Fish
Paradise Fish
Macropodus opercularis
Origin: The paradise fish comes from East Asia — China, Taiwan, northern Vietnam, and Korea. It inhabits rice fields, ditches, ponds, and slow streams with dense vegetation, and tolerates cool, oxygen-poor water.
Also known as: Paradise gourami, Macropodus opercularis
Fact sheet
- Size
- 9 cm
- Lifespan
- 6 years
- Minimum tank size
- 60 L
- Temperature
- 16–26 °C
- pH
- 6–8
- Hardness GH
- 5–20 °dH
- Temperament
- Semi-aggressive
- Social behavior
- Solitary
- Swimming zone
- Middle, Top
- Diet
- Omnivore
- Jumps out
- Yes
- Eats plants
- No
Overview
The paradise fish was one of the first aquarium fish brought to Europe, back in the 19th century. It is a hardy labyrinth fish able to breathe atmospheric air and live in cool water without a heater. It is brightly coloured — with alternating red and blue-green vertical bars and long veil fins. For all its hardiness it is a quarrelsome, territorial fish: males are aggressive toward each other and toward small tankmates. Keep it singly, as a pair, or with large active fish. An excellent jumper, so keep the tank covered.
Appearance
The body is moderately deep and laterally compressed, 7–10 cm long. Colour is bright: alternating red and blue-green vertical bars across the body, with reddish-blue fins that are long and pointed, and veil-like in males. Males are larger, brighter, and more finnage. A black (concolor) form has been bred.
Care
A tank of at least 60 L with dense vegetation, cover, and a free surface for breathing, plus a tight lid as the fish jumps. Temperature 16–26 °C (it tolerates cool water and needs no heater), pH 6.0–8.0, hardness GH 5–20. Keep flow gentle. The species is very hardy.
Feeding
An omnivore leaning carnivore. It takes flakes and pellets and live or frozen bloodworm, daphnia, brine shrimp, and small insects. It eagerly takes mosquito larvae from the surface. Feed once or twice daily.
Compatibility
Territorial and quarrelsome. Males are aggressive toward each other and other labyrinth fish; it may harass small fish and shrimp. Keep one male; companions are large active fish that do not claim the surface. It is unsuitable for a community tank with small fish.
Breeding
It builds a bubble nest at the surface. The male guards the nest and gathers eggs and fry into it. Remove the female after spawning, as the male becomes aggressive. Fry hatch in 1–2 days; first foods are infusoria and brine shrimp nauplii.
Fun facts
The paradise fish was one of the first tropical aquarium fish in Europe (imported in 1869), widespread even before goldfish. Its labyrinth organ lets it breathe air and live in cool, oxygen-poor water. Historically it is regarded as a fish 'for spartan conditions'.