amazonas Freshwater Aquariums & Tropical Discovery Volume5 1 • Number

| licorice • Licorice

assassi Gouramis ❙ Assassin Snails

n s ❙ New Pike Cichlids n ❙ Sunshine Plecos ails • ew pike n ew cichlids • su n shi n e plecos

sep/oct 2012 U.S . $7.99 amazonas 3 After a four-hour hike into the Peruvian Peruvian the into hike After a four-hour of with a group rests editor the jungle, 88-89 (See pages children. native friendly fishes.) Peruvian new for “An editor’s lot is not a happy one,” as the saying a happy one,” is not lot editor’s “An ear to your to keep But to achieve that have you this time for editor and his dogs to take a walkIt’s Happy reading! the habitats of these of many little gouramis attractive are seriously in their lands, it is endangered native The authorshigh time they publicity. a bit of received thesewho wrote fine articles all been intensely have decades. species for in the study of “Paros” involved goes, and unfortunately there is sometimes an ele- ment of truth in that. A balanced issue should always include articles a yet played on species that not have only a minor one—in the played aquari- role—or have um hobby. the ground. Lucanus brings Oliver us an exciting group of newly and very available - appealing Crenin Río cichlids from the spp. pike Río Uruguay, cichla while in Argentina, Parana, and Río Iguassu drainage Wilstermann-HildebrandMaike at a relatively looks new invertebrate import, the so-called Fruit Snail, , from .Neritina juttingae and stretch their battle through legs. While we the can sit in comfortDanish rains, you and read this new issue of AMAZONAS.

eader,

The main feature in thisThe main feature so long in issue has been In this issue, a number of articles on the dainty

I am writing these lines in the seclusion of a small theDanish island. The wind is whistling around house and the rain is dripping from the thatched roof as I put together the plans for forthcoming issues of AMAZONAS. This is just a break from home—a time thoughts—and to relax and collect my has nothing to do with collecting fishes. A vacation like this is a good editorial time to separate the important from the unimportant, are doing.to examine and what you yourself the planning that the contributors will undoubtedly be glad to finally see the fruits of their labors in print— aquarium don’t features and in English. Well-planned just grow on trees. They long and careful can require all a team of authorspreparation, and above who re- theirally know stuff. little Licorice Gouramis of the Parosphromenus been gatheredhave together under the auspices of ac- scientific manager Finke, expert Peter knowledged Dr. of theof the so many Parosphronmenus Project. Like fish previouslygroups presented here, we have that these dwarfs small circle to a relatively are only familiar of labyrinthfish enthusiasts. But no magic wand is re- to achieve success withquired these fishes, and because ear R Dear amazonas 2 cover story

During courtship, Licorice males exhibit bold markings and colors; this is a Parosphromenus nagyi (Nagy’s Licorice Gourami) male from the Cherating biotope. The head- down courtship position is typical of P. nagyi. Both sexes exhibit “sexy eyes,” no doubt highly visible even in the gloom of a blackwater stream.

To understand the husbandry demands of the rare and beautiful Licorice Gouramis, we must start with their na- tive blackwater habitats in . “Normal” water is a suitable medium for most tropical freshwater fishes. It permits the development of food chains consisting of bacteria, uni- and multicel- lular organisms, plankton, crustaceans, and insects, with fishes and piscivorous fishes at the top of the chain. The similarity of the surrounding chemical milieu and that of Why are the body cells facilitates the metabolism of the resident life forms. By contrast, the Parosphromenus species are specially adapted to extremely nutrient-poor, almost sterile black- Licorice Gouramis water streams—a biotope that is hostile to life as far as the majority of “normal fishes” are concerned. Because it isn’t at all easy for the normal fish organism to cope with pH values of 3 to 4 and practically distilled water, our Par- the way they are? osphromenus have had to develop a strategy to do so: they glean their trace-element requirements from the small amount of minerals in the water and eat a specialized diet that consists almost exclusively of the juvenile stages of the ubiquitous shrimps, which process the substrate of leaf litter, making difficult-to-obtain nutrients available to by Martin Hallmann • What distinguishes highly specialized soft- and Typical Licorice Gourami biotope, in Cherating, western higher links in the food chain. blackwater fishes from “normal” species, those adapted to more typical Malaysia. Within a short distance, this spring-fed pool at the edge of a wood becomes a large, sometimes Blackwater streams water parameters? The majority of fishes live in nutrient-rich water with fast-flowing stream. Some of the loveliest blackwater aquarium fishes live here: rasboras, chocolate gouramis, The dwarf fishes that we know as Licorice Gouramis are a neutral pH and moderate hardness. But Parosphromenus species are fightingfishes, Pangio loaches, and others. Licorice thus specialized predominantly on very acid waters with a amazonas quite different. The water they live in is very akin to distilled water, but Gouramis inhabit heavily vegetated areas with little low “germ” count, for example, blackwater streams. They current in 20–40 inches (50–100 cm) of water. Unlike are children of the tropics, inhabiting regions with very is also extremely acid and brown in color. What effects does this have most labyrinthfishes, they do not use an accessory constant temperatures and rainfall throughout the year. breathing system, so they need clean water that isn’t too on their ecology? N. Neugebauer; right: m. hallma nn above: warm. They occur on the Malayan Peninsula, in Sumatra and amazonas

20 21 amazonas 2323 (Malay Combtail) in the in the Combtail) (Malay Betta tussyae tussyae Betta found left: We Far same in the Fightingfish) (Tussy’s in always but stream, blackwater flowing with water pools shallow the of edge shady the at through, wood. constitute predators Left: Numerous Gouramis, Licorice the to a threat well particularly not are which for and flight-efficient or armed shadow, cover, on rely this reason for very movement limited and well-fed caught We protection. Belontia this large and nandids hasselti biotopes. Gourami Licorice . alfredi Parosphromenus Male The small size of these fishes, and the fact that mood- spots, or edgings are accentuated when thespots, in fish twists the light entering the The fish as- waterabove. from dark position along thesumes an oblique longitudinal axis so that the vertically by are reflected incident light rays the iridescent surfaces of the fins. Such extremely contrasting coloration is unnecessarydisplay in clearwater biotopes, But when theand could even be dangerous. fish adopts a normal, horizontal position in the body dimly lit condi- tions in the tangle at the of a blackwater bottom stream, there and is no light reflection the outline of the fish is virtually to either invisible friend the Only for or foe. brief moment when he spreads his fins in position the oblique does the against predators. male abandon his camouflage coloration Species-specific display Licorice Gouramis are superficiallyvery and most similar, differ in size and form but only in theirdon’t coloration and fin patterns (although there are a number of - excep tions). Because these differences are critical when it comes to recognition of the correct we partner, reproductive regard them as criteria the for differentiation of species. - The blackwater ecological niche, with stream its ex- The contrast-rich color patterns and gleaming bands, species can also live in waters with live can also species Parosphromenus The important influence of the upland moors,

