Macropodus opercularis

Paradise Found

For those of you who like fish but didn't bargain on spending alot, or you dreaded worrying about alot of diseases, I have found you the perfect fish.

Macropodus opercularis, or Paradise Gourami is a hardy member of the Labyrinthine fishes. These durable fish have a small organ (Labyrinth organ) inside their heads that can extract minute quantities of oxygen from a bubble of air taken in through the mouth. This allows these fish to live in water that is virtually devoid of oxygen.

On top of that, they have a natural history of ecological development that started in a climate that experiences rather significant temperature fluctuations. For this reason, Macropodus opercularis can tolerate extremes in temperature from 65 degrees to 90 degrees, even in the same 24 hour period. These fish were among the first ornamental species kept in Europe. (1400 AD) They were easily kept, individually, in small glass bowls in the drafty castles of the English, already having survived the trek across Europe from Southeast Asia.

Macropodus opercularis occurs in four basic color groups. First, is the naturally occurring and very beautiful Red Paradise. Second to be developed was the Blue Paradise variety. The Blue is simply a fish with broad Blue bars and narrow red ones, merely the product of selective breeding of the natural Red, which features broad red bars and narrow blue ones. The third variety is the Albino Paradise. This fish is a pale yellow color with red highlights. Its pupils are a characteristic pink color. The last variety is rare. The Black Paradise is a dark gray fish, and when it is challenged, or when it is considering starting a family (they are egglayers) this variety is jet-black, with red tipped fins. Truly gorgeous.

So we have a fish that is heat and cold tolerant, and can live in water without aeration. What more could you ask?

This fish is impervious to Ammonia accumulation, and Nitrite accumulation. This fish will thrive throughout *the cycle* in any freshwater system. This fishes' absolutely-amazing lack of concern for water quality makes it a perfect denizen for a fish bowl, which is the crux of this article.

To house the Paradise Gourami, you only need a two gallon fish bowl. Anything larger would be appreciated, but unnecessary. Inside the fishbowl, you place the gravel of your choice. A plastic or live plant adds a feature for the fish to hide under, and adds interest to the bowl.

No aerator, no heater, no pH buffer, no nothing. A bowl, some gravel, a plant, and some water. Nothing more is required to keep these 3-4 inch long fish alive.

To optimize health, and growth, (which will occur anyway), you could use a small undergravel fish-bowl-filter with an air bubbler. The filter costs 8$, the stone, tubing and airpump another 16$. The benefit is better water quality and bowl appearance. The fish will attain a slightly larger size, and display better coloration. A live plant, however unnecessary it may be, is going to improve the growth potential and health of the fish. They will survive handily without these amenities, however.

Lastly, feeding these fish a good quality Flake food, like Tetra's Five Star Formula, is going to give you very satisfactory results. However, the best results, color and breeding condition are had when you intersperse the feedings with live or frozen foods in a feeder basket. Ocean Nutrition makes an assortment of meaty frozen confections like Prime Reef, and Frozen Bloodworms to tempt the fish.

If you cover the fish bowl, you can avoid the settling of dust on the waters' surface, which makes the bowl unattractive, but the dust and other collected debris does not affect the fish at all.

Consider a Paradise Gourami in a fish bowl on your desk. Follow my lead, and never change water, never heat or aerate, and sit back in amazement as the fish survives like the cactus that would not die. Consider the additional perks I mentioned, and enjoy a certainly prettier fish, but don't feel obligated to go this extra mile just to keep it alive. These babies are tough!