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Encyclopedia / Gouramis & Bettas / Paradise fish
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Variations

3 kinds · tap one for a closer look

Paradise fish

Macropodus opercularis · Paradise

Males fight each other; may hunt small fish.

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6.7 cmBody length, without tail ✓
10–22 °CTemperature ✓
6–8pH ✓
72 LSmallest tank ✓
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Tank mates
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Not recommended
  • Paradise fish eats animals up to about 2.5 cm. Neon tetra only grows to 2.5 cm.
  • Only a narrow temperature range suits both: 21–22 °C.
Not recommended
  • They need different temperatures (10–22 °C vs 23–29 °C). No setting suits both.
Not recommended
  • They need different temperatures (10–22 °C vs 24–28 °C). No setting suits both.
With conditions
  • Only a narrow temperature range suits both: exactly 22 °C.
With conditions
  • Only a narrow temperature range suits both: exactly 22 °C.
Compatible
Compatible
Compatible
Compatible
Compatible

144 species in our list are a good match.

Facts checked against sources on 16 Oct 2026. ✓ means a source backs it; ? means no reliable source yet. See sources

Care and water

Hardness ✓5–20 dGH
Group size ?Can live alone
Temperament ✓Semi-aggressive
Swims at ?Top
Care level ✓Moderate
Diet Omnivore
Lifespan ?Unknown
Size in shops 4–5 cm
Growth Medium

Behavior

Males fight each other; may hunt small fish.

Food

Flakes, frozen foods.

Tap a food to see what it is.

Male or female

Male Paradise fish
Male
Female Paradise fish
Female

Males are larger than females and have extended soft rays in the dorsal, anal and tail fins.

Health

Common problems. Tap one to see the signs. This is a guide, not a diagnosis.

Breeding

Bubble-nester · Easy

Bubble-nester. The male builds the nest and tends the eggs; remove the adults once the fry swim freely, as the male loses interest. Soft water and a slightly raised temperature help trigger spawning.

Pairing

Pair up a male and female from a group. They spawn readily in cool water.

Setup

A 20 gallon (75 L) tank with floating plants, a lid and 22-26 C water. No heater needed in warm rooms.

What starts it

Slightly warmer water and good live foods. The male builds a nest under floating plants.

Eggs

Several hundred eggs per female; Seriously Fish says they hatch in about 3-4 days, then the fry stay in the nest until the yolk sac is absorbed.

Raising the fry

Feed infusoria, then baby brine shrimp. Remove the female after spawning and the male when fry swim free.

Common mistakes
  • Leaving the female with an aggressive male
  • Cold drafts above the water
  • Too many males
Full breeding guide, day-by-day plan and simulator →

Where it lives in the wild

RegionSouthern China, Taiwan & northern Vietnam
Rivers and lakesYangtze to Pearl River lowlands and Red River basin
HabitatPonds, rice paddies and slow streams
Native rangeAbout 1,200 km across
See it on the world map

The story of the paradise fish

Brought to Europe in 1869 (France), the first ornamental fish after the goldfish. Usually fine in an unheated aquarium.

Linnaeus described the paradise fish in 1758. It was one of the first ornamental fish kept in Europe, reaching Paris in 1869, where it was soon bred in aquariums. Hardy and able to live without a heater, it also played a big part in the early popularity of fishkeeping.

First described by Carl Linnaeus in 1758.

  • It was one of the first tropical aquarium fish kept in Europe.
  • It can tolerate cool, unheated water.
  • Males build bubble nests to hold the eggs.

Sources

16 facts checked with sources