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No federal permit to keepLicorice gourami
Parosphromenus deissneri
Fishes › Gouramis, bettas, snakeheads (Anabantiformes) › Osphronemidae (Gouramis and bettas)
The licorice gourami (Parosphromenus deissneri) is a species of freshwater ray-finned fish from the subfamily Macropodusinae, part of the family Osphronemidae, the gouramis.
Care at a glance
Species-specific values
Values researched for this exact species. Where they differ from the group guide below, follow these. Air, surface and water temperatures are listed separately, and each source is kept as published rather than averaged.
| Water temperature | 72–82 °F (22–28 °C) Seriously Fish aquarium recommendation; not a wild collection measurement. | 280 |
| Water pH | 3–6.5 pH Seriously Fish aquarium recommendation; not a wild collection measurement. | 280 |
| Water general hardness | 1–4 dGH Seriously Fish aquarium recommendation; not a wild collection measurement. | 280 |
| Maximum standard length | 40 mm SL Source maximum; not total length or a guaranteed adult size. | 280 |
| Minimum pair tank base | length: 40 cm; width: 20 cm Specialist stable, mature blackwater setup; not a generic community tank. | 280 |
| Diet | Varied tiny live aquatic invertebrates; dried foods are usually refused. Do not rely on the guide’s flake/pellet staple. | 280 |
| Social needs | Species-focused pairs are preferred by breeders; avoid mixing liquorice-gourami species. General community conditions are unsuitable. | 280 |
Species-specific aquarium care
- Tank: At least 24 in long and 12 in front to back for one adult (adults commonly reach about 1.2 in / 2.96 cm).
- Water: Freshwater.
- Temperature: 75–82°F (range recorded for this species).
- pH: 5.6–7.2.
- Hardness: 0–10 dGH.
- Layout: Uses both the bottom and open water: give open swimming space plus cover near the substrate.
Calculated from this species' own FishBase record: tank size from its typical adult length and swimming zone, water values from its recorded ranges. The group guide below fills in general care.
Care guide
Species care notes
- Tank: a base of at least 16 × 8 in (roughly 4 US gallons); space needed is rated “any tank”.
- Water: soft, acidic water, 72–82 °F, pH 3–6.5, 1–4 dGH.
- Behaviour: temperament species tank; in a pair; not a community fish.
- Difficulty: Moderate (Seriously Fish rating).
Short excerpts from the species profile:
- Setup: “Can be maintained in a fully-decorated aquarium although many breeders prefer not to use a substrate for ease of maintenance.”
- Diet: “This species is chiefly a micropredator feeding on tiny aquatic invertebrates, therefore in the aquarium it must be offered a variety of small live foods such as Artemia nauplii, Daphnia, Moina, mosquito larvae, micro worm, etc.”
- Tankmates: “Not recommended for the general community aquarium.”
- Breeding: “Normally spawns in small caves or among leaf litter and forms temporary pair bonds with the male solely responsible for egg and brood-care.”
From the Seriously Fish profile for this species, which has the full habitat, maintenance, diet, behaviour and breeding write-up 167
Gouramis and labyrinth fish
Applies to most species in this group. Habitat: Warm, still, vegetated waters. Individual species can differ, so compare with the species numbers above and the linked sources.
Housing & setup
- Planted, calm tanks with floating plants; they breathe air at the surface, so leave a gap under the lid.
Diet
- Food acceptance is species-specific. Parosphromenus deissneri needs tiny live invertebrate foods and commonly refuses dried foods; a pellet/flake staple cannot cover every labyrinth fish.
Health watch
- Males are territorial; dwarf gourami iridovirus.
Understanding the animal
About this animal
About this animal
It is endemic to Bangka in Indonesia where it is found in the slow, flowing streams with black waters associated with peat swamp forests. This species was formally described by the Dutch ichthyologist Pieter Bleeker as Osphromenus deissneri in 1859 with the type locality given as Sungai Baturussa basin at 8 kilometres from Pudingbesar on the road to Kampong Simpan, Bangka.
Quoted from the Wikipedia article “Licorice gourami” (CC BY-SA 4.0) 174
In the wild
In the wild
From this species’ own FishBase record (habitat, bottom type, water and breeding data), not its family. Good care copies these conditions.1
| Where it lives | Lives in freshwater. Uses both the bottom and open water. Inhabits slow flowing creeks among vegetation. |
| Water it lives in | Freshwater, 75–82 °F (24–28 °C), pH 5.6–7.2, hardness 10 dH. |
| Climate | Tropical climate. |
| Behavior to plan for | Breeding: clutch tenders. |
What this means for care
- Keep water within its wild range, 75–82 °F.
