licorice gourami

Introduction

Morphology

Sexual dimorphism

Behaviour & Life cycle

• diet
  carnivorous
• Sociability
  living as a couple or in a group
• territorial
  Yes
• Way of living
  diurnal

Reproduction

• Reproduction
  ovipare qui pond sur substrat caché

Harmless species

Geographic distribution & Conservation

Conservation status of populations (IUCN)

Natural environment characteristics

• Temperature
  24 - 30 °C
• pH (acidity)
  4 - 5

Biotope presentation

Deontology

Respect for wildlife

In order to preserve wildlife, if you acquire this animal, it must not be released into the wild. See also, the Fishipedia charter.

Fishipedia supports the practice of responsible and environmentally friendly aquarium keeping. We encourage maintenance if it is motivated by a desire to understand the biological functioning of living things and if it is done with respect for animal life.

We believe that aquaristics is an opening to the discovery of aquatic environments, especially freshwater, and that this knowledge is necessary to better protect and respect these environments. Logically, we refute the compulsive purchase of animals that would not find a sufficient and / or adapted place in the host aquarium.

Our recommendations

• Min volume
  50 liters
• Population min
  2
• Temperature
  24 - 30 °C
• pH (acidity)
  4 - 5

Characteristics

• Difficulty breeding
  very difficult
• Robustness
  sensible
• Behaviour
  slightly aggressive
• Availability
  rare

Recommended equipment from our partners

• Aquarium
  OASE StyleLine
• Filtration
  OASE BioMaster

General reminders

Before acquiring an animal

It is strongly advised to read the complete dedicated file and to get information on the feedbacks of maintenance of the envisaged animal, this to avoid any potential conflict whose end result is generally the death of the individual (or the other inhabitants). It is important not to overload your aquarium to limit pollution. This will make maintenance easier.

Freshwater conditions

In nature, animals are subject to weather conditions and live in waters with variable characteristics. The recommendations offered by our team for aquarium maintenance are a guidance and cannot be assimilated to scientific datas.

General reminder on maintenance datas

Setting up your aquarium

Le démarrage d'un aquarium est une partie primordiale pour l'équilibre et le bien-être des poissons. Lorsque l'on met en eau un aquarium, l'eau passe naturellement par un cycle biologique : le cycle de l'azote. Celui-ci dure environ trois semaines. Tous les 2 jours, nous vous conseillons de tester votre eau jusqu'à ce que le taux de nitrite soit à zéro pendant plusieurs jours d'affilée.

Pour accélérer ce cycle, vous pouvez utiliser un activateur de bactéries comme JBL Denitrol. Cette solution riche en bactéries vivantes et enzymes permet une mise en place rapide du cycle de l'azote. Les poissons peuvent alors être introduits plus rapidement.

Testing water parameters

Il est important de tester l'eau de son aquarium régulièrement pour maintenir un environnement sain pour les poissons et les autres habitants. Les tests d'eau permettent de mesurer les niveaux de différents paramètres tels que le pH, la dureté totale, ainsi que les taux de nitrates, de nitrites et d'ammoniaque.

Pour réaliser ces tests, vous pouvez utiliser des produits d'analyse spécialisés tels que JBL ProScan qui permet de réaliser un diagnostic de l'eau directement via un smartphone. Il existe également des coffrets de tests plus classiques de bandelettes, comme JBL PROAQUATEST.

Water changes

En cas d’usage de l’eau du robinet, vous pouvez utiliser un conditionneur d’eau de type Biotopol de JBL pour éliminer les substances nocives comme le chlore, le cuivre, le plomb et le zinc. Une eau trop dure ou trop calcaire peut être inadaptée à de nombreuses espèces tropicales d’eau douce. Si nécessaire, vous pouvez la couper avec de l’eau osmosée ou de pluie filtrée afin d’obtenir une dureté plus adaptée aux besoins de vos poissons et de vos plantes. Les conditionneurs d'eau garantissent une meilleure santé aux poissons et une meilleure croissance des plantes.

