Gunawan's licorice gourami
Parosphromenus gunawani
Also known as Danau Rasau licorice gourami, Blue line licorice gourami
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
- Tankmates with caution
- Swim level
- Middle
- Difficulty
- Difficult
- Breeding
- Hard
- Rarity
- Rare
- Origin
- Jambi peat swamps, Sumatra, Indonesia
- Family
- Osphronemidae
Overview
Gunawan's licorice gourami is a Sumatran blackwater dwarf kept as a single pair in a shaded, botanical tank of around 20 liters. It lives close to the bottom around caves, roots, and fallen leaves, and it shows its colors only when it feels safe. Keep it on its own or with a very few tiny, undemanding fish, and be cautious with any tankmate, since this is a poor competitor for food. Offer small live foods, newly hatched brine shrimp, grindal worm, and daphnia, adding frozen items once it settles. Give each fish a snug cave and keep light levels low.
In the wild
Parosphromenus gunawani comes from peat swamp country in Jambi province, Sumatra, where the water is dark with tannins, very soft, and acidic. Build it in miniature with bogwood, a carpet of dried leaves, snug caves, and shade. Keep the pH from 4.5 to 6.0 and the temperature from 22 to 27 degrees Celsius, softening tap water by reverse osmosis if it will not otherwise reach these values.
Good to know
Parosphromenus gunawani is a labyrinth fish in the family Osphronemidae, described by Schindler and Linke in 2012, and reaches about 3 centimeters. Courting males light up red and blue fin bands. Breeding is hard: a pair spawns in a cave, the male guards the eggs and fry, and success depends on very soft, acidic water. The species is named for an Indonesian collector, Gunawan, who helped bring it to notice.
Did you know
It was described only in 2012, one of a steady trickle of new licorice gouramis emerging from Sumatra's peat swamps even as those swamps are cleared for plantations.
Common questions
What size tank does a Gunawan's licorice gourami need?
A Gunawan's licorice gourami needs at least 5 gal (20 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.
What temperature and pH do Gunawan's licorice gourami need?
Gunawan's licorice gourami are comfortable at 72–81°F (22–27°C) with a pH of 4.5–6.0.
How big do Gunawan's licorice gourami get?
An adult Gunawan's licorice gourami reaches about 1.2 in (3 cm).
Where to buy
Some links may not be the exact species or variety.
…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
Bukit Merah licorice gourami
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Parosphromenus sumatranusFreshwater1.2 in (3 cm)5 gal (20 L)72–81°F (22–27°C)Tweedie's licorice gourami
Parosphromenus tweedieiFreshwater1.2 in (3 cm)5 gal (20 L)72–81°F (22–27°C)
Harvey's licorice gourami
Parosphromenus harveyiFreshwater1.2 in (3.1 cm)5 gal (20 L)72–81°F (22–27°C)