Licorice Gourami

About

Found in the blackwater peat swamp forests of Selangor and the Bernam region of Peninsular Malaysia, Parosphromenus harveyi is one of the so-called licorice gouramis, a group of miniature labyrinth fish that punch well above their size in terms of personality and breeding complexity. Males are identifiable by their vivid blue pelvic fins, a wide black band near the tail, and elongated pelvic fin filaments that actually exceed the fin length itself. A distinctive feature noted when the species was formally reviewed. Like all labyrinth fish, this species can breathe atmospheric air directly, though it does so less frequently than many of its relatives. It is essentially a blackwater specialist, and its water chemistry needs reflect that. Soft, acidic conditions are non-negotiable rather than optional. Despite a beginner care rating, this is not a fish for a general community setup. It fares best alone or with very small, peaceful cyprinids like Boraras, in a well-decorated tank with leaf litter and cave structures that mimic its natural habitat. Mixing it with other Parosphromenus species is discouraged due to hybridization risk. Breeding is fascinating: the male performs a dramatic head-down courtship display, tends the eggs solo inside a cave, and the female guards the perimeter. It rarely appears in commercial trade and is mainly passed between dedicated private keepers.