Opal licorice gourami
Parosphromenus opallios
Also known as Sukamara 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
- Sukamara region, Central Kalimantan, Indonesia
- Family
- Osphronemidae
Overview
The opal licorice gourami is a Bornean dwarf kept as a single pair in a small, dim species tank of about 20 liters, low in the water among caves and leaf litter. Like the rest of the genus it is peaceful but a poor competitor, so keep it alone or with only a few tiny, gentle fish and be cautious with tankmates. Bring it into color and condition on small live foods, newly hatched brine shrimp, microworm, and daphnia, adding frozen items once it is feeding well. Give each fish its own cave, keep the light low, and hold the water soft and acidic so a pair will consider spawning.
In the wild
Parosphromenus opallios comes from peat swamp blackwater around Sukamara in Central Kalimantan, Borneo, soft, mineral-poor, and acidic water shaded by forest. Lay it out with driftwood, fallen leaves, small caves, and dim lighting. Hold the pH from 4.5 to 6.0 and the temperature from 22 to 27 degrees Celsius, softening the water by reverse osmosis if the tap will not reach those figures.
Good to know
Parosphromenus opallios is a labyrinth fish in the family Osphronemidae, described by Kottelat and Ng in 2005, and reaches about 3 centimeters. Its name comes from opal, for the shifting sheen and red-and-blue banding in the courting male's fins. Breeding is hard: the male guards eggs and fry in a cave, and only very soft, acidic water carries the fry through. The species is considered endangered.
Did you know
Its name comes straight from the gemstone opal, chosen for the milky, color-shifting shimmer that plays across a displaying male's fins.
Common questions
What size tank does an Opal licorice gourami need?
An Opal licorice gourami needs at least 5 gal (20 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.
What temperature and pH do Opal licorice gourami need?
Opal licorice gourami are comfortable at 72–81°F (22–27°C) with a pH of 4.5–6.0.
How big do Opal licorice gourami get?
An adult Opal 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 juelinaeFreshwater1.2 in (3 cm)5 gal (20 L)72–81°F (22–27°C)Sumatran licorice gourami
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)