Moonspot Licorice Gourami

About

A rarely exported blackwater specialist from Indonesia, Parosphromenus linkei is one of the licorice gouramis, a group of tiny anabantoids that inhabit peat swamps and their associated streams across Sundaland. It goes by the trade name 'moonspot licorice gourami' on occasion and comes in at least three color forms. One silvery, one brownish, and one sporting small reddish spots along the dark lateral stripe. The species is identified by one to three conspicuous black blotches along the midlateral stripe, grayish-brown unpaired fins with rows of clear spots, and a pointed tail with an extended central ray filament. Like all members of the labyrinth fish suborder, it can breathe atmospheric air through a specialized gill-derived organ, though it surfaces less frequently than many of its relatives. This species has a reputation for being somewhat more forgiving than most of its close relatives, making it a sensible first choice for hobbyists new to the group. That said, it is not a community fish. It does best in a species setup or with small, peaceful cyprinids like Boraras. Mixing different Parosphromenus species is strongly discouraged due to hybridization risk. Breeding is fascinating: males court females with a near-vertical, head-down display with fins spread wide, then guard the eggs inside a small cave while the female defends the territory around it.