Paradise Fish
Macropodus opercularis
Osphronemidae
About
The paradise fish is a strikingly coloured East Asian labyrinth fish from the slow, shallow waters of China, Taiwan, Vietnam and Korea. Famously hardy and tolerant of cool, unheated conditions, it breathes atmospheric air at the surface and is beautiful but decidedly pugnacious, with males intolerant of one another and of similarly shaped tankmates.
Care
Keep a single male in a well-covered tank of 75 L or more with a long footprint, gentle flow and dense planting for sightlines. No heater is required. Choose robust, dissimilar tankmates only, and avoid small fish or shrimp it may hunt.
Diet
Carnivore-leaning omnivore that hunts small invertebrates and fish; feed frozen and live Daphnia, brine shrimp and bloodworms alongside quality dry foods.
Tankmate compatibility
Possible with care (216)
Avoid (55)
Computed by the AquaSage engine for a spacious reference tank — always check the full verdict for your exact setup in the calculator.
Telling males from females
What works for this species, most reliable first.
- Dorsal fin shapeStrong · from about 4 months
In most gouramis the dorsal fin ends differently between the sexes, and it can be read from outside the glass without touching the fish.
- The ovipositorStrong · from about 4 months
A small white tube at the vent, just behind the ventral fins, visible on a mature female from below or head-on. It reads as a single white dot.
- Extended finsA hint only · from about 8 months, and later in a suppressed male
On many cichlids and killifish the male's dorsal and anal fins draw out into trailing points as he matures, while the female's stay rounded.
Also in these lists
Frequently asked questions
- What tank size does a Paradise Fish need?
- A Paradise Fish needs an aquarium of at least 75 litres (19.8 US gallons) with a footprint at least 80 cm (31.5 in) long — for this species, swimming length matters as much as raw volume.
- What water parameters does a Paradise Fish need?
- Paradise Fish does best at 10–26 °C (50–78.8 °F), pH 6–8 and a general hardness of 5–19 °dGH.
- Is the Paradise Fish suitable for beginners?
- Yes — Paradise Fish is one of the easier species to keep and forgives typical first-tank mistakes, as long as the aquarium is cycled and maintained.