FreshwaterBrackish
Paradisefish
Macropodus opercularis
Osphronemidae, Macropodusinae
Facts
Characteristics
- Length
- Up to 6.7 cm
- Body shape
- Deep-bodied
Care
- Group
- Missing
- Smallest aquarium
- 12 liters
- Diet
- Missing
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Behavior
Water values
Smallest tank
Range
NativeIntroduced
Lives wild in Cambodia, China, Hong Kong SAR China, Japan, Laos, Malaysia, Russia, South Korea, and 2 more countries.
Introduced to Madagascar.
Tank mates
More about the species
Description
Adults inhabit any kind of lowland habitats from heterogeneous structured margins or backwaters of large rivers to small streams and irrigation channels on farmland. Can colonize stagnant water bodies with very low oxygen content (air breather). Found in streams, paddy fields and ditches. Feed on small aquatic animals including small fish. First ornamental fish to be brought to Europe (France 1869, Germany 1876) after the goldfish. Males will fight each other. Aquarium keeping: minimum aquarium size 80 cm.
Other names
Other scientific names
- Chaetodon chinensis
- Labrus opercularis
- Macropodus chinensis
- Macropodus ctenopsoides
- Macropodus filamentosus
- Macropodus venustus
In other languages
- Paradisfisk
- Makropod
- Paradisfisk, Almindelig Makropode, Rød paradisfisk, Rundhalet Makropode, Rundhalet paradisfisk
- Kiinanparatiisikala, Mustaparatiisikala, Paratiisikala
- Chinese fighting fish, Fork tailed paradisefish, Forktail fightingfish, Paradise fish, Roundtail paradisefish
Articles
All articles
Fin rot and columnaris4 min read
Bacteria that attack the fins, mouth and skin, nearly always after poor water. When water changes are enough, and when more is needed.
Velvet and dropsy4 min read
Velvet is a fast-moving parasite. Dropsy is a sign that something is seriously wrong inside the fish. How to recognize them, and what you can do.
How to set up an Asian aquarium5 min read
Two aquariums from Southeast Asia: calm forest streams and peat swamps with soft, brown water, and fast mountain streams with cool, oxygen-rich water.
How to add new fish4 min read
From the store to the tank: how to get the fish used to your water, why you should add only a few at a time, and what to watch for in the first few days.