licorice

Parosphromenus harveyi is one of twenty known and often one can wait a long time for courtship. species of this inhabiting almost sterile In the wild they feed on tiny benthic invertebrates, blackwater streams in primeval forest marshes of primarily juvenile shrimp. They spend most of their ★ Malayasia and Indonesia, areas now rapidly and time slowly and strategically moving about the sub- permanently in decline. Rigid evolutionary special- strate to avoid predation and also to stay in the cool ization to their rare biotope that has been stable oxygen-rich waters that flow from the forest floor

for a very long time has rendered these fish niche- into their streams. Selangor Jungle, west Mayasia dependent and non-adaptable. The painting shows All of the Parosphromenus species are listed on the a displaying male in breeding colors, however the IUCN Red List as Endangered. The future sustain- fishkeeping natural posture for this display is typically head ability in the wild for these fish is extremely limited The petite Licorice Gourami is better for the advanced down and almost vertical. in time and practical solutions but there are ways hobbyist. They require very Aquarists are breeding Licorice with to help conserve and preserve them. The Parosph- soft water and are often only interested in live foods. some success although they are a difficult species romenus Project appeals worldwide to anyone Many of their habitats are to maintain due to specialized needs. They are cave interested in trying to save Licorice Gouramis. For threatened so the devoted hobbyist should focus on breeders with many obstacles to success: possible hobbyists, it is a model of species conservation breeding them. egg eating by males, fry eating by both parents, based on global communication. —Rachel Oleary

comments in captivity classification • Classified as labyrinth fishes but do not compatibilty water order Perciformes licorice gourami use their accessory breathing system. Best kept as species preservation project pH 3.0 – 6.5, gH 18 – 72 ppm, family Osphronemidae (see text above). temp. 71°– 82°F (22°–28°C) Parosphromenus harveyi • Initially described in 1859 by Pieter Bleeker. genus Parosphromenus • Very timid and will not show color in tank size biotope species Parosphromenus harveyi anything other than ideal conditions. 5g–10g Minimal flow, driftwood, well-planted, size 3 – 4 cm (1.2 – 1.6 in) diet dried leaf litter substrate. Specialized live foods. See text above. 120 australasia australasia 121