Dwarf licorice gourami
Parosphromenus parvulus
Also known as Parvulus paro, Red spotted pygmy licorice gourami
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 72–81°F (22–27°C)
- pH
- 4.5–5.8
- Adult size
- 1.1 in (2.7 cm)
- Minimum tank
- 5 gal (20 L)
- Temperament
- Peaceful
- Social behavior
- Social
- Tankmates
- Tankmates with caution
- Swim level
- Middle
- Difficulty
- Difficult
- Breeding
- Hard
- Rarity
- Rare
- Origin
- Central and southern Kalimantan blackwaters, Indonesia
- Family
- Osphronemidae
Overview
The dwarf licorice gourami is one of the smallest fish in an already tiny genus, and it sits at the demanding end of paro keeping. Keep a single pair in a small, dimly lit species tank of about 20 liters, low in the water around caves and leaf litter. It is peaceful but no competitor, so keep it alone or with nothing more than a few of the tiniest, calmest fish. Start it on live micro foods only, infusoria, microworm, and newly hatched brine shrimp, moving to frozen fare once it is settled and feeding confidently. Stable, very soft, acidic water is not optional for this species.
In the wild
Parosphromenus parvulus drifts through peat swamp water in central and southern Kalimantan, Borneo, tea-dark, mineral-poor, and strongly acidic. Match it with a blackwater tank: driftwood, a thick layer of dried leaves, tiny caves, and subdued light. This fish wants sharp acidity, a pH from 4.5 to 5.8, at 22 to 27 degrees Celsius, and reverse osmosis water is usually the only way to hold it that soft.
Good to know
Parosphromenus parvulus, a labyrinth fish in the family Osphronemidae, was described by Vierke in 1979 and grows to only about 2.7 centimeters. Males spot their filamentous fins with ember red in display. Breeding is hard: a pair spawns in a cave, the male guards the clutch, and the fry are among the tiniest of any aquarium fish. The IUCN lists it as vulnerable.
Did you know
The name parvulus is Latin for very small, and this fish means it: in a genus where almost nothing tops three and a half centimeters, it is one of the smaller species still.
Common questions
What size tank does a Dwarf licorice gourami need?
A Dwarf licorice gourami needs at least 5 gal (20 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.
What temperature and pH do Dwarf licorice gourami need?
Dwarf licorice gourami are comfortable at 72–81°F (22–27°C) with a pH of 4.5–5.8.
How big do Dwarf licorice gourami get?
An adult Dwarf licorice gourami reaches about 1.1 in (2.7 cm).
Where to buy
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…or ask your local fish store.
Appears in
Freshwater fish · Bettas & gouramis · Gouramis · Advanced fish · Nano fish · Community fish
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Related species
Pahu licorice gourami
Parosphromenus pahuensisFreshwater1.1 in (2.8 cm)5 gal (20 L)72–81°F (22–27°C)
Bukit Merah licorice gourami
Parosphromenus rubrimontisFreshwater1.2 in (3 cm)5 gal (20 L)72–81°F (22–27°C)Gunawan's licorice gourami
Parosphromenus gunawaniFreshwater1.2 in (3 cm)5 gal (20 L)72–81°F (22–27°C)Juelin's licorice gourami
Parosphromenus juelinaeFreshwater1.2 in (3 cm)5 gal (20 L)72–81°F (22–27°C)Opal licorice gourami
Parosphromenus opalliosFreshwater1.2 in (3 cm)5 gal (20 L)72–81°F (22–27°C)Sumatran licorice gourami
Parosphromenus sumatranusFreshwater1.2 in (3 cm)5 gal (20 L)72–81°F (22–27°C)