Download licorice gourami - The Art of Flick Ford

licorice gourami
Parosphromenus harveyi is one of twenty known
and often one can wait a long time for courtship.
species of this genus inhabiting almost sterile
In the wild they feed on tiny benthic invertebrates,
blackwater streams in primeval forest marshes of
primarily juvenile shrimp. They spend most of their
Malayasia and Indonesia, areas now rapidly and
time slowly and strategically moving about the sub-
permanently in decline. Rigid evolutionary special-
strate to avoid predation and also to stay in the cool
ization to their rare biotope that has been stable
oxygen-rich waters that flow from the forest floor
for a very long time has rendered these fish niche-
into their streams.
All of the Parosphromenus species are listed on the
dependent and non-adaptable. The painting shows
IUCN Red List as Endangered. The future sustain-
fishkeeping
natural posture for this display is typically head
ability in the wild for these fish is extremely limited
down and almost vertical.
in time and practical solutions but there are ways
The petite Licorice Gourami
is better for the advanced
hobbyist. They require very
soft water and are often
only interested in live foods.
Many of their habitats are
threatened so the devoted
hobbyist should focus on
breeding them.
—Rachel Oleary
to help conserve and preserve them. The Parosph-
some success although they are a difficult species
romenus Project appeals worldwide to anyone
to maintain due to specialized needs. They are cave
interested in trying to save Licorice Gouramis. For
breeders with many obstacles to success: possible
hobbyists, it is a model of species conservation
egg eating by males, fry eating by both parents,
based on global communication.
comments
Parosphromenus harveyi
Selangor Jungle,
west Mayasia
a displaying male in breeding colors, however the
Aquarists are breeding Licorice Gouramis with
licorice gourami
★
• Classified as labyrinth fishes but do not
use their accessory breathing system.
• Initially described in 1859 by Pieter Bleeker.
• Very timid and will not show color in
anything other than ideal conditions.
in captivity
compatibilty
water
Best kept as species preservation project
(see text above).
pH 3.0 – 6.5, gH 18 – 72 ppm,
temp. 71°– 82°F (22°–28°C)
tank size
biotope
5g–10g
diet
Minimal flow, driftwood, well-planted,
dried leaf litter substrate.
classification
order
family
genus
species
size
Perciformes
Osphronemidae
Parosphromenus
Parosphromenus harveyi
3 – 4 cm (1.2 – 1.6 in)
Specialized live foods. See text above.
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australasia
australasia 121