Licorice Gourami

Licorice Gourami (Parosphromenus Ornaticauda)

The Licorice Gourami, also known as Ornate Licorice Gourami, is a rare and small freshwater fish native to the peat swamps of Malaysia and Indonesia. They display a stunning combination of iridescent blues and black stripes, creating a captivating appearance. These fish are relatively small, reaching an adult size of only around 1.6 inches.

Licorice Gouramis are shy, peaceful, and somewhat territorial. They are best suited for a species-specific tank or housed with other small, non-aggressive fish. As they can be territorial, keeping them in pairs or a group with a ratio of one male to multiple females is recommended to reduce aggression.

Their diet consists mainly of live and frozen foods, such as daphnia, brine shrimp, and mosquito larvae. They may accept high-quality micro pellets or flakes as well.

The ideal tank setup for Licorice Gouramis is a densely planted aquarium with subdued lighting, driftwood, and leaf litter to mimic their natural environment. The Licorice Gourami spends their life swimming at the middle and bottom levels of the tanks.

They prefer soft, acidic water with a pH of 4.0-6.0, a hardness of 0-4 dGH, and a temperature range of 75-82°F (24-28°C). Sometimes these fish become territorial with their own species in the aquarium with not enough space. Their ideal community aquarium size is a minimum of 20 gallons.