Redback paradisefish

Care at a glance

Overview

Keep a pair or a single fish in a 75 litre planted tank at 20 to 30 C with a pH of 6.0 to 8.0, since it is adaptable. Feed small live and frozen foods like bloodworm, daphnia, and brine shrimp, plus some dried food. Males can be territorial toward each other and may nip long-finned or timid tankmates, so choose robust, quick companions. Dense planting and floating cover reduce squabbles.

In the wild

Native to lowland streams, ditches, and rice-field margins that are warm and thick with plants. It holds in the mid and upper water among vegetation and breathes air at the surface. The water tends to be soft and neutral to slightly acidic. It was only formally described in 2002 after being confused with other paradise fish.

Good to know

Macropodus erythropterus was described by Freyhof and Herder in 2002 and is a member of the family Osphronemidae. The name refers to the red coloration in its fins, especially the back and tail. It is one of several paradise fish separated out from the widespread Macropodus opercularis complex.

Common questions

Related species

• 

  Black paradise fish

  Macropodus spechti

  3.1 in (8 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)

  3.1 in (8 cm)20 gal (75 L)68–82°F (20–28°C)

• 

  Round-tail paradise fish

  Macropodus ocellatus

  3.1 in (8 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)

  3.1 in (8 cm)20 gal (75 L)61–75°F (16–24°C)

• 

  Paradise fish

  Macropodus opercularis

  3.1 in (8 cm) · 25 gal (95 L)

  3.1 in (8 cm)25 gal (95 L)50–72°F (10–22°C)

• 

  Hong Kong paradise fish

  Macropodus hongkongensis

  3 in (7.5 cm) · 25 gal (95 L)

  3 in (7.5 cm)25 gal (95 L)54–77°F (12–25°C)

• 

  Akar betta

  Betta akarensis

  3.1 in (8 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)

  3.1 in (8 cm)20 gal (75 L)70–81°F (21–27°C)

• 

  Horseshoe betta

  Betta hipposideros

  3.1 in (8 cm) · 24 gal (90 L)

  3.1 in (8 cm)24 gal (90 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)