Paradise Fish

Paradise Fish

Before keeping paradise fish as a pet, we should know all about the fish size, right food, types, basic needs, water condition, temperature, etc. We hope you find this article very useful. It helps to solve all your problems related to paradise fish.

Paradise fish is also called paradise gourami, blue paradise fish, blue paradise gourami and, Macropodusopercularis is its scientific name. They are also known as lowland fish and are originate in stagnant ponds, huge rivers, marshes, rice paddies, and irrigation ditches. Paradise fish is 2 inches in size with an average price of $10.

Everything About Paradise Fish

When we talk about the displayed fish, paradise fish is the most brightly color, glamorous fish. They have two color combinations, red and blue. They rarely change their color in response to external stimuli. They are the most beautiful creature of fish species. 

Paradise fish profile

Temperament Aggressive, violent
Tank needs Naturally Planted, freshwater
Color Blue and red with black/blue spots
Scientific name Macropodus opercularis
Common name Chinese fighting fish, paradise gourami, paradise fish
Lifespan 8 to 10 years
Size 2 to 4 inches
Care level Easy to medium
Diet Omnivores
Compatibility Peaceful, Large fish
Minimum Aquarium size 20 gallons
Family Osphronemidae
breeding Bubble nest breeders
Temperature 61 to 79 F
PH 5.9 to 8.0
Expectancy adult size About 24 inches long

Origin and history of paradise fish

Paradise fish invents in a wide variety of Southeast Asia. They also originate in low current about the whole world. In China from Yangtze River towards the pearl basin, on Hainan Island, and in Hongkong.

They are occurring too in Korea, Taiwan, Ryuku Island, central and northern Vietnam, Madagascar, Japan, northeastern Laos, United States, Malaysia, and Cambodia. First, Samuel Pepps introduced paradise fish in 1665 and kept it in a glass tank. Later in 1758, it is presented by Linnaeus.

Paradise fish is the oldest among domesticated fish. It is not authorized and confirmed that paradise fish found in the tank and the wild of the above places both are the same. The specific selection of fish we take in the aquarium is similar to the fish, swim in Southeast Asia. 

Paradise fish appearance

Paradise fish looks too beautiful, charming, and appealing. Their color combinations are impressive, which gives coolness and light to the eyes. Paradise fish’s body is smooth with a curved head.

They have long rolling fins that have some different forms. The caudal fin type is utmost adaptable. Their feathers are so long that bit by nibbled by fin nipping fish. So it is better to keep them alone. Paradise fish have labyrinth structure, pointed feathers, and stout body. Paradise fish have an attractive, appealing appearance and have eye-catching colors. 

Color

Paradise fish have vibrant, glowing blue, and red color strips all over the body. The tiny metallic blue or black spots have spread on their body. They have a strange quality; they can change color according to breeding interest, temperature, atmosphere lights, mood, and water quality.

When they are in a fighting position, the blue color becomes darker; it expands to their fins. Their colors are not limited to only two colors.

They are available in various color variations. They also have blue and orange stripes. Their fins are mostly blue with a light color strip. They open their shell or operculum to appear frightening. The males are more colorful and have longer fins than the female.

Size and weight

Their average size is about 2 inches. If you provide healthy food and environment, their size extends. Their maximum length is about 6.7 cm and, the particular extent or length is around 5.5cm. Their weight is about 0.1 kg and, their dimensions are 5×5×5 cm. 

Paradise fish habitat

They are adjustable to any water condition. They prefer planted water tanks that provide them shelter and food. They allow handling, but you should know about the main points.

Providing them good food and a stress-free atmosphere helps to manage their aggression. It will impact their happiness, health, life, and well-being. It can live in different ranges of temperature and, plants are essential in any environment.

You should add sandy substrates, rocks, floating plants that closely look like a natural habitat. They can adjust to various tank situations and temperatures. They are undemanding and easy to keep as a pet, Particularly best for beginners and you can easily catch this fish in a planted aquarium.

Tank Requirements and water conditions

You should choose a tank according to their needs and requirements. You should provide them aquarium that contains an exterior energy filter, at least 1/4 inch gravel, and Bio wheel.