Water color and courtship color and coloration Water What effect this does on the specialization de- biotope scribed on the of Licorice have appearance and behavior that known Gouramis? It is now the 20 or more species in theirof the are amazingly homogenous genus behavior capa- limited evolutive Theyand requirements. also have bility; these specialized, and tolerate only fishes are highly slight alterations to their basic environmental conditions, remained constant centuries. for which have treme water parameters (where only a highly specialized fish community can develop, as certain disruptive influ- ences are excluded) and very light levels, is relevant low to the development of extreme color patterns and the ef- courtship of Licoricefective movements Gouramis. They as extremelyare known colorful, butterfly-like fishes with contrast-rich patterns. Photographs males typically show exhibiting a mood-related color pattern and displaying their brief The finnage. moment during which the fins are fully spread apparently produces a spectacle that is to theattractive female. less extreme parameters (as evidenced by their adaptabil- ity in the aquarium and the that fact they are sometimes acid clearwaters),caught in - undoubtedly adverse but are ly affected there. by competitors both There are directly and thoselimiting factors that effect. an insidious have of peat is demonstrated by the and layers factswamps, that where these- natural reservoirs and water-condition by ditches, the or drained are removed black ing layers water is replaced by warm, stagnant, nutrient-rich water. Widespread destruction and agricultural of forests land oil-palm plantations,use, mainly for is systematically, and permanently these destroying blackwater bio- rapidly, the adjust. blackwater fishes cannot topes. Unfortunately,

nn hallma m. rest: Neugebauer; N. right: - male exhibits extreme exhibits male quindecim P. This In coloration. and in its markings contrast in courts female the male the this species often twisting position, body a horizontal and body the axis of longitudinal the around female. the beneath pushing These cool waters, which have extremely electriThese cool waters, low which have - tion. During through its passage the ground, the- rainwa ter absorbed by the (or peat bog) is enriched floor forest with the tannic, acids contained humic, and fulvic in the masses of dead plant material in the soil. The result is very water with soft, antiseptic acid, and dark-stained properties. will see, this As we staining an impor plays tant role. no measurable hardness, a pH of 3 to cal conductivity, (25–29°C), and 84°F between 77 5.5, and a temperature our Licoricerepresent an ecological niche for Gouramis. 86°F above a little These fishes will die at a temperature (30°C). With around 104°F typically air temperatures the spell doom for (40°C), it would inhabitants of a stream if thewere to cease. influx of cool water However, in the tropics there are also interveningHowever, rapidly theseIt is astonishing how The deep, soft, floor, moist forest

Borneo, and on the islands of the Riau Archipelago. Their distribution region includes remnants of once-extensive and elevated which swamps, moorlands, natural forests, are subject to the constant fairly rainfall prevalent in the tropics throughout the and which store the year water and then it up again, buffered pH. give to a low slowly dry periods that a dramatic effect on aquatic can have many forms.life rain for Although it sometimes doesn’t in western cool, clean blackwaterweeks Malaysia, contin- out of ues to flow the slightly elevatedwoodlands. Around example, theKuantan, for in ground covered is frequently of peat, even near thea layer coast. The blackwater wells theup from numerous gullies and pools among trees, initially creating small streams. - to low streams increase in size compared of waterland rivers. from the The input adjacent soil must be very Within large. a short distance these rivulets expand to broad streams, often rivers within becoming large a role in thea few miles. Sea tides also play ecology of these coastal lowland waters of the tropics. enriched with amounts of organic resi- huge - initially compen a sponge, dues, acts like gaps in thesating for the in rainfall. Even dry optimal quality, season, water of largely continues to and temperature chemistry, The water issuing from floor forest the flow. under the of gravity is conditioned by force the shade and the cooling effect of evapora- amazonas 22 related coloration is displayed only when the fish is thriv- group exhibit a simple, light-dark contrast on the body oration, but also making sudden passes above and below apparently unique behavior is the courtship dance of ing, make it considerably more difficult to distinguish (no striping, just divided in two), with broad and ex- the female. The details of this behavior vary in accordance P. ornaticauda. (The sibling species P. parvulus exhibits the species. However, their color patterns—which relate tremely reflective white margins in the unpaired fins with with the groups mentioned above, and may be useful in this in a very dilute form.) During courtship the male to the display coloration of the males—can be used to contrasting black and red. These are the only two species undertaking the systematic separation of species. flits around the female in an erratic circular or zigzag distinguish clearly recognizable types. The species-typical in which the ventral fins are unimportant in commu- We recognize head-up courters (Parosphromenus pattern. An example of as-yet-unexplained behavior is body pattern should always be considered together with nicating with conspecifics. The ventral fins of almost all sumatranus, P. parvulus, and P. ornaticauda) and head- the up-and-down rocking of the body, with the back the coloration and patterning of the fins. This gives us other Licorice Gouramis are intensely colored and are down courters or horizontal courters (the majority of straightened and the eye representing the pivot, seen in five basic types. displayed by spreading them apart from one another, but the others). The head-up display is seen in males of the all courting Licorice Gouramis of the Parosphromenus In the commonest type, the banding and margins of those of P. ornaticauda (Redtail Licorice Gourami) and P. P. parvulus group and both sexes of P. sumatranus. All harveyi group. the fins follow the body outline. Because of the strongly parvulus are small and transparent. members of the P. harveyi group display head-down, and contrasting colors and metallic effects of the markings, Then there are the more plainly colored Licorice P. quindecim, P. linkei, P. paludicola, and P. filamentosus in Habitat specialists the body outline appears larger and more impressive when Gouramis, such as Parosphromenus paludicola (Swamp Lic- a normal, horizontal swimming position. Obviously the courtship, the enticing of the female to a the fins are spread. This display coloration is exhibited orice Gourami). The males of this species, and to a lesser Mood-related color patterns are a lot less striking in pit dug in the substrate, the ritualized spawning, and the by the majority of Licorice Gouramis. All members of extent the females as well, exhibit flank spots and pastel females, but close observation shows that they exhibit almost overbearing brood care by the male for 10 days the Parosphromenus harveyi (Harvey’s Licorice Gourami) turquoise and red-violet reflective markings in the fins. interesting differences. In almost all species, female col- are all part of the successful “Licorice Gouramis in the group, as well as P. allani (Allan’s Licorice Gourami) and Finally, in Parosphromenus sumatranus (Sumatra or oration during courtship is characterized by the striping blackwater stream” model. And the paucity of movement P. quindecim, plus the lanceolate-finned P. filamentosus Fire-Red Licorice Gourami), practically the only marking becoming paler and by the appearance of a black vertical on the part of the few, but relatively large, fry (there are (Spiketail Licorice Gourami) and P. deissneri (“the” Lico- apart from the irregular, low-contrast patterning in the bar through the eye (so-called “sexy eyes”). This marking hardly any microorganisms suitable for first foods for rice Gourami), exhibit this type of patterning in the fins. It unpaired fins is a striking ocellus on the dorsal fin. The is also seen in males in the corresponding mood. How- small fry in the sterile environment) ensures that enough is combined with striking white and blue to black and tur- essentially transparent ventral fins exhibit a dark-line ever, in the “odd men out,” Parosphromenus parvulus and young fishes grow to maturity. quoise ventral fins and longitudinal striping of the body, marking that ends in the filament. P. ornaticauda, neither sex ever exhibits sexy eyes, and the The seeking out of suitable habitats and the sub- similar to that seen in pencilfishes (Nannostomus). P. females display a contrast-rich, light-dark body color- sequent sedentary nature of these fishes are striking. nagyi (Nagy’s Licorice Gourami) is an exception. The uni- Head-standing and “sexy eyes” ation during spawning. Even the red flame of the caudal Licorice Gouramis are never found en masse in their native form red-brown fin color and striking white fin margins in And now we find ourselves in the middle of those confus- fin is then visible in P. ornaticauda females, making them waters, but they may occur in large numbers together with P. anjunganensis (Anjungan Licorice Gourami) probably ing color features that are only intermittently displayed. look very similar to the males. shrimps in suitable places, such as beneath overhanging represent a reduced variant of the submarginal band. These are inseparably interwoven with specific modes of In addition to the species-specific markings and col- turf or among the masses of small roots in holes in the There are also other types of pattern, such as the behavior and situations. oration, there are other ways of determining the species. bank beneath trees. Some have documented the coloniza- “starry sky” in the fins of P. linkei. This is also seen, in re- We have already outlined the dramatic courtship All species with a lanceolate caudal fin often exhibit tion of current-poor bank areas on the insides of bends in duced form, in P. pahuensis, in combination with lateral display of the male, who seeks to present himself to the a typical backward and forward jerking with fins spread, streams. In practice, the fact that Licorice Gouramis settle spots (ocelli) like those seen in Betta coccina. female literally in the best light. This courtship includes but to the best of my knowledge, all other forms remain only in certain spots in the stream means that different The two members of the Parosphromenus parvulus not only fin-spreading and maximum expression of col- at rest in the water. A further striking species-typical and collectors working in the same body of water may have

