Fire & Ice Licorice Gourami

Fire & Ice Licorice Gourami (Parosphromenus sp. Batu Pahat) is a tiny and breathtakingly beautiful licorice gourami from the peat swamp forests of Southeast Asia. is a stunning undescribed species from the Batu Pahat area of Johor, Malaysia — males display a dramatic combination of vivid red-orange and electric blue markings creating the 'fire and ice' effect that gives this fish its trade name. Parosphromenus gouramis are specialist fish requiring blackwater conditions and careful attention — but for the aquarist willing to provide the right setup, they reward with some of the most extraordinary coloration and behavior available in any freshwater fish.

Feeding & Care Tip: Hikari Micro Pellets (soaked thoroughly), Hikari Frozen or Freeze-Dried Tubifex Worms, Hikari Frozen or Freeze-Dried Baby Brine Shrimp, and Hikari Frozen Daphnia form the core diet. Live baby brine shrimp, Daphnia, and Moina are also a good option, especially for fish that are hesitant with frozen or freeze-dried foods. Feed small amounts 2–3 times daily in a calm environment. These are slow, deliberate feeders — do not keep with any fish that will steal food.

Native to peat swamp forests and blackwater streams of the Malay Peninsula and Borneo — environments with extremely soft, acidic, tannin-stained water and very low mineral content. The aquarium must replicate these conditions closely: very soft water, pH 6.0–6.8, tannin additions from Indian almond leaves and driftwood, dark substrate, subdued lighting, and a mature, well-established tank. These fish are sensitive to poor water quality and must not be added to immature aquariums.

Keep as a pair or small group in a species-specific or near-species-specific setup. These fish are easily stressed by active or larger tankmates and are too slow to compete for food in a community setting. Males display spectacular fin coloration during courtship — the full vivid display is only seen in a calm, appropriately set up aquarium. Cave spawners — provide small caves, bamboo tubes, or the inside of a coconut shell for nest sites.

Cave spawners with small bubble nests attached to the cave roof. The male courts the female with elaborate, highly colorful fin displays — the full breeding coloration of a displaying male is extraordinary. Eggs are attached to the cave ceiling and guarded by the male. Soft, very acidic water is important for successful egg development and fry survival. Most Parosphromenus species are listed as Endangered or Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List due to the ongoing destruction of their peat swamp habitat — one of the most threatened ecosystems in Southeast Asia. Keeping and successfully breeding these fish in captivity is a meaningful contribution to the conservation of these extraordinary species. The Parosphromenus Project (parosphromenus-project.org) is dedicated to the conservation and captive breeding of licorice gouramis.

Care & Ideal Parameters