Licorice Gourami

About

Found in the blackwater swamps and slow-moving streams of Borneo, Parosphromenus opallios is one of around twenty recognized species in a genus hobbyists affectionately call licorice gouramis or simply paros. Like all members of the suborder Anabantoidei, it carries a labyrinth organ that allows it to breathe atmospheric air directly, though paros tend to surface for gulps less frequently than their gourami cousins. This species was circulating among specialist hobbyists under the trade tag 'Sukamara' before it was formally described, and it still appears only sporadically in the hobby. Males put on a remarkable courtship display, tilting nearly vertical with head pointing downward and fins fully fanned out while attempting to coax a female into a small cave territory. Spawning follows a series of close embraces inside the cave, with the male taking sole responsibility for guarding eggs and fry once the female departs to defend the perimeter. Despite the beginner care rating, this fish is really a species for dedicated keepers who are committed to soft, acidic water and a quiet, species-focused setup. Mixing different Parosphromenus species together risks hybridization, and most community tanks are simply too boisterous. A small, well-planted tank with gentle filtration and maybe a few tiny, peaceful cyprinids as tankmates is the way to go.