
Licorice gourami
Parosphromenus deissneri · Osphronemidae
Also known as Parosphromenus
Advanced
A tiny, endangered blackwater gourami for a dedicated species tank of soft acid water.
- Minimum tank
- 40 L
- Temperature
- 24–28 °C
- pH
- 4–5.5
- Adult size
- 3.5 cm
- Group size
- 2+
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Sign in to check my tanksCare requirements
- Minimum tank volume
- 40 L
- Temperature
- 24–28 °C
- pH
- 4–5.5
- Hardness
- 0–4 dGH
- Lifespan
- 3–5 years
- Diet
- Micro-carnivore — live baby brine, daphnia, grindal worm.
- Care level
- Advanced
Origin & habitat
- Native region
- Bangka Island and Malay Peninsula peat swamps
- Water type
- Freshwater
- Biotope
- Shaded, extremely soft acidic peat streams
- Natural conditions
- RO water with peat and leaf litter; caves for spawning; dim light.
Behaviour & stocking
- Temperament
- Peaceful
- Minimum group
- 2 fish
- Swims
- Mid-water
- Good tank mates
- Species tank onlyBoraras rasboras at a push
- Avoid
- Any hard waterAll boisterous fish
Breeding & difficulty
- Breeding difficulty
- Advanced
- Sexing
- Males have red-and-blue banded fins.
- Notes
- Cave spawner; the male tends the nest.
- Common ailments
- Bacterial infection in hard waterStarvation on dry food