TankBud

Bukit Merah licorice gourami

Parosphromenus rubrimontis

Also known as Red hill licorice gourami

FreshwaterFish

Bukit Merah licorice gourami (Parosphromenus rubrimontis)
The Wet Spot Tropical Fish · Used with permission

Care at a glance

Temperature
72–81°F
22–27°C
pH
4.5–6.0
Adult size
1.2 in
3 cm
Minimum tank
5 gal
20 L
Temperament
Peaceful
Social behavior
Social
Tankmates
With caution
Swim level
Middle
Diet
Carnivore
Difficulty
Difficult
Breeding
Cave spawner · Hard
Rarity
Rare
Family
Osphronemidae
Origin
Bukit Merah area, Perak, Malaysia

Overview

The Bukit Merah licorice gourami is one of the more colorful small paros. It is a timid fish for experienced keepers.

Did you know

The Bukit Merah licorice gourami's scientific name, rubrimontis, is Latin for red mountain. It is a direct translation of Bukit Merah, the Malay place name where it lives. The locality is written twice over, once in each language.

Caring for the Bukit Merah licorice gourami

Keep Bukit Merah licorice gouramis as a single pair rather than a group, in a shaded tank of 5 gal (20 L) or more. Use a soft, acidic layout with driftwood, dried leaves, low light and small spawning caves. Give each fish a cave to call its own, and keep the room quiet.

Hold the pH at 4.5 to 6.0 and the temperature at 72 to 81°F (22 to 27°C). Use reverse osmosis water if needed to reach that softness. Condition the fish on small live and frozen foods, such as newly hatched brine shrimp, moina, microworm and finely chopped bloodworm. These foods also bring up the male's color.

It keeps to the lower and middle levels near caves and roots. It is timid and slow to feed with pushy company around, so keep it alone or with only a handful of tiny, calm fish.

Breeding is hard. The male alone guards the eggs and fry inside a cave, and only very soft, acidic water lets them survive.

Good to know

The Bukit Merah licorice gourami is a labyrinth fish in the family Osphronemidae. Kottelat and Ng described Parosphromenus rubrimontis in 2005. Displaying males flush their banded fins deep red over metallic blue. The species is considered endangered as its habitat shrinks.

In the wild

The Bukit Merah licorice gourami lives in peat swamp remnants around Bukit Merah in Perak, Peninsular Malaysia. The water there is stained dark by tannins and almost free of dissolved minerals.

Common questions

What size tank does a Bukit Merah licorice gourami need?

A Bukit Merah licorice gourami needs at least 5 gal (20 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.

What temperature and pH does a Bukit Merah licorice gourami need?

A Bukit Merah licorice gourami is comfortable at 72–81°F (22–27°C) with a pH of 4.5–6.0.

What does a Bukit Merah licorice gourami eat?

A Bukit Merah licorice gourami eats small live and frozen foods, such as newly hatched brine shrimp, moina, microworm and finely chopped bloodworm.

How big does a Bukit Merah licorice gourami get?

An adult Bukit Merah licorice gourami reaches about 1.2 in (3 cm).

How does a Bukit Merah licorice gourami breed?

A Bukit Merah licorice gourami spawns in a cave, and the male alone guards the eggs and fry. Only very soft, acidic water lets them survive, and breeding is hard.

Related species