TankBud

Spiketail paradisefish

Pseudosphromenus cupanus

Also known as Spike-tailed paradisefish, Spiketail paradise gourami, Cupanus gourami, Polyacanthus cupanus, Brown tail spiketail paradise fish

FreshwaterFish

Spiketail paradisefish (Pseudosphromenus cupanus)
karsten_s · CC BY 4.0

Care at a glance

Temperature
68–82°F
20–28°C
pH
6.0–7.5
Adult size
2.6 in
6.5 cm
Minimum tank
12 gal
45 L
Temperament
Peaceful
Social behavior
Social
Tankmates
With caution
Swim level
Middle
Diet
Carnivore
Difficulty
Easy
Breeding
Bubble nester · Easy
Rarity
Rare
Family
Osphronemidae
Origin
Southern India and Sri Lanka, in sluggish or still lowland waters such as ponds, ditches, and slow streams thick with plants.

Overview

The spiketail paradisefish is a peaceful but timid labyrinth fish for a quiet, planted tank. It is easy to care for.

Did you know

The spiketail paradisefish was described by Cuvier in 1831, and the hobby long confused it with its close relative Pseudosphromenus dayi.

Caring for the spiketail paradisefish

Keep a pair or a small group of spiketail paradisefish in a planted tank of at least 12 gal (45 L). Gentle filtration and floating plants help them feel secure.

They do well at 68 to 82°F (20 to 28°C), with a pH of 6.0 to 7.5. Feed small live and frozen foods such as daphnia, brine shrimp, grindal worm and white worm, since they often ignore dried food.

Choose small, calm tank mates such as pygmy rasboras, or leave them in a species tank. Males build a bubble nest tucked into a cave or under an overhang, and they guard the eggs and fry on their own. Breeding it is easy.

Good to know

Pseudosphromenus cupanus belongs to the family Osphronemidae. It is named for the pointed, extended rays of its tail fin, which give the spiketail its shape.

In the wild

The spiketail paradisefish comes from southern India and Sri Lanka. It lives in shallow, heavily vegetated lowland waters, such as ponds, ditches and slow streams, often soft and stained by leaf litter. These waters warm up and hold little oxygen, so it relies on its labyrinth organ to gulp air at the surface. It sticks close to the cover of plants and submerged roots rather than open water. Wild fish tolerate a fairly wide range of conditions.

Common questions

What size tank does a spiketail paradisefish need?

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

What temperature and pH does a spiketail paradisefish need?

A spiketail paradisefish is comfortable at 68–82°F (20–28°C) with a pH of 6.0–7.5.

What does a spiketail paradisefish eat?

A spiketail paradisefish eats small live and frozen foods, such as daphnia, brine shrimp, grindal worm and white worm. It often ignores dried food.

How big does a spiketail paradisefish get?

An adult spiketail paradisefish reaches about 2.6 in (6.5 cm).

How does a spiketail paradisefish breed?

Males build a bubble nest tucked into a cave or under an overhang, then guard the eggs and fry on their own. Breeding the spiketail paradisefish is easy.

Related species