Native climate (measured)
Native climate (measured)
| Warm-season highs | about 88°F (up to 90°F in the hottest sampled areas) |
| Cool-season lows | about 72°F (down to 70°F in the coldest sampled areas) |
| Average temperature | 78–81°F across sampled records |
| Relative humidity | 80–84% on average (driest month about 78%) |
| Rainfall | about 2684 mm a year, spread fairly evenly |
Measured at 8 wild occurrence records sampled against WorldClim 2.1 climate data (1970–2000 averages). Air conditions in the range are ecological context, not enclosure settings: microhabitats such as burrows, leaf litter or basking rocks can be cooler, warmer or more humid.
From the sources
From the sources
Quoted from the matching sections of reputable sources for this exact species. Specialist databases are used first; Wikipedia (community-edited, CC BY-SA 4.0) only fills gaps. Other sources are short credited quotes.
| Overview | The licorice gourami (Parosphromenus deissneri) is a species of freshwater ray-finned fish from the subfamily Macropodusinae, part of the family Osphronemidae, the gouramis. It is endemic to Bangka in Indonesia where it is found in the slow, flowing streams with black waters associated with peat swamp forests. This species was formally described by the Dutch ichthyologist Pieter Bleeker as Osphromenus deissneri in 1859 with the type locality given as Sungai Baturussa basin at 8 kilometres from Pudingbesar on the road to Kampong Simpan, Bangka. It is the type species of the genus Parosphromenus. — Wikipedia (community-edited) |
| Where it lives | Home ranges Population dynamics Growth parameters Max. ages / sizes Length-weight rel. Length-frequencies Mass conversion Recruitment Abundance Life cycle Reproduction Maturity Maturity/Gills rel. — FishBase |
| Reproduction | Male protects eggs inside caves. — FishBase |
| Biology | Facultative air-breathing; Inhabits slow flowing creeks among vegetation. — FishBase |
Data and studies
Researched care notes
Researched care notes
Findings checked against veterinary, zoo, welfare, keeper and peer-reviewed sources. Air, basking-surface and water temperatures are kept separate, and where sources disagree both are shown. “Study” notes report what a paper measured, not a universal rule.
Liquorice Gouramis (group)
Researched for this genus; applies to its species unless a species note says otherwise.
- The guideline describes soft, low-conductivity acidic water; pH preferences differ among species.1
- An unusual successful institutional water protocol is an exception, not evidence that all populations have broad tolerance. Confidence: LOW.1
- Suitable live microfoods are important; many species accept non-live foods unreliably.1
- Small pair breeding tanks and larger community displays are different contexts; food competition affects stocking.1
The numbers
The numbers
Each bar is what one source reports. Where several sources weigh in, the dashed gold band marks their average.
Adult length
Maximum recorded length. Measured as standard length (snout to the base of the tail, not counting the tail fin). Fish in home aquariums often stay smaller than wild records.
Water temperature
Range the species tolerates in nature; aim for the middle.
Water hardness
Minimum tank footprint
Seriously Fish recommends a tank base of at least 16 × 8 in (about 4 US gallons).
Sources for this sheet
- FishBase (Froese & Pauly, eds.), version 24.07 Peer-reviewed researchThe global scientific database on fishes, maintained by a consortium of research institutions; every value is referenced.
- Seriously Fish species profiles Experienced keeper or breederLong-running aquarium reference written and peer-checked by experienced fishkeepers and ichthyologists; each profile covers habitat, tank size, water, diet, behaviour and breeding.
- Merck Veterinary Manual: Management of aquarium fish Zoo, university or veterinaryThe Merck Veterinary Manual: a standard veterinary reference written and reviewed by veterinary specialists.
- Merck Veterinary Manual: Types and features of aquatic systems Zoo, university or veterinaryThe Merck Veterinary Manual: a standard veterinary reference written and reviewed by veterinary specialists.
- Merck Veterinary Manual: Nutritional diseases of fish Zoo, university or veterinaryThe Merck Veterinary Manual: a standard veterinary reference written and reviewed by veterinary specialists.
- Seriously Fish — Parosphromenus deissneri Zoo, university or veterinaryAdded in the 2026 source-checked care-guide review.
- Wikipedia (species article) Community referenceFree encyclopedia; useful overviews with their own citations. Intro text is quoted under CC BY-SA 4.0.
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