Parosphromenus sp. “Langgam” is a very lovely species, not yet scientifically described. Unlike almost all other Licorice Gouramis except P. parvulus (Cherry-Spotted Licorice Gourami), P. ornaticauda doesn’t use reflected sunlight but light shining through from above. By approaching the female from above and simultaneously angling his body, he causes the very broad white fin edgings to gleam brilliantly. amazonas m. hallma nn amazonas

24 25 Revolutionary widely different results. In the course of time one develops an eye for it, and sometimes luck plays a part. Lighting Somehow these very dainty little fishes are able to hold their own among Technology other, much more robust-looking species. By analyzing the environment in great detail during a number of trips to the tropics, I have established that they are neither able to defend themselves nor adept at flight. Their strategy is to “creep” along close to the food-rich substrate with minimal movement, no noticeable aggression or strong territoriality, little in the way of striking color- ation except during courtship, and reliable and highly effective brood care. XR30w Licorice Gouramis have also abandoned the use of the labyrinth (an ac- TM TM Radion cessory respiratory organ that labyrinthfishes use to take in atmospheric oxy- gen). They are independent of the water’s surface, but require cool, oxygen- Radion rich (flowing and clean) water. Overall, the strategy is advantageous in this environment, but only in this environment! Sleek. Sophisticated. High-tech. Beautiful. Optimized Refl ector Design Not very adaptable Channels 95% of emitted light to maximize energy I find the rigidity of the ritualized behavioral patterns noteworthy. They appear effi ciency. LEDs manufac- to have evolved over a very long period of time and are not easy to change. The new Radion Lighting features 34 energy-effi cient LEDs with fi ve color families. tured by Cree and Osram. Licorice Gouramis are highly specialized, and therefore not very adaptable. Improved growth. Wider coverage. Better energy effi ciency. Customizable spectral output. Unfortunately, this means they are demanding both in the aquarium and in In short, a healthier, more beautiful ecosystem. the wild. The severe and fundamental encroachment of humans on a highly spe- EcoTech Marine. Revolutionizing the way people think about aquarium technology. cialized ecological niche can be repaired only with difficulty. Such encroach- Broad Light Distribution One Radion will provide optimum ment is destructive of endemics, initially locally and later generally. The loss lighting for around 40 gallons of Licorice Gouramis is a great shame, but it is one of the smaller problems of (150 liters) of tank volume. mankind. We humans are, however, able to react when we become aware, and ® the Parosphromenus Project is such a reaction. Every life form, every species is a response to a habitat. Looked at logical- ly, the effects of physical size and the influence of biological parameters, such Simple Interface as food organisms, competitors, and predators, are too important to have www.ecotechmarine.com Super-easy three-button controllability on the fi xture. random consequences. The result is numerous inventions of evolution, usu- Graphic-driven PC interface ally inconspicuous, but also very complex and sometimes fantastic-looking. after USB connect for advanced functionality. The occupation of ecological niches, the development of display coloration, and the special modes of behavior in Licorice Gouramis are examples of this. As aquarists we can and must learn lessons from this if we want to maintain Licorice Gouramis correctly, breed them, and preserve them. INTENSITY

Customizable Spectrum Full-spectrum output allows signifi cant PAR peaks to be The Parosphromenus linkei (Linke’s Licorice targeted. Five-channel color Gourami) shown here is using reflected light adjustment enables custom from above, as well as light shining through, spectrum choice based on aesthetic or photosynthetic to display his “starry sky” courtship requirements. coloration and iridescent lateral ocellus. This photo shows the sort of contortions the fish performs in order to achieve the maximum

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26 27 cover story

article and images by Horst Linke • Licorice Gouramis are very special fishes, but they can be quite challenging to keep in the aquarium. Information on their natural habitat is indispens- able in order to provide them with optimal living conditions in the aquarium. How do these fishes live in the wild? What niche biotopes do they occupy? What water parameters occur in their natural habitat, and can we replicate those conditions so we can keep Licorice Gouramis in our aquariums?

The fact that I have been a devoted fan of the colorful little Parosphromenus species for many years has been reason enough for me to carefully investigate their distribution regions during my travels. In recent years I have been able to find around 20 of the roughly 30 different species, both described and unde- scribed scientifically, and study their habitats.

Blackwater biotopes Above: Around 2 miles (3 km) from All the known Licorice Gouramis of the genus Parosphromenus live in stained the village of Kurau we investigated blackwaters. Note, however, that blackwaters aren’t really black, but a dark a large blackwater swamp area that Traveling is fed by and drains into a small river. red-brown color, produced in part by peat-like materials but mainly by the de- Parosphromenus deissneri (Licorice composing leaves of trees and scrub that grow close to the banks. These dead Gourami) lives here among dense leaves accumulate in multiple thick layers and release numerous substances, in Licorice marginal vegetation. especially humic substances, which prevent any noteworthy population of Above right: In this small river bacteria in the water. These substances are very important to the health and about 2 miles (3 km) from Kurau, well-being of the resident fishes, and often even essential for their survival. we found numerous P. deissneri. The staining of the water can be particularly strong during the rainy season or after a heavy rainfall, as the runoff percolates through the layers

Gourami amazonas Left: Two male P. deissneri in the aquarium, in normal coloration. of leaf litter and peat and washes large amounts of humic substances into Note the elongated hard ray in the rivers. However, despite the variation in color, the water parameters alter the center of the lanceolate only slightly during these seasonal changes; the water is always very soft and biotopes caudal fin. mineral-poor, very clean, and very acid, with a carbonate hardness that is amazonas

28 29 Right: Deissner’s Licorice Gourami, Parosphromenus deissneri, from the area north of Kurau. These fishes exhibit impressive coloration and markings, particularly when displaying. They are among the most beautiful Licorice Gouramis.

Below, left: The research site at Kepayang on Belitung. The water here was only slightly brownish after a heavy rainfall. This was the habitat of Parosphromenus sp. “Belitung”, a rarely seen Licorice Gourami species.

Below, right: In large parts of Kalimantan, the rainforest has given way to a low-lying scrub landscape. Due to increased Driving the roads between Palangkaraya to Buntok is quite an adventure. If you exposure to the sun, the want to find Parosphromenus here, you have to negotiate difficult rainforest tracks water temperature in these and cross two large rivers, the Sungai Kapuas and the Sungai Berito. Sometimes areas tends to be elevated. the only way to cross a river is on a primitive car ferry like this one.

