Hong Kong Labyrinthfish

About

Found only in Hong Kong, this obscure labyrinthfish, Macropodus hongkongensis, occupies both mountainous streams and lowland freshwater habitats within that small geographic range, making it one of the more narrowly distributed members of its genus. It's a compact fish, rarely exceeding about three inches, but what it lacks in size it makes up for in attitude. Males are territorial and will harass similar-looking tankmates relentlessly, especially during breeding periods, so keeping more than one male together is only workable in a very spacious setup. Pairing each male with two or more females helps spread out his attention. Like all labyrinthfishes, it breathes atmospheric air using a specialized organ above the gills, and this trait shapes how it breeds as well. Males build bubble nests at the surface, ideally tucked into floating vegetation, and the fry depend on warm, humid air just above the waterline to develop their labyrinth organs properly. A tight-fitting lid is essential when raising young. The spawning process follows the classic osphronemid embrace, with eggs floating up to the nest on their own due to an oil droplet inside each one. Post-spawn, the adults are generally left in the tank and the male may even tolerate the female helping guard the nest. The species shows up only occasionally in the hobby, so finding it takes some searching.