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Black paradise fish

Macropodus spechti

Also known as Macropodus concolor

FreshwaterFish

Black paradise fish (Macropodus spechti)
Andrew Bogott · CC BY-SA 4.0

Care at a glance

Temperature
68–82°F
20–28°C
pH
6.0–8.0
Adult size
3.1 in
8 cm
Minimum tank
20 gal
75 L
Temperament
Mostly peaceful
Social behavior
Solitary
Tankmates
With caution
Swim level
Middle
Difficulty
Easy
Breeding
Bubble nester · Medium
Rarity
Common
Family
Osphronemidae
Origin
Central Vietnam (Thu Bon and Huong/Perfume river systems)

Overview

The black paradise fish is a mostly peaceful labyrinth fish that can live in an unheated, planted tank. It is easy to keep.

Did you know

The black paradise fish breathes air straight from the surface with its labyrinth organ. That lets it survive in warm, still, low-oxygen water that would suffocate most fish.

Caring for the black paradise fish

Give black paradise fish at least 20 gal (75 L), with a footprint around 80 by 30 cm. A longer tank cuts down on aggression. Plant it heavily and add driftwood and floating plants on top. A few Indian almond leaves stain the water and lower the light.

Keep the surface clear, since a fish that cannot reach the top can be in trouble. A tight lid close to the water traps a warm, humid pocket of air for it to gulp.

It is cool-tolerant and does well at room temperature, anywhere from 68 to 82°F (20 to 28°C), so many keepers run it unheated. Soft, slightly acidic to neutral water suits it best, within a pH range of 6.0 to 8.0, and it tolerates a wide hardness range. Feed pellets, flakes and frozen or live foods such as bloodworms and brine shrimp.

Black paradise fish are mostly peaceful but territorial, and males fight, so keep only one male per tank. Keep a single fish, or one male with several females, rather than a group. Skip small, slow or long-finned tank mates, which a larger fish may nip or bully.

Males have extended fins that push their total length closer to 10 or 11 cm. A pair will spawn in a quiet, well-planted tank, where the male builds a bubble nest, tends it and guards the fry. Pairs can turn aggressive and the fry need very small first foods such as infusoria, so breeding is moderately difficult.

Good to know

The black paradise fish, Macropodus spechti, is a labyrinth fish in the family Osphronemidae. It is a close relative of the common paradise fish.

In the wild

Black paradise fish come from slow, shaded waters in central Vietnam, in the Thu Bon and Huong river systems. They sit in densely planted, dimly lit margins with plenty of cover.

Common questions

What size tank does a black paradise fish need?

A black paradise fish needs at least 20 gal (75 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.

What temperature and pH does a black paradise fish need?

A black paradise fish is comfortable at 68–82°F (20–28°C) with a pH of 6.0–8.0.

What does a black paradise fish eat?

A black paradise fish eats pellets and flakes, along with frozen or live foods such as bloodworms and brine shrimp.

How big does a black paradise fish get?

An adult black paradise fish reaches about 3.1 in (8 cm).

How can you tell a male black paradise fish from a female?

Males have extended fins, which push their total length closer to 10 or 11 cm.

How does a black paradise fish breed?

A black paradise fish is a bubble nester, and the male tends the nest and guards the fry. Pairs can turn aggressive, and the fry need very small first foods such as infusoria.

Related species