Linke's licorice gourami

Parosphromenus linkei

Also known as Licorice gourami, Linke's paro, Liquorice gourami

FreshwaterFish

Care at a glance

Temperature: 72–82°F (22–28°C)
pH: 4.5–6.8
Adult size: 1.4 in (3.5 cm)
Minimum tank: 11 gal (40 L)
Temperament: Peaceful
Social behavior: Social
Swim level: Bottom
Difficulty: Difficult
Breeding: Hard
Rarity: Very rare
Origin: Central Kalimantan, Borneo, in shaded forest creeks and blackwater habitats.
Family: Osphronemidae

Overview

Keep a pair or small group in a 40 litre species tank at 22 to 28 C with soft, acidic water around pH 4.5 to 6.8, plenty of leaf litter, and small caves for spawning. Feed small live and frozen foods such as baby brine shrimp, moina, daphnia, and mosquito larvae. It is peaceful and shy, so avoid mixing it with other Parosphromenus or any active fish. Tannins from botanicals and gentle filtration keep it healthy.

In the wild

Occurs in small, shaded forest creeks with soft, acidic, tannin-stained water. It is one of the more adaptable licorice gouramis and turns up in slightly less extreme water than some of its relatives. It hangs near the bottom around leaf litter, roots, and caves. These blackwater creeks are under pressure from habitat loss.

Good to know

Parosphromenus linkei was described by Kottelat in 1991 and belongs to the family Osphronemidae. It is often regarded as one of the easier licorice gouramis to keep and breed because it tolerates a broader range of water. Like all of the genus it is a cave-spawning micropredator that stays under 4 cm.