Cave spawner. The male holds a small territory around a cave (leaf litter in nature; a small pot, pipe or film canister in the aquarium) and the eggs are stuck to the cave ceiling. Some males build a small bubble nest inside the cave, others do not. The male alone cares for the eggs and fry; the female defends the area outside.
Put a conditioned pair in a small tank with caves.
10-20 L tank of very soft, acidic water (pH 4.5-5.5), low light, leaves and small caves such as half coconut shells or tubes, gentle flow.
Very soft acidic water and live foods.
Eggs hatch in about 24-36 hours; fry become mobile 4-6 days later and are fully free-swimming and leave the cave after 3-5 more days, when parental care stops. First foods: Paramecium or rotifers, then Artemia nauplii.
The male guards the nest for about 5-7 days; fry then eat infusoria and newly hatched brine shrimp.
One breeding tank for the licorice gourami, drawn to scale from the breeding guide.
Water: 22–27 °C · pH 4.5–5.5 · soft water
A plan from the breeding guide and an adult size of 4 cm. Tank shape is a standard 2 : 1 : 1.2 box, at least 6 adult lengths long. Check each step in the guide above.
A 120 cm rack for breeding the licorice gourami in numbers.
In total: 7 tanks, about 110 L of water. A litre of water weighs about 1 kg, so check that the floor and rack can take the weight.
Sizes are worked out from the breeding tank in the guide. Tanks fit a standard 120 cm rack when they can; bigger tanks go on their own stands.
Males have black-based dorsal, anal and tail fins with a thin whitish-blue edge, a black band and a row of bluish oval spots, plus iridescent blue-green pelvic fins with a filament tip, and colour up strongly when breeding. Females are much plainer and lack the blue and red fin bands.
Typical for cave spawners
Give one cave per pair or female, plus a varied diet.
Eggs are laid inside the cave and guarded, usually by the male.
Eggs hatch in 3–7 days depending on the species and temperature.
Feed baby brine shrimp and crushed food. Plecos need wood and vegetables.
Fry grow on in their own tank.
A general guide for this breeding type. Days change with temperature and species.
Give one cave per pair or female, plus a varied diet.
Set up a virtual breeding tank and see what would likely happen.
An educational estimate from the breeding rules, not a promise.