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Paradise Fish

Paradise Gourami Family: Osphronemidae

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Macropodus opercularis Photo © Animal-World: Courtesy David Brough

   The Paradise Fish or Paradise Gourami is often referred to as the “founding fish of the hobby”, being one of the first tropical fish imported to Europe and instrumental in popularizing freshwater fish keeping!

   Endowed with a rich and brilliant color pattern, the Paradise Fish is among the most glamorous in the freshwater fish hobby. They are quite hardy and of a good size. They are also surprisingly intelligent and curious, and make a very personable attractive aquarium inhabitant. Paradise Fish are a joy to keep if appropriate research and planning goes into their aquarium set-up, tank mates, and care.

   When picking out a Paradise fish, be sure to choose your stock carefully. A desire to breed these fish in the brightest coloration and to provide them in large quantities, has unfortunately led to a mass production of fish that are neither colorful nor healthy. The Paradise Fish you pick should be alert and enjoying moving about, a lethargic fish is not healthy and is unlikely to “recover”.

For more Information on keeping this fish see:
Guide to a Happy, Healthy Freshwater Aquarium

Distribution:
   The Paradise Fish inhabits streams, rice paddies and ditches in South East Asia. As they are very popular with aquarists, they have been transported throughout the world.

Status:
   These fish are not endangered.

Description:
   The Paradise Fish or Paradise Gourami has a stout elongated body and a forked tail fin. This fin becomes quite long on the males, up to an inch or two, extending into serrated filaments.They are quite colorful with a medley of reds and blues, blacks and whites. There are several color forms including black and albino.
   Like all other labyrinth fish, they can breath air generally gulping it at the water's surface. They have a special 'labyrinth organ' which acts like a lung which enables them to survive in oxygen-depleted waters.

Size - Weight:
   This fish will reach about 4 inches (10 cm), with the male’s tails trailing on for an extra inch or two.

Care and feeding:
   Although the Paradise Fish are omnivores, they favor rich meaty foods. They will gladly eat foods designed for Bettas, but shouldn’t be fed them exclusively. They enjoy exercising their predatory side on live foods.
     This fish as fairly hardy and will adapt to most aquarium conditions. They will do best in about a 20 gallon aquarium with gentle water circulation, and will enjoy some sturdy aquarium plants. The aquarium should be covered to prevent jumps.

Water Region: Top, Middle, Bottom:
   Paradise Fish are often found living in tiny water bodies in nature, and so in the aquarium this environment is emulated. They will generally stake out about a few square feet of territory, all of which they will defend and inhabit.

Acceptable Water Conditions:
   Temperature: 61-81° F (16-27°C )
   Hardness: 5-30 dGH
   Ph: 5.8-8.0

Social Behaviors:
   Paradise Fish are similar to Bettas in disposition, although slightly less extreme. Being both belligerent and predatory, it is difficult to select good tank mates for them. They really prefer to live alone, but will accept some other species of fish. Males have been kept successfully together in very large tanks, but generally don’t get along. These fish probably do best in male/female pairs in their own tanks.
   Some people seem to believe this fish will peacefully share a bowl with a Betta, but there is no truth to this and can lead to disaster.

Sexual Differences:
   Males are brighter with stronger color patterns. Their fins are longer and larger.

Breeding/Reproduction:
   Like most fish in this family, the Paradise Fish are bubble nest builders. They will breed Betta style, employing a bubble nest which they will defend to the death. Males will build the nest and then corner the female into it. The pair will wrap around each other, spawn,  and leave the eggs to hatch. The male will care for them until maturity, and may even chase off the female after breeding. Fry will emerge in a few days and must be kept fed on microorganisms until they are able to eat crushed flakes.

Buy Paradise Fish From LiveAquaria.com

See the description of how to breed labyrinth fish in Breeding Freshwater Fish.

Availability:
   The Paradise Fish is readily available in many pet stores, although quality fish can be difficult to obtain. They are also offered by some online retailers. Males are easier to find than females. Cost can be anywhere from $3 - $15 USD.

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Latest Comments
Have you heard these fish "talking"!... I keep a pair of these fish in a large fish bowl. At night when the room is quiet, you can hear them make all kinds of noises. You can also hear them chew their food when you feed them! Since I got them last year, they have been my favorite fish. Soroush 2009-05-11
I just bought a gold gourami for my 35 gal tank. My blue paradise gourami constantly chases the gold gourami (female) to the point where she's always hiding. The other tank occupants are 6 angels, 6 tiger barbs, 1 red fin shark, 1 lep fasciatus, 1 pleco 4 zebra danios. My only concern are the gouramis. Luann Cox 2009-01-03
I have a 30 gallon with two paradise, two golds, and get this - three jack dempsies. They all co-exist fine but some times the main dempsey and one of the paradise will lock mouths, but after a few seconds of that, they are back to normal. So who says it couldn't be done. anzara 2008-05-06
I have a 55gal tank with 6 paradise, they are the most energetic fish I have ever seen. But they look nothing like the pictures, they almost look like little tigers, deep/bright orange and black stripes. They know exactly what food looks like! Janelle Mooney 2008-02-06
I have a gold gourami with a large community of fish, in a 20g tank, and he is very peaceful! I've also seen him brake up plenty of fights between some of my other fish! He comes right up to the front tank when I come to feed them. I think of him as a sheriff, since he's the biggest and one of the most peaceful fish in the tank! Anthony L 2007-11-04

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Author: "Yvonne"
Additional Information: Clarice Brough. CFS.