Precautions to be taken with chlorine

Chlorine and chloramine are dangerous for the health of animals. Used to disinfect water, these agents are present in significant quantities in tap water. We recommend using an anti-chlorine agent every time you change the water. In addition to chlorine, treatments and medicines sold for aquarium use sometimes contain dangerous heavy metals in high doses.

Specific needs for the licorice gourami

The licorice gourami is a species which lives naturally at a temperature between 24 °C and 30 °C. The licorice gourami is sensitive to abrupt changes in parameters as well as to chemicals. Its acclimation in an aquarium must be done with special care to prevent it from developing diseases or weaknesses. Nitrate levels should remain below 25mg/L. To keep the water clean and unpolluted, plan on changing 20% to 30% of the water volume each month.

Maintenance difficulty

The licorice gourami is a species whose maintenance is rather reserved for informed aquarists . It can only be successfully carried out by carrying out a minimum of documentation work. Special husbandry conditions can easily lead to the death of the species.

Rare species

This species is very rare in the aquarium trade. Instead, it is maintained by knowledgeable aquarists who own and breed individuals from wild origin strains. If you want to get this species, we advise you to contact specialized clubs. }Specimens from long time breeding are a bit easier to breed but you have to respect the particular water parameters.

Cohabitation & Environment

In the wild it occurs at low density, in small, scattered populations within peat-swamp forest streams and ditches. In captivity, provide a species tank that is shallow, very quiet, dimly lit and with near-zero flow. A deep leaf litter layer, roots and tight cavities offer shelter and stabilize water chemistry. Keep the water very soft and acidic, tea-stained by tannins, at 24–26 °C, with small, regular changes. Use a tight lid (it jumps) and keep the air above the surface humid. Avoid active or greedy tankmates; a pair or small, calm group works if many hides are available.
Habitat conservation: conversion of peatlands (plantations, industrial forestry, tin mining) rapidly fragments and degrades blackwater streams; protecting peat swamps and riparian forest is essential.

Acid Water Maintenance

The licorice gourami living naturally in acidic water, generally in "black" or "sieved" water, the implementation of a filtration on peat is ideal for its balance. Adding decaying leaves and alder fruit can significantly improve living conditions by naturally increasing acidity of some water.

Tips for feeding

A micro-predator, it prefers small live foods: daphnia, copepods, micro-worms, flightless fruit flies and mosquito larvae. It accepts fine frozen fare (baby brine shrimp, minced copepods) in small portions near hides and the surface film. Dry foods are seldom taken; if used, introduce them slowly mixed with favoured prey. Vary the diet and match prey size to its small mouth.

General feeding guidelines

Feed animals in moderation to maintain good water quality. Meals should be eaten within 2–3 minutes, served in several small portions rather than a single large ration.

Uneaten food quickly decomposes, releasing ammonia, nitrites, and nitrates, which disturb the aquarium’s biological balance.

Make sure each species can access food properly, slower or bottom-dwelling individuals may require targeted feeding.

Food recommendations from our partner JBL - Products PRONOVO

• Granules
  GOURAMI GRANO
  BEL GRANO
• Flakes
  BEL FLAKES
• Sticks
  INSECT STICK

Reproduction protocol

• egg-laying protection
  Yes

Set up a dedicated, shallow, shaded, very quiet tank with leaf litter and numerous small cavities (under roots, between bark pieces). Spawning occurs inside a covered hide; after mating the male fixes the eggs inside and guards them alone until hatching. Remove the female if harassed. Keep the water very soft, acidic and stable, with minimal flow. Fry hatch within a few days; start with infusoria/paramoecia, then micro-worms and BBS in tiny amounts, maintaining strict hygiene.

Hybridization risks

In general, it is advised not to mix several species of the same genus or different varieties of the same species, to avoid the risks of hybridization.

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