Spiketail paradisefish

Pseudosphromenus cupanus

Also known as Spike-tailed paradisefish, Spiketail paradise gourami, Cupanus gourami, Polyacanthus cupanus

FreshwaterFish

Spiketail paradisefish (Pseudosphromenus cupanus) — Sir Francis Day · Public domain

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
Swim level: Middle
Difficulty: Easy
Breeding: Easy
Rarity: Rare
Origin: Southern India and Sri Lanka, in sluggish or still lowland waters such as ponds, ditches, and slow streams thick with plants.
Family: Osphronemidae

Overview

A pair or a small group is comfortable in a 45 litre planted tank kept at 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 dried food is often ignored. It is peaceful but timid, so keep it with small calm tankmates like pygmy rasboras or leave it in a species tank. Gentle filtration and floating plants help it feel secure.

In the wild

Found in shallow, heavily vegetated lowland waters that are often soft and stained by leaf litter. These waters warm up and hold little oxygen, so the fish 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 across their range.

Good to know

Pseudosphromenus cupanus was described by Cuvier in 1831 and belongs to the family Osphronemidae. It is named for the pointed, extended rays of its tail fin that give the spiketail its shape. It was long confused with its close relative Pseudosphromenus dayi in the hobby.