The Paradise Fishes

by Jennifer Wilkinson, CAS

originally published in The Calquarium Volume 42, Number 1, September 1999

The common paradise fish has colorful blue bands over a reddish brown background. They also have a blue throat. The female is smaller than the male with paler colors and shorter fins. They have lengthened rays on the dorsal fin as well as on the caudal, giving them a lyre-tail or ragged appearance. The total length of the male is 11 cm, while the females only get to a total length of 8 cm.

Their natural habitat is shallow water, such as rice paddies of eastern Asia, China, Korea, Taiwan, and the Ryuku Islands.

The paradise fish should be kept in large aquariums. They will not disturb the plants. Young fish of this species may be kept together, however adult males will fight like bettas, to their death. The adult males may also become belligerent toward other smaller tank mates at spawning time. These fish will eat all kinds of fish foods. They are not fussy when it comes to water conditions, however they prefer a temperature of 23C. I kept three of them, in a 50 gallon community a few years ago without any problems. They were not fully mature though.

These fish are easy to breed. They need a medium to large tank, filled ½ full with water. There must be some hiding spots for the female to get away from the male. Provide floating plants or a piece of Styrofoam, for the male to build the bubble nest at the surface. No air stones or filtration is needed as it will break up the bubble nest. The temperature of the breeding aquarium should be 26C. The male wraps himself around the female at which time the eggs are released. The eggs float up into the bubble nest. The female should be removed right after spawning. The male should be removed when the fry go free swimming.

These are fish I wouldn’t mind adding to my aquaria, if only I could find a pair.

The round tailed paradise fish has a grayish black body. During courtship the male is light with tiger like stripes on the head and anterior part of the body. The caudal fin has some orange in it. The female is the smaller of the two. Her total length is 5 to 7 cm, while the male can get to a total length of 8 cm.

They come from eastern China, in the north as far as Korea in all kinds of water.

These fish are supposed to be more peaceful than the other paradise fish, and better suited to a community tank. They will eat all kinds of fish foods. They are not particular to water conditions, however they prefer a temperature of 20C.

This paradise fish may be a little more difficult to breed. Set up a well-conditioned pair in a 20 gallon aquarium or larger, with some anchored and floating plants. The temperature in the spawning aquarium is much higher at 28C. No air stone or filtration. The male will build a bubble nest. Breeding takes place under the bubble nest, and the eggs will float upwards toward the nest. A spawn usually consists of 200 to 300 eggs. The female should be removed right after spawning, the male should be removed when the fry go free swimming.

I have included this paradise fish because it has a rounded tail. I have seen some round tailed paradise fish lately and although not the same colors, I was wondering if this could be the ones. See note at end of article.

The black paradise fish are a solid black to grayish color. The female when ready to spawn has lighter abdominal region. The males in spawning condition are a dark black with red on the pelvic fins. Unpaired fins are lined in bluish white. The female has shorter fins. The dorsal fins of the males end in a point.

They come from southern China and Vietnam.

These fish are more peaceful than the common paradise fish, but still may be rough on smaller tank mates. They need a large aquarium with plants or hiding spots. They will eat all kinds of fish foods. They are not fussy to water conditions, although the ideal temperature is 24C.

These paradise fish are easy to breed. Set a well conditioned pair up in a large aquarium, in medium soft water. The temperature should be 26C. The water level should be about ½ full. Some hiding places for the female are a must. Floating plants or a plastic lid on the surface of the water provide a site for the male to build a bubble nest. The male will display for the female before mating takes place under the bubble nest. The eggs float to the nest. The female should be removed as soon as spawning is completed. The male should be removed when fry go free swimming.

I have included this species because I have heard stories that they are around. Whether this is true or not, I don’t know as I have never seen them anywhere.