Paradise Fish (Macropodus opercularis) Care Guide
One of the first tropical fish kept in aquariums, with bold red and blue vertical stripes and flowing fins.
Compiled by Aquairi from published sources · Published · Updated
Overview
Macropodus opercularis is a species in the family Osphronemidae. One of the first tropical fish kept in aquariums, with bold red and blue vertical stripes and flowing fins. Hardy and tolerant of cool temperatures, but males are highly aggressive toward each other and may bully smaller tank mates.
Taxonomy
- Family: Osphronemidae
- Genus: Macropodus
- Scientific name: Macropodus opercularis
- Other names: Paradise Gourami
- Origin: East Asia, China, Taiwan, Vietnam
Habitat
Native to East Asia from the Korean Peninsula and southern China to northern Vietnam. Inhabits still and slow-moving waters including rice paddies, ditches and stagnant pools, breathing atmospheric air through a labyrinth organ. One of the first ornamental fishes imported to Europe in the 19th century.
Tank requirements
- Minimum tank volume: 80 L
- Temperature: 16-26 °C
- pH: 6-8
- GH: 5-20 °dGH
- Water flow: low
- Adult size: 8-11 cm
- Lifespan: 5-8 years
- Difficulty: beginner
Diet
Classified as omnivore. Recommended feeding frequency: 2x daily. In captivity, offer a varied diet appropriate to the species — quality prepared foods supplemented with frozen or live items of suitable size.
Compatibility
- Temperament: aggressive
- Swimming level: top
- Compatible tank mates: Bristlenose Pleco, Corydoras, Larger Barbs
- Avoid with: Betta, Other Gouramis, Small Fish
Breeding
- Breeding strategy: bubble-nester
- Breeding difficulty: beginner
Paradise Fish (Macropodus opercularis) Breeding Guide
Overview
Macropodus opercularis is a labyrinth fish reaching about 70-80 mm and is a bubble nester. It tolerates a wide range of conditions, roughly 10-22 °C, pH 6.0-8.0. Males are territorially aggressive, and this behaviour becomes more pronounced during reproductive periods.
Sexing
Males are larger than females and possess extended soft rays in the dorsal, anal and caudal fins.
Conditioning
Condition the prospective pair well before introduction. Soft water with a slightly raised temperature is said to induce reproductive behaviour, so warming the spawning tank a little supports the trigger.
Breeding Setup
Provide a raft of surface vegetation in which the male can build his nest. The male constructs the nest among floating plants, and the female is usually tolerated in the area during this period.
Spawning Behavior & Trigger
Once the nest is complete the male displays to potential mates using his elongated dorsal, anal and caudal fins, and the nuptial female becomes paler in colour. Spawning normally occurs beneath the nest in the embrace typical of osphronemids, with the male wrapped around the female. At the point of climax milt and a few eggs are released; the eggs contain a globule of oil and are lighter than water, so they float upwards to the nest, often assisted by the male. Several hundred eggs are typically deposited.
Egg & Fry Care
Eggs hatch in 3-4 days and the fry remain in the nest until yolk absorption is complete. When the fry begin to swim freely the male will lose interest, and the adults are best removed at this stage. Fry require an infusoria-grade food for the first few days, after which they can accept motile foods such as microworm and Artemia nauplii.
Common Challenges
The main difficulty is male aggression, which intensifies during breeding and can endanger the female once spawning is complete, so the female should be removed after eggs are laid. As a labyrinth fish, fry also need access to a layer of warm humid air at the surface for proper development of the labyrinth organ.