Tank size

A tank should bigger and have all necessities. The tank size for one fish should at least 20 gallons. Space should enough that they can feel comfortable and happy.

You should also include decorations and other essential additions. Whenever; you add another fish to the aquarium. Once, you should enhance water about 10 gallons of water. Otherwise, a separate room is better.

It mostly swims on the upper surface of the water. So you should check water temperature, filters, and other equipment daily. And should check water conditions per week. You should change 25% of tank water per week.

The tank temperature should 69°F to 82° F, you can use the heater to sustain the temperature. PH level can be marginally alkaline or bitter 5.9 to 8.

The expectancy water hardness should 5 to 30 dGH. You do not require placing any other type of equipment, such as the heater, air stone, and filters. They get the oxygen from the upper aquarium surface. 

Aquarium and water Requirements
Water region Can live all level of water
Tank size 76L or 20 gallons for one fish
Water movement Should weak
Lighting Moderate or normal
Substrate Any
Breeding temperature 70°F to 75°F
Brackish No
PH level 5.9 to 8.0

Paradise Fish Care

The maintenance of paradise fish is not hardy and does not require much effort or time. They can live in a small five-filter jar, but they cannot grow properly and incapable to the extent of their natural size. Good maintenance and large tank size help them to grow fastly.

Their aquarium should protect by glass or lid cover. These fish are very active and sharp that can jump out from the tank simply. You should maintain the distance between the water and the aquarium lid by about 6 to 8cm.

The lower the distance, the more damage or injure the fish. The water temperature should manage about 20 to 26 Celsius degree. Paradise fish can live in a low temperature too about 16 degrees Celsius. Many people try to keep a fish tank outside in the cold, and it not suitable for the fish.

Their acidity level range from 6.5 to 7.5 and, the hardness level should about 5 to 25. They do not require aeration and ventilation. They breathe from the air or the upper surface of the water.

You should install the filter and set these filter modes on a minimum point. You should place the tank floor with coarse sand or river pebbles. You should keep darker color chips that help to make fish brighter.

You should Make sure that water fluctuations are not too harsh. They like to swim in stagnant water. Lighting in the aquarium should not be too sunny, cheerful, and perky. You can use the fluorescent lamp; attach it to the tank cover.

Light helps in growing plants and, fish looks more attractive and charming. Planted in the bottom of the tank will help the female fish to save or hide them from male paradise fish. The aquarium should have live plants, But you can add artificial decors such as snags, shells, castles, and boats. 

Paradise fish diet

They are omnivores, which means they can eat everything buy they like to eat food. You should give them well-balanced food that aids to keep them healthy. In a barren, they get their food from small aquatic invertebrates and small fish.

When you keep them in a pond, they eat vegetables and mosquito larva, brine shrimps, and bloodworms too. In an aquarium, you should offer them algae-based foods, pellets, green vegetables, plants.

You should offer them high protein food, frozen and live nutrition is another best way to provide the protein. You can also give supplements such as brine shrimp, white worms, and blood worms. 

Food Quantity
Nutrition type Omnivore
Meaty food Half of the meal
Flake food Full of meal
Green vegetables some quantity of meal
Pellets Full of meal
Fish, worms, fish Few quantities of meal
Protein food Full of meal

Can paradise fish live with other fish? 

No some species of paradise fish cannot live with their sized fish. They nip at the tail of other fish in some cases and murder small fish, their own families.

They are predatory, greedy, and belligerent. They like to live separately but can allow some fish kinds, and remain non-aggressive and happy to live with them.

Some types of paradise fish are active and social. Fighting with other fish may cause health problems and physical harm. They are solitary and lonely by nature but make groups while spawning.

They are a virtuous community species but for the right mates. You can keep a young paradise with other fish but cannot keep a mature male with others.

Though paradise is very selective for its mates, so you should take extra care while keeping them together. You can keep; five paradise fish in one aquarium. You should select that fish that bear their anger and hostility.