barely measurable. ing gray, but no red in the otherwise black fins with no site lay around 2 miles (3 km) from the village of Kurau, ing the time of our visit there was repeated heavy rainfall, It can also happen, though, that the water color be- edgings. During display, however, red longitudinal bands 17 miles (27 km) south of Pangkalpinang, the island’s and hence the water was in motion. comes temporarily lighter following very heavy rainfall if appear on the body between the typical dark stripes. capital, heading in the direction of Toboali. It was a small Parosphromenus deissneri is endemic to the island of the runoff doesn’t percolate through peat-like material. It For many decades the name Parosphromenus deissneri blackwater stream with little current, with some wider Bangka, and its distribution on the island probably covers is then only weakly brownish, and as the result of miner- was used as a catchall for all Licorice Gouramis that sections and links to large swampy areas on either side an area around 44 miles (70 km) in diameter. Its pur- als being washed in the pH may rise briefly from below couldn’t be identified for certain, and by some for all of the road; it flowed through dense scrub at this point. ported occurrence on the neighboring island of Belitung pH 4 to slightly more than pH 5. However, the rest of the Licorice Gouramis, regardless of their appearance. Some The water here was “deep black,” a dark red-brown. The to the east has not yet been confirmed. However, Belitung water parameters usually remain unchanged. in the trade continue this practice even today. But the visibility was less than 20 inches (50 cm) and the water is home to one or possibly even two species of the genus To aid would-be Parosphromenus keepers, here are a natural habitat of this species is the small Indonesian was clear. The pH was 4.72 and the electrical conductiv- Parosphromenus. number of examples of the natural habitats that I have island of Bangka off the southeast coast of Sumatra, ity measured 4 µS/cm at a water temperature of 80.5°F My research revealed that Parosphromenus deissneri is visited at a variety of seasons over the course of the years. well away from the main collecting areas for Licorice (27.0°C). The water in the bank zones was 32–40 inches exclusively a blackwater dweller, so in the aquarium these Gouramis. I last visited this island at the beginning of (80–100 cm) deep and easily negotiable. There was a fishes should be maintained only in water with plenty of Parosphromenus deissneri on Bangka September 2008, during an expedition by the EAC/AKL dense growth of plants, sometimes emerse, that formed humic substances (that is, peat) added to approximate The Licorice Gourami best known by name is undoubt- (the German labyrinthfish association). Unfortunately, thick clumps in places, and a gentle current prevented their natural habitat. edly Parosphromenus deissneri, although until recently its the Bangka landscape is being taken over by oil-palm the water from stagnating among this vegetation. We actual appearance was unknown to many aquarists be- plantations, and the habitats of many wild creatures are found mainly Parosphromenus deissneri in this habitat. Undescribed Licorice Gouramis on Belitung cause other forms were being sold under the same name. becoming severely limited. The population density was amazingly high. During our travels on the island of Belitung we were Adult males of this species have a lanceolate caudal fin Parosphromenus deissneri is found mainly in the Another site we investigated was likewise situated in able to find Licorice Gouramis in several places, but we with a prolonged fin ray at its center. They exhibit a strik- northern and eastern parts of the island. Our first study the eastern part of the island, but this time north of the were of the opinion that they were all one species. These road from Sungailiat to Puding Besar. This fishes, too, were living in blackwater biotopes, albeit of a was a small stream, only around 40 inches less extreme type but nevertheless containing water with (1 m) wide, that issued from an area of a pH in the acid range. As an example, I will discuss a woodland, flowed parallel to the road for site at Kepayang, on the road from Tanjungpandan, the a short distance, and then crossed it. This, largest town on Belitung, to Kuala Kampit in the east of too, was a dark blackwater, with a tem- the island. This was a watercourse around 10 feet (3 m) perature of 81.7°F (27.6°C), a pH of 4.84, wide, up to 16.5 feet (5 m) in places, flowing through a and an electrical conductivity of 8 µS/cm. scrub and woodland landscape and shaded almost every- The water was very clear and had a slight where. At the time of our research (September) the water current. The water depth was 16 inches (40 here was only slightly brownish following heavy rain- cm) on average. Parosphromenus deissneri fall during the night. The pH was “only” 5.59 and the amazonas was particularly numerous in small areas conductivity measured 9 µS/cm at a water temperature of of low current among the plants. Here, too, 77.4°F (25.2°C). The water had a slight to moderate cur- the population density was high, and all the rent and averaged 28 inches (70 cm) deep. The Licorice . Pederse n

O fishes were in good physical condition. Dur- Gouramis were found among overhanging branches and amazonas

30 31 amazonas 33 , but acrostoma around 155 miles (250 parvulus around 155 parvulus was (sharing living syntopic selatanensis and Sphaerichthys Parosphromenus Parosphromenus Some two years previously, in August 1988, we had we 1988, in August previously, years Some two a habitat) here with species of Chocolate Gourami, two Sphaerichthys km) to the east in the Tangkiling area, some 18 miles area, some 18 km) to the east in the Tangkiling (29 km) north of Palangkaraya. The site was a small The river with water. slightly flowing strongly red-brown, vegetated with bank zones were shallow dense clumps of plants. The water was very clear and mineral-poor; both hardness were less thancarbonate and general 1 and the conductivitydegree (German), the pH was 4.1, of 82.8°F measured 28 µS/cm at a water temperature (28.2°C) in the marginal zones and 78°F shallow (25.5°C) at a depth of 20 inches (50 cm). there was no second Licorice Gourami species at this site. way to a low-grow- here had already given The rainforest ing brush landscape on both sides of the road. Around with a conductivity of 18 µS/cm and a water temperature and a water µS/cm temperature with a conductivity of 18 The Licorice found Gouramis were (24.5°C). of 76°F in thealmost exclusively sometimes densely vegetated very not marginal zones, and were numerous at this site. the of a cultivated woodland edge The stream followed past rubber plantations.area and flowed caught

- - parvulus in this (Chameleon Betta)foerschi and

These fishes always live in blackwaters withThese fishes always live slight stream, along with Betta other species. The stream was spe- also home to a second described, so far not scientifically, cies of Parosphromenus - sp. “Palan which is currently termed Parosphromenus gan” and has rarely been imported. The stream was only feet (3 m) in places, around 6.5 feet m) wide, up to 10 (2 with a slight current and water that red-brown was dark It was very mineral-poor and had a pH of 4.6in color. male Displaying Right: Parosphromenus color. in full “Belitung” sp. , parvulus P. including species, fish left: Numerous Bottom, cm) 4–8 only (10–20 water of inches in pools oftencan be found tracks. rainforest the along ditches in water-filled and deep in Kalimantan watercourses the of percentage A large right: Bottom, very numerous of habitat the are They biotopes. blackwater are Tengah hobby. aquarium in the popular fishes interesting fishes of this species between the Kapuas and Berito Riv- as to theers, as well east of Buntok in the eastern part of The species is thus distributedKalimantan from Tengah. and Babugus to Buntok, Palangan via Pundu, Tangkiling, the (500 km) in diameter, miles an area around 310 Parosphromenus distribution any to date for largest known species. current. They in the are found richly vegetated mar ginal zones of smaller rivers, as in small streams, as well vegetated residual pools, and regions, shallow swamp occur tracks. The most westerly ditches along rainforest to me is therence known so-called Planduk (deer stream) of Korthaus and Foersch, on a tributary of the Sungai at the of thePalangan. of Sampit edge (River) village Parosphromenus found we In July 1990

-

parvulus, the Red- species. parvulus lives These Licorice Gouramis exhib- deissneri in their appearance, and their that coloration was more like of group. bintan It should one of the P. nevertheless that be noted male fishes blue in theirfrom Belitung lack any coloration. Apartdisplay from a faint stripeturquoise pattern on the fins, they exhibit a bold black body color ation. On the basis of study of other it is thought thatgroups these in July, predominantly live Parosphromenus in less acid water be hence may and less problematical to maintain in the aquarium. The species is thought only a small distribution to have on milesBelitung, with a diameter of 31 smaller due to(50 km) and getting planta for - increased clear-cutting tions. only faintly brownish in color after in only faintly brownish rainfall. The pH was 5.03 andheavy the conductivity 8 µS/cm at a water (25.3°C). of 77.5°F temperature ited no parallels with Parosphromenus in Parosphromenus Kalimantan Tengah Parosphromenus Licorice Pygmy Spotted Gourami, and was in 1979 described by Vierke is one of the smallest of the but surpris genus, - it is thought to have ingly, Left, top: The population density of of density population The Left, top: at is very high parvulus Parosphromenus remain that areas forested the of edges the Berito. and Kapuas rivers large between the Parosphromenus Male Left, bottom: this time At coloration. in display parvulus fish are these of markings and color the all other of those from different noticeably Parosphromenus Edith Foersch first Korthaus and Walter the- distribution largest region of the Parosph species. Parosphromenus romenus in the blackwater rivers of southern Borneo. Its natural habitat is in the Indonesian part of the island and is believed to be restricted to the of Kalimantan province Tengah. caught these little Licorice Gouramis in 1978 in Palangan in the of the province, west huge also recorded thiswhere we species in 1990. in 2009 I netted But during travels own my - - species dur also caught the same Parosphromenus We

