Harvey's licorice gourami
Parosphromenus harveyi
Also known as Selangor licorice gourami
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 72–81°F (22–27°C)
- pH
- 4.5–6.0
- Adult size
- 1.2 in (3.1 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
- North Selangor peat swamps, Malaysia
- Family
- Osphronemidae
Overview
Harvey's licorice gourami is a threatened Malaysian dwarf that keepers treat almost as a conservation charge: keep a pair, breed it, and pass the fry on to other hobbyists. House a single pair in a dim, botanical species tank of about 20 liters, where it holds near the floor among caves and leaves. Keep it alone or with no more than a few tiny, gentle companions, and choose any tankmate carefully. Feed small live and frozen foods, baby brine shrimp, microworm, and daphnia, since it will not compete for flakes. Stable, very soft, acidic water keeps it in condition and willing to spawn.
In the wild
Parosphromenus harveyi survives in the North Selangor peat swamp forest and a few nearby blackwaters in Peninsular Malaysia, among the most acidic freshwater habitats in the region. Its water is dark, mineral-poor, and shaded. Furnish it with driftwood, deep leaf litter, small caves, and heavy shade, holding the pH from 4.5 to 6.0 and the temperature from 22 to 27 degrees Celsius. Reverse osmosis water helps reach the needed softness.
Good to know
A labyrinth fish in the family Osphronemidae, Parosphromenus harveyi was described by Barbara Brown in 1987 and reaches about 3 centimeters. Displaying males edge their fins in metallic blue-white over black. Breeding is hard and follows the usual paro pattern of cave spawning and paternal care in very soft, acidic water. Much of its swamp forest has been drained and converted, and the species is considered endangered.
Did you know
The fish honors Will Harvey, a German-born aquarist who lived to 2013, and an international keeper network now runs coordinated breeding for it, so home aquariums genuinely form part of its survival plan.
Common questions
What size tank does a Harvey's licorice gourami need?
A Harvey's licorice gourami needs at least 5 gal (20 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.
What temperature and pH do Harvey's licorice gourami need?
Harvey's licorice gourami are comfortable at 72–81°F (22–27°C) with a pH of 4.5–6.0.
How big do Harvey's licorice gourami get?
An adult Harvey's licorice gourami reaches about 1.2 in (3.1 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
Bintan licorice gourami
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Bukit Merah licorice gourami
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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)