They can live at room temperature and can adjust low flow environments. You should avoid keeping that looks like paradise fish because they take them as a rival. You should also avoid rainbows types of fish, betta, and gourami.

You should also avoid any animal that similar to a snack. They are some best tank mates that you should keep along with this fish, such as Opaline Gouramis, Blue Gouramis, and Gold Gouramis. There are few fish species that you can keep along with paradise fish.

  • Bristlenose plecos
  • Asian stone cat
  • Zebra Danio
  • White clouds
  • Cherry Barb
  • Corydoras
  • Buenos Aires Tetra
  • Japanese Rice Fish
  • Amano shrimp
  • Ghost shrimp
  • Bala sharks
  • Redtail shark
  • Tiger Barbs

Are paradise fish aggressive?

Yes, few classes of paradise fish are violent and aggressive, but some are not. Male fish are much aggressive and violent and fight for females. Thus you should keep males individually. They are relaxed to hold.

Suitable aquarium plants for paradise fish

  • Java Moss
  • Hornwort
  • Salvinia 
  • Guppy grass
  • Water wisteria
  • Duckweed

Species and types of paradise fish

There are multiple types of paradise fish. They are dissimilar from each other by their colors and body shape. They all have distinct features and characteristics, but all look so elegant and attractive. They have a wonderful and delightful appearance. They are a bit aggressive for some tank mates. 

Round-tailed paradise fish: This type of fish has multiple colors with overflows. They have round or plump tail just like a fan. 

Blue paradise fish: Blue paradise fish have pale blue body color with noticeable strips on their back. 

Red-backed paradise fish: Their body color is silver with red strips in the back. Red dots are also present on the ventral fins and the caudal.

Red paradise fish: They have lush feathers and have long, harsh tails with red, bright colors painting on the sides.  

Albino paradise fish: Their body has milky white color along pale pink plumb strips. 

Black paradise fish: They have silver-white color on the scales. They have a red-eye color that becomes too bright in a black environment. The male black paradise fish usually have bright blue color from the fins corner. 

Paradise fish breeding

Before breeding, you should make sure about the male and female fish. You differentiate the gender by noticing the color and size of the fish. Male paradise fish are bigger and have more striking and bright colors than female.

Sometimes their color effects by various environmental elements. They show a gender difference about 2 to 3 months of age. Another most significant thing that necessary for breeding is their sexual maturity. Sexual maturity is exposure to the larger fins. 

You should keep the female and male dish in one separate aquarium nearly, 20 gallons. The water level should minimum around 6 to 8 inches. Make sure to feed them a proper diet that contains protein.

Continue this process for 2 to 4 days. You should place both fish in the 38-liter breeding aquarium and has a noble supply of plants. You should maintain a water level of 18 cm and increase the water temperature to 28°C.

This process releases eggs that are enriched by male sperm. This breeding act lasts until the female fish lays the last eggs. They are proficient in lying about 500 eggs in one spawning season. Male fish take the responsibility to care about their eggs.

They are so protective and become violent when fish go near the young ones. The egg hatching process will take 1 2 to days. 

Egg hatching time might be different with temperature. Usually, it emerges for about 30 to 50 hours. This time can extend to 50 hours. When giving the bubble nest to the male, he will not destroy or eat them. But when he starts to eat, he removes all the fry that arrives from the nest by eating. 

Cost of paradise fish

The paradise fish cost differs from male to female and depends on their species, quality, size, and variety. These classes of fish are energetic, gorgeous, elegant, and hardy. They are certainly available at small pet stores of aquatic specialists from all over the world. A single young Albino, large, paradise fish cost is $11.

These are the best and use for aquarium fish. A juvenile blue male paradise fish cost is about $6 for one fish. There is various color range of paradise gourami fish.

The price for one paradise fish is almost $14.99. When we buy more than one fish, its price will decrease. As you increase the number of fish, the cost of one fish will continue to decreases.

Paradise fish cost profile

Quantity and type Cost
Male blue young paradise one fish $6
Albino large paradise fish $12
1 to 2 paradise fish $10
3 to 4 paradise fish $16
5 to 9 paradise fish $17
Above ten paradise fish $19

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