Paradise Fish Care Guide
Macropodus opercularis · Easy care · 20 gallon minimum
A stunning but feisty labyrinth fish that tolerates cool water; best kept alone or with tough tankmates.
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How big does a paradise fish get?
A paradise fish (Macropodus opercularis) reaches about 4.0 inches as an adult. Plan tank size and tank mates around the adult size, not the small fish you buy at the store.
Tank size & setup
Give a paradise fish a minimum of 20 gallons, with water at 61–79°F and a pH of 6–8. As a easy-care, carnivore species, a stable, cycled tank with the right diet keeps them healthiest.
Good tank mates
Pair a paradise fish with peaceful species that share its temperature and pH range. Compatible options include:
- Choose peaceful fish with overlapping temperature and pH ranges.
About the paradise fish
The fork-tailed paradisefish, or paradise gourami, is a species of pelagic, long-finned freshwater ray-finned fish in the family Osphronemidae, found in most freshwaters of East Asia ranging from eastern China down to northern Vietnam. This anabantiform fish can reach a standard length of 6.7 cm, though most are only about 5.5 cm . Paradise fish were the second Chinese ornamental fish introduced to the West after the Goldfish, and the first freshwater tropical fish successfully bred in captivity in Europe, having been imported 1869 to France by the French aquarium fish importer Pierre Carbonnier in Paris. The paradise fish is one of the more aggressive members of its family. It is more aggressive than the three spot gourami, yet less pugnacious in nature than the less commonly kept combtail.
Recommended gear for paradise fishs
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