish, malpulutta dayi, macropodus dayi, dayi, ダイズ・パラダイスフィッシュ, 戴氏叉尾斗鱼, 尖尾斗鱼

A small, slim labyrinth fish in warm brown with two dark lengthwise stripes, red-edged unpaired fins with blue-white margins, and long filaments extending from the middle of the tail. It is kept for its calm nature, modest needs and the interesting behaviour of the pair in a quiet planted tank.

Care at a glance

Care level

Easy

Temperament

Peaceful

Adult size

6 cm

Temperature

24 to 28 °C

pH

6 to 7.5

Smallest tank

40 litres

Keep as

A pair, or one male with one or two females

Diet

Carnivore: small live and frozen foods such as bloodworm, brine shrimp and daphnia, plus quality flakes

Swims

Middle of the tank

Lifespan

3 to 5 years

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

Southwestern India (Kerala)

Breeding

Males build a small bubble nest, often under a leaf or in a cave, and embrace the female beneath it, then guard the eggs and fry. Breeding is fairly easy in a dim, well-planted tank with soft, slightly acidic water, and the tiny fry need infusoria at first.

Good to know

Shy and easily outcompeted, so avoid boisterous or fin-nipping tankmates; keep a tight lid as it can jump and needs access to warm, humid air. Easily confused with the similar Pseudosphromenus cupanus, which lacks the dark stripes and long tail spikes.