ing our investigation of a woodland region between Ban- of a woodland ing our investigation in thetan and Pelulusan south of the island of Belitung, where they living in a small stream in almost com- were plete due to the trees. The stream darkness close-packed was only about 6.5 feet (2 m) wide and up to 2 feet (60 cm) deep; the current was moderate and the water was aquatic plants, mainly along theaquatic margins where the cur consisted The substrate and in small bays. rent was weak, thatof light sand like in the on Bangka, and in biotopes in dead, black leaves. places was covered amazonas 32 necessary to tackle sometimes difficult- to-negotiate rainforest tracks and cross two large rivers, the Sungai Kapuas and Swiss Tropicals the Sungai Berito. In 2009 there were still small, primitive car ferries across Exclusive North American Importer & Distributor both rivers, but large bridges were under BACK ISSUES construction. Once they are completed it is likely ® that the majority of this region will be Poret Brand transformed into plantations, resulting Bank zones in blackwater biotopes in the loss of further large tracts of forest Filter Foam are among the preferred haunts of and perhaps the disappearance of the Parosphromenus species. The water here is small, water-filled ditches, usually only always slow-flowing and very mineral-poor. The famous original “Blauer Schaum” 4–8 inches (10–20 cm) deep, along the How deep is your collection? blue foam made by EMW Filtertechnik tracks. in Germany for freshwater, pond, and Enrich your aquatic library Successful maintenance saltwater filters including the widely with back issues of AMAZONAS. All back used Hamburg Mattenfilter or HMF. 20 years later, during our visit in June 2007, the area Biotope information and the remarks at the beginning of issues are like new, in pristine condition in their had changed completely, but we were still able to find this article are very important as a basis for the successful Guaranteed free of toxic chemicals. Parosphromenus parvulus in the Tangkiling area. Large riv- maintenance of Licorice Gouramis in the aquarium. original poly wrapping. ers and small streams, sometimes with associated swamp The above-mentioned sample habitats of a number of SPECIAL OFFER: Buy 3 issues or more regions, can still be found in this area today. Licorice Gourami species from Indonesia are not identi- at $8 each. 6 or more at $7each. http://www.swisstropicals.com The most easterly occurrence we investigated was an cal in every detail to the habitats of other species, but are Wholesale & Retail area of blackwater swamp by the road from Buntok to representative of most of them. Awareness of their most Go to amazonasmagazine.com Ampah, about 155 miles (250 km) east of Tangkiling/ important characteristics is necessary for the keeping and click on the SHOP tab [email protected] Palangkaraya. Here Parosphromenus parvulus was living and breeding of these fishes in the aquarium. They also syntopic with Parosphromenus filamentosus. The clear, gen- convey a picture of the changes to which many of these tly flowing blackwater had a pH of 3.7 and a conductivity habitats are currently being subjected. of 20 µS/cm. The water temperature was 84.7°F (29.3°C) Extremely soft water, the complete absence of car- in the shallow areas exposed to the sun. The water was bonates, and the huge importance of humic substances heavily stained dark red-brown, indicating that the humic are three fundamental elements of Licorice Gourami bio- substances content was very high and the bacterial density topes, but in many places these are being greatly limited very low. During our research in June 2009, the popula- and devalued by changes in land use. I strongly feel that tion density of Parosphromenus parvulus was still high. we can and must preserve in the aquarium that which is Does size matter to you ? In order to reach Buntok from Palangkaraya, it is present in ever-decreasing quantities in the wild. We bet it does. Trying to clean algae off the glass in a planted aquarium with your typical algae magnet is like running a bull through a china shop. That’s why we make NanoMag® the patent-pending, unbelievably strong, thin, and flexible magnet for cleaning windows up to 1/2” thick. The NanoMag flexes on curved surfaces including corners, wiping off algal films with ease, and it’s so much fun to Why are almost all Parosphromenus in the trade labeled “deissneri”? use you just might have to take turns. We didn’t stop there either- we thought, heck, why not try something smaller? So was born MagFox®, the ultra-tiny, flexible magnetically coupled scrubber for removing algae and biofilms from the inside of aquarium hoses. Parosphromenus deissneri was the first Licorice Gourami damaged that this character could no longer be checked. Have you got us in the palm of your hand yet? species to be described, as long ago as 1859. For almost For this reason the much more widely distributed fish 100 years it was thought to be the only Parosphromenus was for many years thought to be P. deissneri, plus almost species, although fishes that looked different were some- none of the finds during that 100 years originated from times found at a wide variety of places. Even today the Bangka. name is still in popular use, but hardly anyone is familiar The situation wasn’t clarified until 1998, when it with the fish to which it actually belongs. Until recently finally became clear that the genus contained multiple the true Parosphromenus deissneri, endemic to the island species. An officially sanctioned re-description was of Bangka, had never turned up in the trade, although published and a so-called neotype designated, but many almost all species sold are known by this name. Why? people still haven’t changed their ways. Even today it is The reason is that two species occur on Bangka, and a pretty safe bet that the fishes labeled P. deissneri in the the second, which we now know as Parosphromenus bin- trade are not that species at all. But the lesson is being tan, has a much wider distribution. It is easy to distinguish learned, and recently exporters and importers have been the two species by the difference in the structure of the making the effort to apply the correct names to the fishes www.twolittlefishies.com caudal fin in males, but the over-100-year-old type speci- they supply. men of Parosphromenus deissneri was a female that was so —Peter Finke amazonas

34 35 cover story

because a larger flight distance is available. Hence I have immediately, but only after 7–14 days of monitoring the been able to observe the majority of spawnings, which water parameters. take place in the caves nearest the front. The setup of my aquariums is spartan. Two or three Live food homemade caves (half flowerpots), a small air-powered Availability of a suitable food supply is a further prereq- internal filter containing two fine-pored foam inserts uisite for the keeping and breeding of Licorice Gouramis. with peat granules sandwiched in between, and a small Only in the rarest of cases will they accept prepared foods piece of slate to hold the filter in place are sufficient such as flake or granules. Occasionally individual fishes for Licorice Gouramis. The cave ceiling shouldn’t rise can be persuaded to eat suitably fine frozen or dry foods, toward the front, because if the fish construct a bubblenest it could slip out. Dark substrate and/or beech leaves (Fagus sylvatica) can be used as décor, but aren’t necessary and may sometimes even hinder effective breeding. It is important to have a tight-fitting cover glass, as Licorice Gouramis are very good at jumping. The lighting is less important, but shouldn’t be too bright. Larger aquariums are required for rearing only if the number of fry is high. In most cases Breeding the brood can be left in the breeding tank up to a size of .5 inch (1.27 cm), providing they are fed accordingly. I always try to move my Licorice Goura- Licorice Gouramis mis to newly set-up aquariums at intervals of around three months. Usually a water change isn’t necessary for that period of time. Larger, fully decorated aquariums are suitable for keep- article and images by Günter Kopic • Breeding Licorice Gouramis requires follow- ing groups of Licorice Gouramis. There will al- ing certain protocols, but with a little effort any conscientious aquarist can suc- ways be a number of young maturing, provided there are no other fishes present. ceed. Günter Kopic, who has been keeping and breeding Parosphromenus species, Male For many species, soft, slightly acid water Parosphromenus the genus known as Paro, for more than 25 years, tells us how he does it. will suffice for maintenance, but when it comes ornaticauda to breeding Licorice Gouramis the water pa- (Ornate Licorice Gourami) in I was still a boy when I started keeping my first fishes, including labyrinthfishes such as the rameters are especially important. In my experi- display coloration Dwarf Croaking Gourami, pumila. As a married adult still without a permanent home, ence they must be very close to the parameters in front of the I found my desire to have an aquarium was reawakened. My wife had no objection, so in 1984 I in their natural habitat, especially when dealing spawning cave. set up my new aquarium. I still had the old angle-iron tank from my boyhood, but I didn’t want with wild-caught fishes or the first tank-bred to put it in the living area, so the cellar of our rented apartment became my fish room. generations. For example, in 1988 I was main- The aquariums proliferated fairly quickly. Because of the limited size of the cellar they were taining a form from the Parosphromenus bintan mostly smaller affairs. I had an increasing desire to keep killifishes, but this was virtually impos- group, sold in those days as P. deissneri “Red”, sible because they were so hard to find. An unconventional dealer tried to obtain some for me, which didn’t spawn unless the pH was less but what I actually received were Brown Spike-Tailed Paradise Fish (Pseudosphromenus dayi) and than 3. The subsequent tank-bred generations Peaceful Bettas (Betta imbellis). My interest in labyrinthfishes continued to grow, and I joined the weren’t as demanding. IGL (International Labyrinthfish Association). I purchased my first Licorice Gouramis, six young Luckily, I have access to spring water for my Parosphromenus nagyi, at my very first IGL meeting in October 1986. A good six months and a Parosphromenus. The conductivity is between new tank later, they spawned and the first young Nagyi’s Licorice Gouramis were soon swim- 85 and 115 µS/cm and the carbonate hardness ming in my tanks. I was infected with the Paro virus. When we built our own house five years less than 0.01°dKH, while the pH is 6.5 at the later, I planned the cellar fish room well in advance, specifically designing it for the maintenance spring and 7.0 after being left to stand. The pH and breeding of Parosphromenus species. can then be adjusted to the range required for breeding Top: Pair of P. ornaticauda spawning. In this species the male closes the Licorice Gouramis via the quantity and quality of the embrace with his tail. Small aquariums the peat granules used. Because carbonate hardness is Bottom: As in many species, the female P. ornaticauda attaches amazonas I have found that a 5-gallon (20-L) aquarium is suitable for maintenance and breeding. The virtually non-existent, it may even be possible to lower her eggs to the ceiling of the cave (a half flowerpot); the male shelves of my racks are 16 inches (40.6 cm) wide, so I place the tanks end-out. In addition to the pH below that of the peat granules. De-ionized or often assists her. In most species the female becomes much paler during the spawning phase, but in this species she colors up like the the space-saving aspect—more aquariums can be fitted in side by side—I have found that Licorice reverse-osmosis water makes a suitable alternative. Newly male—light above, dark below. Gouramis, which are rather shy, can be seen more easily using this arrangement. I think this is set-up aquariums shouldn’t be populated with fishes amazonas

