TankBud

Juelin's licorice gourami

Parosphromenus juelinae

Also known as Juelinae licorice gourami, Julie's licorice gourami

FreshwaterFish

Juelin's licorice gourami (Parosphromenus juelinae)

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
Hard
Rarity
Rare
Family
Osphronemidae
Origin
West Kalimantan peat swamps, Indonesia

Overview

Juelin's licorice gourami is a tiny, peaceful fish for a small, dim species tank. It needs the same care as its relatives and suits experienced keepers.

Did you know

Juelin's licorice gourami was named only in 2021. It belongs to a wave of new descriptions that has carried its genus to more than twenty species. Several of them were added in just the last few years.

Caring for the Juelin's licorice gourami

Keep a single pair of Juelin's licorice gouramis in a small, shaded species tank of at least 5 gal (20 L). Give them a dim setup with driftwood, scattered leaves, small caves and slow flow, and leave them undisturbed. Keep the tank covered, since even fish this small will slip through a gap.

Hold the water soft and acidic, at 72 to 81°F (22 to 27°C) and a pH of 4.5 to 6.0. Use reverse osmosis water where the tap is too hard to reach that softness.

Feed small live and frozen foods such as baby brine shrimp, microworm and cyclops. Keep it alone or with only a handful of tiny, peaceful fish, and treat every tank mate choice with caution.

Breeding is hard and follows the pattern of the genus. Pairs spawn in caves with paternal care, and the fry need very soft, acidic water.

Good to know

Parosphromenus juelinae is a labyrinth fish in the family Osphronemidae. It was described by an international team.

In the wild

Juelin's licorice gourami comes from peat swamp blackwater in West Kalimantan, Borneo. The water there is soft, acidic and stained brown by tannins.

Common questions

What size tank does a Juelin's licorice gourami need?

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

What temperature and pH does a Juelin's licorice gourami need?

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

What does a Juelin's licorice gourami eat?

A Juelin's licorice gourami eats small live and frozen foods, such as baby brine shrimp, microworm and cyclops.

How big does a Juelin's licorice gourami get?

An adult Juelin's licorice gourami reaches about 1.2 in (3 cm).

How does a Juelin's licorice gourami breed?

Juelin's licorice gourami breeds like the rest of its genus, spawning in caves with paternal care. Breeding it is hard, and the fry need very soft, acidic water.

Related species