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Linke's licorice gourami

Parosphromenus linkei

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

FreshwaterFish

Linke's licorice gourami (Parosphromenus linkei)
The Wet Spot Tropical Fish · Used with permission

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
Tankmates
With caution
Swim level
Bottom
Diet
Carnivore
Difficulty
Difficult
Breeding
Cave spawner · Hard
Rarity
Very rare
Family
Osphronemidae
Origin
Central Kalimantan, Borneo, in shaded forest creeks and blackwater habitats.

Overview

Linke's licorice gourami is a tiny, shy cave spawner from the blackwater creeks of Borneo, kept in a species tank. It suits experienced keepers.

Did you know

Linke's licorice gourami is one of the more adaptable licorice gouramis. In the wild it turns up in slightly less extreme water than some of its relatives.

Caring for the Linke's licorice gourami

Keep a pair or a small group of Linke's licorice gouramis in a species tank of at least 11 gal (40 L). Give them plenty of leaf litter and small caves for spawning, and keep the filtration gentle. They hang near the bottom around leaf litter, roots and caves.

Keep the water soft and acidic, at 72 to 82°F (22 to 28°C) with a pH of 4.5 to 6.8. Tannins from botanicals help keep it healthy. It is often regarded as one of the easier licorice gouramis to keep and breed, because it tolerates a broader range of water.

Feed small live and frozen foods such as baby brine shrimp, moina, daphnia and mosquito larvae. It is peaceful and shy, so do not mix it with other Parosphromenus or any active fish.

Males claim a small cave or pipe and lead females inside to spawn. The male then tends the eggs alone, and breeding is hard.

Good to know

Parosphromenus linkei belongs to the family Osphronemidae, and Kottelat described it in 1991. Like the rest of its genus, it is a micropredator.

In the wild

Linke's licorice gourami lives in small, shaded forest creeks in Central Kalimantan, Borneo. The water there is soft, acidic and stained with tannins. These blackwater creeks are under pressure from habitat loss.

Common questions

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

A Linke's licorice gourami needs at least 11 gal (40 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.

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

A Linke's licorice gourami is comfortable at 72–82°F (22–28°C) with a pH of 4.5–6.8.

What does a Linke's licorice gourami eat?

A Linke's licorice gourami eats small live and frozen foods, such as baby brine shrimp, moina, daphnia and mosquito larvae.

How big does a Linke's licorice gourami get?

An adult Linke's licorice gourami reaches about 1.4 in (3.5 cm).

How does a Linke's licorice gourami breed?

Linke's licorice gourami spawns in caves. The male claims a small cave or pipe, leads the female inside, then tends the eggs alone, and breeding is hard.

Related species