36 37 amazonas 39 . sp. “Pontian”) during the the during “Pontian”) P. sp. as known (also cf. tweediei . As this photo shows, shows, . As this photo anjunganensis P. of form A trade Above: stripe her and pale turns female the phase, spawning the during disappears. almost pattern from originated male Gourami Licorice left: gorgeous This Below, Parosphromenus is very probably and an import consignment allani. in fades also female the of pattern stripe The right: Below, P. phase. spawning - around four years old; they years nagyi around four spawned nagyi fry. species don’t spawn on spawn species don’t But most Parosphromenus Another failure is egg-eating parents, reason for

(Licorice Gourami) spawning in the in the spawning Gourami) (Licorice deissneri P. true of Left: Pair shy. rather to be fishes these found I have cave. the by closed isn’t embrace spawning the deissneri In P. Right: female. the from emerging be seen can eggs The tail. male’s more harmoniously the to breed behave, pairs put down should buy you the easier breeding them will be. Ideally, six to eight half-grown and let juveniles them mature to- Assuming both sexesgether. are present, loose pairs will form at the These pairs should onset of sexual maturity. then breeding attempts. subsequent be used for courtship,command. Sometimes wait in vain for you if these Even pairing, and fry. hurdles can be spawning, surmounted, on a variety still founder breeding may of factors. For example, a poor fertilization rate in young all, older pairs oftenand, above in the results eating male all the eggs after one to three even if a number days, developing. I once obtainedof eggs were a pair of Par osphromenus but the eggs always disappeared after threeregularly, clutch—with complete a at most. So I removed days clutch eggs, it was the Parosphromenus largest some 150 AfterI had ever had—and incubated it artificially. a - short Parosphro time I had around 50 free-swimming menus

vers E . G .- H right: bottom

- Obviously, “pond foods” are very “pond foods” suitable Licorice for Obviously, nauplii are usually an excellent and easily regulated rear easy to handle. Depending on the size of the Artemia fry, long-term view, maintenance and breed- In my ing food. ing are possible using Artemia nauplii, but it is better to the menu withimprove assorted other organisms. food resort example, One can, for to culturing various food organisms such as Moina, Grindal worms and micro- theworms, of and vinegar eels. I usually have last two springtailsthese In general, available. (order Collembola) and fruit flies) are less suitable as foods (Drosophila because they remain at the surface. relevantGouramis, provided conditions are met. In addi- distance,tion to suitable bodies of water at a convenient legal restrictions, must and the you seasons of the year, Try to find minimally pol- and quantity. consider quality luted waters that contain the correct organ- size of food isms and no fishes. Natural breeding breeding Natural come to the we And now most important part—the breeding itself. Only in the rarest of cases is it possible to start have Usually you to select broodstock specially. with to obtain. managed The the have few you specimens (Editor: Nano fish importer and breeder (Editor: Nano Rachel the must be prepared for you fact that theHowever, theFortunately, cysts (“eggs”) of Artemia species

such as CYCLOP-EEZE. such as CYCLOP-EEZE. O’Leary that with says foods she augments live very high fine and crushedquality rations with newly arrived wild but now theyfed wormsfish. “I white them live initially, are eating crushed Shrimp Souffle and Repashy as flake as Xtreme Catfish Scrapers—thosewell pellets are like fish.”) crack for long-term maintenance and breeding of these fishes may therequire virtually permanent of mouth-size availability foods. live and us withprovide that a food year-round is available Clockwise from top left: top Clockwise from bubblenest. the beneath Gourami) Licorice (Linke’s linkei P. of Pair eyes.” “sexy the bars through dark the shows clearly photo The a spawning follows that “paralysis” the sink during pair the Usually is doing. linkei P. male as this upward, float they do rarely Only pass. pass. spawning a successful after eggs the collecting linkei P. of Pair The larvae. not-yet-free-swimming the guarding linkei P. Male young. 50 about comprises brood amazonas 38 Where can I buy Licorice Gouramis?

Licorice Gouramis are rarely available in the aquarium Females almost always have colorless, transparent dorsal, trade. And when they are, they are almost invariably wild- caudal, and anal fins. caught specimens from the previous breeding season. It is best to buy Licorice Gouramis as tank-breds Try to buy healthy specimens: not emaciated, no ex- directly from a good breeder, as then you will be sure to ternal signs of disease, no clamped fins. Perhaps they like obtain healthy, vital individuals, often from a guaranteed to hide or their colors are faint, but that is quite normal. location, with the correct species name. They also will Don’t worry too much about the name under which they have been kept in the right water and fed with the right are being sold—it will often be incorrect. It is more im- live food. portant that both sexes are present. All specimens with a If you don’t know such a breeder, then go to the auc- hint of colored banding in the unpaired fins will be male. tions held by your local labyrinthfish association. But the best course is membership (free) in the Parosphromenus Project and an email to distribution@parosphromenus-project .org. The project is currently develop- ing a distribution service to help new Above, left: These Licorice Gouramis from the Bintan group were other adults available do I remove one or more clutches. Licorice Gourami fans obtain fishes. As imported by Aquarium Glaser. The method and equipment I use for artificial hatching a beginner you shouldn’t set your heart Right: Male Parosphromenus cf. bintan courting his female. The originate from Jakob Geck, and I have adapted them very on a particular species right away—that “sexy eyes” with black eye bars indicate that both are ready to little. A stock solution of 1 gram Trypaflavin (Acriflavin) usually doesn’t work and is also not spawn. to 1 liter distilled water is an important aid. Warning: particularly sensible. this anti-bacterial remedy will kill plants. —Peter Finke though this is relatively rare. More often, the parent fishes When removing clutches I carefully transfer the eggs regard the free-swimming fry as food and hardly any young underwater into plastic bowls containing about 6.75 grow on. For this and other reasons, I usually transfer the ounces (200 ml) of water, to which I add 0.01 ounces parents to another aquarium shortly before the fry become (0.3 ml) of the Trypaflavin solution. I remove one or Left: The circling of the pair and their free-swimming. The best time to do this is when the larvae two dead eggs from the bowls every day. After hatching I spawning passes often cause previously are positioned horizontally on the ceiling of the cave. carefully change two-thirds of the volume of water from attached eggs to detach from the ceiling of the breeding tank. Shortly before they become free- the cave. Plenty of pairings are unsuccessful Artificial breeding swimming, the larvae and the contents of the bowl are on the first attempt. I always prefer the relatively natural method of breed- transferred into a 1.8-pint (.85-L) jar. A day after feeding Below: These gorgeous fishes were imported ing described above to artificial incubation of the eggs. begins I add a small ramshorn snail to eat dead food as P. sp. “Pontian”. They are very probably Only when natural methods don’t work and I have no organisms; the snail’s droppings can be removed relative- Parosphromenus tweediei.

