Swamp licorice gourami
Parosphromenus paludicola
Also known as Paludicola paro
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 72–81°F (22–27°C)
- pH
- 4.5–6.5
- Adult size
- 1.5 in (3.7 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
- Malay Peninsula east coast and southern Thailand
- Family
- Osphronemidae
Overview
The swamp licorice gourami is a small, quiet blackwater fish best kept as a single pair; several pairs can share a larger tank if every fish has a cave to claim. Add tankmates sparingly or not at all, since it is shy, easily overshadowed, and its wild homes are shrinking fast. Small live and frozen foods suit it best, things like microworm, grindal worm, baby brine shrimp, and daphnia; dry food is usually refused. Around 20 liters, tannin-dark and gently filtered, with leaf litter and small caves, is enough for a single pair.
In the wild
It lives in small creeks in swamp forest along the eastern Malay Peninsula and up into southern Thailand, acidic water under shade, warm and very soft. Set that up with a dark, dim tank, leaf litter, botanicals, and gentle filtration through peat. Keep the temperature between 22 and 27 C and the pH from 4.5 to 6.5, aiming below neutral for the fish to show and spawn.
Good to know
Parosphromenus paludicola, family Osphronemidae, reaches about 3.7 centimeters. Its name means swamp-dweller, and it ranges further north than any other licorice gourami, into southern Thailand. Described by Tweedie in 1952, it is a cave-spawner: the eggs sink and are gathered by the parents into a bubble nest inside a cavity. Breeding is difficult and needs stable, soft, acidic water.
Did you know
It is the licorice gourami that reached furthest north, the only member of its genus to cross out of the Malay Peninsula and into the swamp forests of southern Thailand.
Common questions
What size tank does a Swamp licorice gourami need?
A Swamp licorice gourami needs at least 5 gal (20 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.
What temperature and pH do Swamp licorice gourami need?
Swamp licorice gourami are comfortable at 72–81°F (22–27°C) with a pH of 4.5–6.5.
How big do Swamp licorice gourami get?
An adult Swamp licorice gourami reaches about 1.5 in (3.7 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
Nagy's licorice gourami
Parosphromenus nagyiFreshwater1.4 in (3.5 cm)5 gal (20 L)72–81°F (22–27°C)
Spadetail licorice gourami
Parosphromenus filamentosusFreshwater1.6 in (4 cm)5 gal (20 L)72–81°F (22–27°C)Quindecim licorice gourami
Parosphromenus quindecimFreshwater1.3 in (3.4 cm)5 gal (20 L)72–81°F (22–27°C)
Bintan licorice gourami
Parosphromenus bintanFreshwater1.3 in (3.2 cm)5 gal (20 L)72–81°F (22–27°C)
Phoenix licorice gourami
Parosphromenus phoenicurusFreshwater1.3 in (3.2 cm)5 gal (20 L)72–81°F (22–27°C)Alfred's licorice gourami
Parosphromenus alfrediFreshwater1.3 in (3.2 cm)5 gal (20 L)72–81°F (22–27°C)