Paradise Gouramis
(Macropodus opercularis)
The paradise fish or paradise gouramis (Macropodus opercularis), are small freshwater labyrinth fish found in ditches and paddy fields in East Asia, ranging from the Korean Peninsula to Northern Vietnam . Paradise Fish are fairly combative, harassing and attacking each other as well as potentially killing small fish. In the wild, they are predators, eating insects, invertebrates and fish fry. The popularity of this species has waned in recent decades as much more colorful (and often, less pugnacious) species of gouramis have become widely available to hobbyists. This species is one of the few fish that can change its color (lighter or darker) in response to stimuli . The Paradise Fish or Paradise Gourami has a stout elongated body and a forked tail fin. This fin becomes quite long on the males, up to an inch or two, extending into serrated filaments.They are quite colorful with a medley of reds and blues, blacks and whites. There are several color forms including black and albino . Like all other labyrinth fish, they can breath air generally gulping it at the water's surface. They have a special 'labyrinth organ' which acts like a lung which enables them to survive in oxygen-depleted waters.
Family : Osphronemidae
Size : 8-10 cm , males larger with fins that may increase this length
Origin : Asia
Water : Adapts to wide range but prefers water less than very hard
pH : 5.8 - 8.0
Temperature : 16 - 27 °C
Feeding : Omnivores , favor rich meaty foods , gladly eat foods designed for Bettas,
but shouldn't be fed them exclusively . They enjoy exercising their
predatory side on live foods.
Sexing : Males are brighter with stronger color patterns. Their fins are longer and
larger.
Breeding : Bubble nest builder - male cares for eggs and fry
Aquarium : Best kept in an aquarium with this species only
Breeding :
1 ) Condition Your Fish.
Feed your fish with a good quality flake food for its nutritional value.Then give
them live and/or frozen foods for dessert. Males like plump, egg-filled females.
2 ) Males Build a “Bubble-Nest.”
Males interested in spawning build a nest made of bubbles. Cover their tank
and turn down the filter if you want him to build a nest.Add floating plants or
cut a Styrofoam cup in half to use as a cover for his nest .
3 ) They Breed Like Bettas.
Raise their temperature gradually to 26 - 28 °C to trigger spawning. Male
should be putted in tank first (morning better),female later (around afternoon).
They probably will spawn next day . The male displays to the female to coax
her under the nest. Then he wraps around her and appears to squeeze out the
eggs. He scoops up the eggs and puts them in his nest. They repeat the process
until he decides to beat her up. Take her out immediately or she might be
killed after the spawn .
4 ) Eggs hatch in 24-48 hours.
They live off their yolk sacs until they begin swimming. Start the fry on green
water, infusoria or newly-hatched brine shrimp. Get the male out of there
before he starts eating them.