Right: Several geographical variants of P. nagyi (Nagy’s Licorice Gourami) are known, but they differ only slightly. This adult pair are tank-breds from parent stock from the collecting site “Mersing Kluang 16/314" in Malaysia. Egg counts of more than 100 are

possible in this amazonas case. amazonas

40 41 Left: Juvenile P. ornaticauda at the age of 10 weeks.

even in the acid environment, while microworms sink to the bottom and die more rapidly. Other food organisms of suitable size should be added to the diet as soon as pos- sible. Subsequent rearing usually presents no problems. Depending on the species, young fishes reach sexual maturity at 9 to 12 months old. Parosphromenus can sometimes live to be relatively old—my records show that my oldest tank-bred female from the F2 generation of Parosphromenus deissneri attained an age of about nine years and five months—but are then of only very limited use for breeding. In my experience the optimal age for broodstock is between one and three years old. Licorice Gouramis are gorgeous and very interest- ly easily from the jar by stirring briefly so that they collect ing pets, but certainly not suitable for every aquarist. A in the middle of the bottom. Every day I top up the jar certain amount of experience is required, as well as the by about .40 inch (1 cm) using water from the breeding ability to provide the correct water parameters and live aquarium. Two to three weeks after free-swimming I am foods of the right size. The maintenance and breeding of able to carefully transfer the fry into an aquarium previ- these fishes places demands on the aquarist, but they are ously prepared for them. generally achievable. Breeding, including for several gen- erations, is readily possible in the case of many species, Rearing using Artemia and invariably fascinating. The best food for rearing the fry is very freshly hatched I have tried to share some of my experiences dur- Artemia nauplii, though I initially feed smaller fry with ing 25 years of keeping and breeding Parosphromenus. vinegar eels as well. These have the advantage that they My breeding records (which I recommend that everyone continue to swim actively for several hours in the water, keep) show, for example, that in the space of two years I documented 96 spawnings (35 of which successfully produced fry) of nine different species and forms. In an- Below: In my fish room, the middle row, with side-by-side 5-gallon other year I had a total of 146 spawnings from 19 pairs. (20-L) tanks, is mainly reserved for Licorice Gouramis. The setup for breeding these fishes is Spartan—the aquarium contains only a However, I must warn everyone who is interested in Lico- filter weighed down by a piece of slate and two homemade pottery rice Gouramis after reading this article: Beware! the Paro caves. A close-fitting cover glass is important. virus is quick to strike—but it’s well worth it. amazonas amazonas

42 43 cover story

The Parosphromenus Project: a global conservation network

by Peter Finke • Despite all the taxonomic difficulties, the genus Parosphromenus, with 18 recognized species and an additional 20–40 local variants (and even more to follow), is still easy to overview. And despite all the diversity and publicity, one thing can be agreed upon: the existence of the entire genus is seriously endangered. It is thus a prime example of the need for well-organized conservation activity in the aquarium hobby. But there are two major hurdles to be surmounted: these colorful little fishes will eat only live food, and they obligatorily require extremely soft, acid water with a low bacteria count.

The days of the vast majority of the blackwater jungle swamps, streams, and upland bogs of Malaysia and Indonesia are numbered. Since 1960, large areas of primary forest have been falling victim to Top right: This is what chainsaws and burning, initially in western Malaysia, then on the ma- the majority of Licorice jor islands, such as Sumatra, and currently in Kalimantan (Borneo) Gourami biotopes used to look like. This still and Sarawak. The lowland wetlands are being drained to make way for unspoiled biotope of P. plantations (oil palms and tropical woods), the blackwaters are being anjunganensis is in the channeled away in the direction of the sea, and even the hilly regions drainage of the River are increasingly subject to destruction and drainage. Kapuas, Kalimantan The indigenous peoples have long since realized what immense Barat. It’s hard work collecting in the jungle! destruction is taking place in their homelands. But they are power- less in comparison to the powers in charge of the development. The orangutan is put forward as a symbol of the wildlife conservation that is taking place, but the success is very patchy. The formerly rich Bottom right: This is biodiversity of this hotspot on our planet is disappearing—and with it, how the destruction totally unremarked by most people, numerous small fishes such as the begins. The former bed of a jungle stream has truly gorgeous Licorice Gouramis. become a makeshift This was all foreseeable in 2005, when, with the unstinting help of track for four-wheel- Martin Hallmann, I founded the “Paro-AG” (the nucleus of the cur- drive vehicles, which are rent Parosphromenus Project) in the IGL (International Labyrinthfish used to open up further Association); our chief motivation was to do something to counter access. the destruction. For decades, aquarists and their organizations have neglected to get involved in any attempt to make the hobby conscious of its political dimension and take action on that level. It was clear to us right from the start that the most important task—making an effective contribution to saving original habitats—was going to be very difficult. We felt powerless in the face of the concentrated economic might of international concerns at work in Southeast Asia. Nevertheless, we are doing what we can; he who fails to take the first small step will never be able to do anything more far-reaching later. amazonas Experiences so far Unfortunately, conservation activity in the aquarium hobby is often based on a number of illusions, if it is

practiced at all. Some people believe that the fishes we breed can be reintroduced into the wild—a false hope M ichael L o amazonas

