TankBud

One species · 1 variety

Paradise fish

Macropodus opercularis

Also known as Paradise gourami

FreshwaterFish

Paradise fish (Macropodus opercularis)
The Wet Spot Tropical Fish · Used with permission

Care at a glance

Temperature
50–72°F
10–22°C
pH
6.5–7.5
Adult size
3.1 in
8 cm
Minimum tank
25 gal
95 L
Temperament
Aggressive
Social behavior
Social
Own kind
One male per tank
Tankmates
With caution
Swim level
Middle
Difficulty
Medium
Breeding
Bubble nester · Hard
Rarity
Rare
Family
Osphronemidae
Origin
China, Vietnam, Laos

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One setup covers every line on this page: care is the species' care.

Overview

The paradise fish is a colorful but feisty labyrinth fish for a cool, unheated tank. It suits a keeper with a little experience.

Did you know

The paradise fish was one of the earliest tropical fish kept in Europe, imported in the 1800s not long after the goldfish.

Caring for the paradise fish

Keep paradise fish in a tank of 25 gal (95 L) or more. Plant it well and add floating cover, gentle flow and a dark substrate. Leave a warm, humid gap under the lid to protect the labyrinth organ.

The paradise fish does not need a heater in a temperate room. It is one of the few labyrinth fish suited to an unheated tank. Keep the water at 50 to 72°F (10 to 22°C), with a pH of 6.5 to 7.5. Feed a varied diet of flake or pellets, frozen bloodworms, daphnia and brine shrimp.

Males are aggressive toward each other and toward similar-shaped fish. Keep one male per tank, and keep a group only in a large, well-planted tank with lots of cover and broken sight lines. It swims in the middle and upper water and holds its own with robust, fast tank mates. It will bully timid or long-finned fish and eat very small ones.

Males build a floating bubble nest and guard the eggs and fry, driving the female away once spawning is done. Breeding is hard, mainly because of the male's aggression and the care the tiny fry need.

Good to know

The paradise fish is a member of the gourami family Osphronemidae. It is known for its bold blue and red barring and flowing fins.

In the wild

The paradise fish ranges across southern China, Taiwan, Vietnam and Laos, in rice paddies, ditches, ponds and slow streams. It comes from a subtropical climate and is notably cool-tolerant.

Other named lines

Line-bred forms of the paradise fish turn up in the trade alongside the wild coloring.

Blue
blue-dominant striping

Common questions

What size tank does a paradise fish need?

A paradise fish needs at least 25 gal (95 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.

What temperature and pH does a paradise fish need?

A paradise fish is comfortable at 50–72°F (10–22°C) with a pH of 6.5–7.5.

What does a paradise fish eat?

A paradise fish eats a varied diet of flake or pellets, frozen bloodworms, daphnia and brine shrimp.

How big does a paradise fish get?

An adult paradise fish reaches about 3.1 in (8 cm).

How does a paradise fish breed?

Paradise fish males build a floating bubble nest and guard the eggs and fry, chasing the female away after spawning. Breeding is hard, mostly because of the male's aggression and the care the tiny fry need.

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