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Opal licorice gourami

Parosphromenus opallios

Also known as Sukamara licorice gourami

FreshwaterFish

Opal licorice gourami (Parosphromenus opallios)

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
Cave spawner · Hard
Rarity
Rare
Family
Osphronemidae
Origin
Sukamara region, Central Kalimantan, Indonesia

Overview

The opal licorice gourami is a peaceful Bornean dwarf for a small, dim species tank. It is a fish for the experienced keeper.

Did you know

The opal licorice gourami's name comes straight from the gemstone opal. It was chosen for the milky, color-shifting shimmer that plays across a displaying male's fins.

Caring for the opal licorice gourami

Keep opal licorice gouramis as a single pair in a small, dim species tank of at least 5 gal (20 L). Lay it out with driftwood, fallen leaves and small caves. Give each fish its own cave and keep the light low, so a pair will consider spawning.

Hold the water soft and acidic, with a pH of 4.5 to 6.0 at 72 to 81°F (22 to 27°C). Soften it by reverse osmosis if the tap will not reach those figures.

Bring it into color and condition on small live foods such as newly hatched brine shrimp, microworm and daphnia. Add frozen items once it is feeding well. Like the rest of its genus, it is peaceful but a poor competitor. Keep it alone or with only a few tiny, gentle fish, and be cautious with tank mates.

Breeding is hard. The male guards the eggs and fry in a cave, and only very soft, acidic water carries the fry through.

Good to know

Parosphromenus opallios is a labyrinth fish in the family Osphronemidae, described by Kottelat and Ng in 2005. Courting males show red-and-blue banding in their fins. The species is considered endangered.

In the wild

The opal licorice gourami comes from peat swamp blackwater around Sukamara in Central Kalimantan, Borneo. Its water is soft, mineral-poor and acidic, shaded by forest.

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 does an opal licorice gourami need?

An opal licorice gourami is comfortable at 72–81°F (22–27°C) with a pH of 4.5–6.0.

What does an opal licorice gourami eat?

An opal licorice gourami eats small live foods such as newly hatched brine shrimp, microworm and daphnia. Add frozen items once it is feeding well.

How big does an opal licorice gourami get?

An adult opal licorice gourami reaches about 1.2 in (3 cm).

How does an opal licorice gourami breed?

The opal licorice gourami spawns in a cave, where the male guards the eggs and fry. Breeding is hard, and only very soft, acidic water carries the fry through.

Related species