TankBud

Ornate paradisefish

Malpulutta kretseri

Also known as Spotted gourami, Kretser's paradisefish, Malpulutta

FreshwaterFish

Ornate paradisefish (Malpulutta kretseri)
Klaus de Leuw · CC BY-SA 3.0

Care at a glance

Temperature
72–82°F
22–28°C
pH
6.0–7.5
Adult size
2 in
5 cm
Minimum tank
12 gal
45 L
Temperament
Peaceful
Social behavior
Social
Tankmates
With caution
Swim level
Middle
Diet
Carnivore
Difficulty
Medium
Breeding
Bubble nester · Hard
Rarity
Very rare
Family
Osphronemidae
Origin
Endemic to the wet zone of southwestern Sri Lanka, in shaded, slow forest streams.

Overview

The ornate paradisefish is a small, shy fish for a quiet, dimly lit tank. It is best kept by someone with a little experience.

Did you know

The ornate paradisefish is the only species in its genus, Malpulutta.

Caring for the ornate paradisefish

Keep ornate paradisefish as a pair or a small group in a heavily planted tank of 12 gal (45 L) or more. Add leaf litter and plenty of cover, and keep the light dim. Gentle filtration helps this shy, delicate fish settle in.

Give them soft water at 72 to 82°F (22 to 28°C), with a pH of 6.0 to 7.5. Feed small live and frozen foods such as daphnia, artemia, grindal worms and micro worms. They usually refuse dried food.

Ornate paradisefish are peaceful, so keep them in a species tank or with very calm nano fish. Males grow long, pointed extensions on the tail and unpaired fins, and they show a lilac to purple sheen. The males build tiny bubble nests hidden under a leaf, a rock overhang or even inside a small cave. Breeding them is hard.

Good to know

Malpulutta kretseri was described by Deraniyagala in 1937 and belongs to the family Osphronemidae. It is a threatened endemic, found nowhere else on Earth.

In the wild

The ornate paradisefish lives in slow, shaded streams and pools in the rainforest wet zone of southwestern Sri Lanka. The soft water there is stained and slightly acidic. It is restricted to a small area, where it stays among leaf litter, roots and submerged plants in dim conditions. This small, secretive fish keeps to cover.

Common questions

What size tank does an ornate paradisefish need?

An ornate paradisefish needs at least 12 gal (45 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.

What temperature and pH does an ornate paradisefish need?

An ornate paradisefish is comfortable at 72–82°F (22–28°C) with a pH of 6.0–7.5.

What does an ornate paradisefish eat?

An ornate paradisefish eats small live and frozen foods such as daphnia, artemia, grindal worms and micro worms. It usually refuses dried food.

How big does an ornate paradisefish get?

An adult ornate paradisefish reaches about 2 in (5 cm).

How can you tell a male ornate paradisefish from a female?

Males grow long, pointed extensions on the tail and unpaired fins, and they show a lilac to purple sheen.

How does an ornate paradisefish breed?

Ornate paradisefish males build tiny bubble nests, hidden under a leaf, a rock overhang or even inside a small cave. Breeding them is hard.

Related species