Phoenix licorice gourami
Parosphromenus phoenicurus
Also known as Langgam licorice gourami
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 72–81°F (22–27°C)
- pH
- 4.5–6.0
- Adult size
- 1.3 in (3.2 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
- Langgam area, Riau, Sumatra, Indonesia
- Family
- Osphronemidae
Overview
The phoenix licorice gourami is a Sumatran blackwater dwarf named for its fiery tail, kept as a single pair in a shaded species tank of about 20 liters. It keeps to the lower water among roots, caves, and fallen leaves. Keep it on its own or with only a few tiny, peaceful fish, and be cautious with tankmates, since it feeds slowly and yields ground to bolder company. Feed small live and frozen foods, newly hatched brine shrimp, grindal worm, and mosquito larvae. A cave for each fish, dim light, and steady soft, acidic water bring the male into color and may prompt a pair to spawn.
In the wild
Parosphromenus phoenicurus comes from peat swamp blackwater near Langgam in Riau province, Sumatra, water that is soft, mineral-poor, and strongly acidic. Arrange driftwood, dried leaves, small caves, and dim light around a dark substrate. Hold the pH from 4.5 to 6.0 and the temperature from 22 to 27 degrees Celsius, using reverse osmosis water where the tap runs too hard. A dark tank shows the male's colors best.
Good to know
Parosphromenus phoenicurus is a labyrinth fish in the family Osphronemidae, described by Schindler and Linke in 2012, and reaches about 3.2 centimeters. Its name means red-tailed, for the flame-red caudal fin the male lights up in display. Breeding is hard, with the male guarding a clutch in a cave and tending the fry through their first weeks in acidic water.
Did you know
The name phoenicurus means red-tailed, and it fits: a courting male glows with a flame-colored tail that stands out sharply against the near-black water of its home swamps.
Common questions
What size tank does a Phoenix licorice gourami need?
A Phoenix licorice gourami needs at least 5 gal (20 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.
What temperature and pH do Phoenix licorice gourami need?
Phoenix licorice gourami are comfortable at 72–81°F (22–27°C) with a pH of 4.5–6.0.
How big do Phoenix licorice gourami get?
An adult Phoenix licorice gourami reaches about 1.3 in (3.2 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
Bintan licorice gourami
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Harvey's licorice gourami
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Bukit Merah licorice gourami
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