Paradise fish (Macropodus opercularis) is a very popular fish among aquarists along with goldfish.
It was one of the first species of fish imported to Europe in the early 19th century. It was imported to France in 1869.
It can be found in Asia in the waters of China, Vietnam, Taiwan, Korea and Cambodia.
It is also known as paradise gourami or paradise fish.
The population of paradise fish in the natural environment is decreasing due to the pollution of the rivers in which they live.
Food over Paradise
Accept various types of food. It can be fed with worms, larvae, insects, etc.
Being an active fish is recommended food rich in protein.
Look over Paradise
Paradise fish is a medium-sized fish about 10 cm long. They have several shades of colors, but two colors predominate: red and blue.
This species of fish contains the labyrinth organ that allows it to breathe both the air in the water and atmospheric air when it comes to the surface of the water.
The tail is V-shaped, but the tips are rounded.
Sexual dimorphism is not very obvious. Females are larger than males by 2-3 cm. The latter have more vivid colors.
Behavior over Paradise
It is an easy to care for and reproduce fish that can be taken care of even by people who are just starting out.
It prefers undisturbed waters, backwaters such as marshes, rice paddies, ponds and other quiet waters.
It is a fish that has energy and likes to swim in all the water that is available to it. He is curious about the movements around him and seems never to be bored.
It must be taken into account the aggressive character if it will be put in the aquarium with other species of fish. Males tend to be aggressive with other males of the same species if they don't have enough space. It tolerates little or no other fish species. It is not recommended to add other species of fish to the aquarium unless it is large enough to have room.
Attention ! These fish are aggressive and territorial, just like Beta Splendens. They need a large aquarium to tolerate and not be aggressive with their own species. If you want to breed Paradise fish at home, one male and one female are recommended in an aquarium of at least 150-200 liters.
One of the reasons why it is adored and preferred by many, apart from its beautiful coloring, is that it tolerates a large beach of temperatures. In the warm season it can be kept outside in lakes and ponds.
Unlike other fish, it does not need substrate or lighting. Instead, the water must be filtered well, but without producing high currents.
Breeding over Paradise
Not being a picky fish is easy to breed in captivity. For reproduction, a maternity ward is recommended for the pair in question. Being carnivores after spawning it is good to remove the fish from the aquarium.
During the act of laying eggs the two (male and female) swim next to each other and when the eggs are laid they are immediately fertilized.
If the female has a lot of eggs to lay, she can get tired and sometimes take a break. After the laying process it is removed from the male, at which time the pair can remove from the aquarium or isolate to prevent the eggs or chicks from being consumed shortly.
The eggs hatch after a few days. Generally 2-3 days are enough to hatch all the eggs. A female can lay up to 500 eggs.
The chicks should be kept in a separate place from the rest of the fish. These a can be fed with liquid food or very well crumbled dry food. They will be able to swim immediately after birth and will have a natural tendency to occupy all available space and feed.
Paradise fish generally live 5-6 years in captivity, but if properly fed and cared for can reach the age of 8 years.