44 45 Far left: Islands Terrarium Association (EATA), are now equal partners of clear-cutting and the resources of all the organizations are shared. appear in the Major museums, such as the Natural History Museum in primary forest. First the trees are London and the Raffles Museum in Singapore, are now felled and taken cooperating institutions. The same applies to a number away, and then of research organizations, such as the Fish-BOL group in the remaining Guelph, Canada. vegetation is We don’t run the Paro Project on anyone’s behalf or destroyed. under the auspices of any organization or sponsor, but as Left: After a an independent network of people whose sole agenda is downpour the Licorice Gouramis. cleared area looks like this: a Current activities planting bed for the oil palms that The current activities of the Parosphromenus Project are seal the fate of the twofold: the preparation of truly reliable information and former swampy practical networking, both on a global level. In 2011, us- jungle and its ing private donations from Licorice Gourami enthusiasts, rich, specialized we established a large, advertisement-free, trilingual (Ger- flora and fauna. man, English, and French) website for the Parosphromenus Project, accessible at www.parosphromenus-project.org. Two older important instruments of the project have also been integrated into the website: the regular (or a show of ignorance) for all sorts of reasons. Oth- but this operated almost exclusively in German and was scene in Japan. In 2012 the project homepage will be ac- newsletter, now available in three languages via a global ers believe that they can achieve something significant inaccessible to many who might have been interested. cessible even in Chinese (Simplified Chinese). distributor from some 250 addresses in 17 countries, as working alone or with a few friends from a club—also an By limiting it to the central European sphere of activ- The one-man organization has now become the steer- well as the census that has taken place every six months illusion. Or they think that a few years’ effort can make ity where it was founded, we hampered the growth of a ing group, a team of people with separate roles who meet in spring and autumn since 2005, and thus provides a a substantial contribution to the future. Sadly, conserva- project that we now realize must be active globally and in twice a year and remain in close communication the rest tion is often little more than a passing interest for many multiple languages. of the time. An international advisory board of well- aquarists. Compared to many similar endeavors, we were known experts has been appointed to advise the steer- But the real problem is one of much greater dimen- relatively well organized even back then, but not well ing group. Its members come from Germany, England, sions. In light of what we know now, we were compara- enough. Most people who go to the effort of initiating France, the U.S., Japan, Malaysia, and Indonesia. tively ignorant and naïve when we started back in 2005. conservation programs talk a lot about maintenance Cooperation with other interested parties is im- In our first years we have attempted to avoid making conditions, methods, and stud books, but too little about portant. We approached every expert and those with a certain major mistakes, though in so doing we have made networking, organization, communication, and manage- serious interest right from the start, whether or not he or other ones. ment. We, too, initially underestimated the importance she was a member of the IGL. Nevertheless, the link with One such mistake was believing that problems ob- of those elements, but those were years of learning and the IGL proved an impediment that had to be eliminated taining stock, experienced by many aquarists who would development, and we did achieve valuable initial suc- during the professionalization of the project. have liked to work with us, were none of our concern. cesses and gather experience that stood us in good stead The German Paro-AG, now headed by Martin Hall- We got a large number of inquiries along the lines of, during the reorganization of the project in 2010. mann, remains the nucleus, but other organizations in “How can I get hold of some Licorice Gouramis?” We Europe, including the European Anabantoid Club (AKL/ passed on a few addresses, but otherwise replied, “Unfor- A new beginning EAC), the Anabantoid Association of Great Britain tunately, not from us. We aren’t responsible for distribut- A serious conservation network has a chance of success (AAGB), the Verband Deutscher Vereine für Aquarien- ing Licorice Gouramis, we’re just trying to organize their only if it can involve professionally organized projects und Terrarienkunde e.V. (VDA, the association of Ger- conservation. Setting up a supply line would overstretch across the globe. My experience with the organization man aquarium clubs), and the European Aquarium and us.” Even though that was true, it was nevertheless a of international research groups proved useful here. The mistake. Large numbers of young fishes were sometimes Internet is a real blessing when it comes to this sort of available, but in spite of that a lot of people who were thing; it requires little material expense, albeit a heavy Right, top: Nowadays the surviving Parosphromenus biotopes really interested gave up in disappointment because they expenditure of time, to establish virtual links across often look like this one in western Malaysia: no longer any jungle, couldn’t obtain stock. international and intercontinental boundaries. a dead, straight track with a roadside ditch and oil palms on the Another mistake we made was underestimating the Although we started in Germany, the potential for other side. The blackwater organisms have vanished or been general information deficit regarding Licorice Gouramis. real growth lies in the Scandinavian countries, in the driven to the edge of existence as a result of the intensive human Nowadays there is more aquarium literature available U.S., and in Asia, where many of the fishes originate. So activity. amazonas even on killifishes and L-number catfishes than there is English and French are now the main languages of the Bottom: Can Licorice Gouramis still be found here? Maybe, if on Parosphromenus species. We could have made a lot project. Linguists and translators are important members the soil still has an adequate peat content and springs still rise in of information available via our newly founded Paro- of our staff. Japanese still presents problems, but that the islands of remaining jungle. But the habitat (here in western Malaysia) is by and large suboptimal. Forum, which by now has had well over a million hits, will have to change, as there is a strong Licorice Gourami M ichael L o C hristia n H i z amazonas

46 47 48 amazonas the literature and other websites, andregularly literatureandother updated the Maps,multiplelinksto fishesviaGoogle ofthe territory home usertozoominonthe land maps,allowing the website areinteractive new ditional specialfeatures ofthe regions.Ad- problemsindependentofthese and their Gouramis aboutLicorice sectionwhereweglobal cantalk perspectives, anda different very their canexpress they users,where sections for Asian,European,andAmerican predominates. English guage ofhisorherchoice,though be freeoflinguisticconstraints.Anyonelan- canusethe isdesignedto interestedoutsiders.Thisforum tion with fromandcommunica- fortive information openforum which species.Moreover, website includesaninnova- the onwhohas oftrends,andinformation evaluation critical Parosphromenus 50different are now morethan a forms, populationsofwhat aquarium pictureofthe detailed very The Information acquire,greatly. asavailability varies cies they ily madebyemail. iseas- fishesfromtime totime.Contact these import breedersanddealersknown to private buyers with Gourami nator whocanconnectwould-be Licorice require a bitofresearch. Parosphromenus Gouramismay spp.,findingLicorice shop, oradealerwillingandabletospecial-order Unless you have aquarium accesstoanexceptional Lic www.anabantoid.org (Comingsoon.) Fish Association(ALFA) Labyrinth American www.aagb.org/ (AAGB)Anabantoid AssociationofGreatBritain [email protected] hotline: Distribution www.parosphromenus-project.org/en.html We major have upfour regional sections:three set Beginners may have to be flexible about the spe- Beginners may have about tobeflexible The orice GouramiInfration Parosphromenus Project Parosphromenus Projecthasanactive coordi-

and Livest

aquarists all over the world, there must be a few hundred hundred mustbeafew world, alloveraquarists there the of hundreds ofthousands amongthe convinced that won’tand they andshouldn’t becomesuch.Butwe are the massmarket,Gouramis arenot fishes for Licorice Involving hobby the there. achangeeffect ofheart inMalaysia andIndonesia,inorderto authorities the influencetobearon ofbringing absolutely essentialtask onerousbut andsecond,the breedingthem, ing totry fisheswhoarewill- ofthese friends enthusiast aquarium successorfailure.First, enlistingadditional determine fieldthat will ofnetworking. Therearetwothe elements activitiesarebeingplayed outin current most important fishes,our possibleimpendingofthese extinction the Gouramihobby. Licorice world ofthe fromthe news http://www.tfie.co.uk/ (wholesale only) London, England &Exporters Tropical FishImporters http://www.thefishhut.co.uk/ Lanarkshire, Scotland The FishHut [email protected] Indianapolis, Indiana Mark Denaro Anubias Design http://msjinkzd.com York, Pennsylvania O’Leary Rachel Invertebrates byMsjinkzd www.minifins.com St. Louis,Missouri Michael Hellweg Exotic Aquatics www.wetspottropicalfish.com Oregon Portland, Perry Anthony The Wet SpotTropicalFish Livestock ock Suppliers Because it is the best way to spread the word about bestwaytospreadthe Because itisthe

Peter Finke on the spot; we are eagerly seizing upon every hint that hintthat we areeagerly spot; seizinguponevery on the arealreadyactive organizationsthat conservation with toforge links directionshere:we aretrying ing inthree toorganize. ismuchmoredifficult We are origin work trade. the and inadditionwe don’t alllinkswith tosever want we willneedtoorganizeexchanges offishes, this achieve scale.To onaninternational isattainable and onethat isasensiblegoal five species/form, breederstoasingle perbreeder,species/forms aretwo to infuturethere two tofive current insteadofthe of breeders,sothat still-too-smallnumber burdenonthe tive. Reducingthe Many mo- young peoplefeel attracted bypreciselythis hobby. wouldtotheir like toaddasenseofpurpose they of getting involved breeding,because inconservation andfood water problems who won’t bythe bedeterred Ending the habitat destruction in the countries of of countries inthe destruction habitat Ending the

- Below: The of central the author’s Parosphromenus part changes. We necessary areinvolved. tothe tribution demise.We oftheir news mustmake anactivethe con- hobbycannot simply aquarium for sitbackandwait the comes topasstoolatefor many Parosphromenus species, landscapeitself.Even ifthis the them spot, andthrough the toinfluencepeoplelivingon precise canwe expect andmore becomessharper volvement destruction inthe Only ifourawareness ofourown in- tion agriculture. - planta woods. oft-lauded We the alsoneedtocriticize bypurchasingpalm-oilproductsortropical destruction inthe areplaying we apart aquarists demonstrating that world western and industrialized life inthe everyday with links arecausing;andwe areestablishing tive concerns andlocallyac- regionalauthorities, governments, their damage indigenous that populationsarewisetothe the

setup. 49 amazonas amazonas 17

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