Paradise fish known scientifically as paradise fish belongs to the family of anabantids . It is of Asian origin , specifically from the southern part in the countries of China, Korea, northern Vietnam and Taiwan . They were the first species of tropical fish to be imported into Europe 150 years ago.
This fish adapts easily to different environments. For this reason, they live in streams, lagoons, swamps or irrigation channels. They prefer calm waters with abundant vegetation.
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Appearance paradise fish
This animal is characteristic for its thin and rectangular body and its long fins . They are fish of extraordinary beauty and for years they have become very popular with aquarists. The paradise are usually of different colors but red and blue predominate . Their body size is 8 to 12 cm in male fish, however females are usually smaller .
Life expectancy
Our pet has an average age of 4-6 years .
Care
They are very independent and intelligent fish and do not need special attention .
The aquarium
With a tank of about 60 to 80L we will have enough to take care of our pet. The water temperature will oscillate between 15-26ºC although it is recommended that the exact temperature is 21ºC , therefore we are facing a cold water fish. We will also have a PH of 6.0 – 8.0. We will have the aquarium covered but leaving a little ventilation because these types of fish tend to jump very often. We will need to cover our aquarium with abundant vegetation, always bearing in mind that we must not hinder the swimming of our fish. We will change 10% of all the water each week.
What does our fish eat?
It eats everything but you have to provide it with enough food because it is an animal with a great appetite. We can give you frozen food, insect larvae, snails, small fish, red larvae, tubifex (water worms) . It is omnivorous but also has a predatory instinct . For this reason, we can also incorporate beef, veal liver and beef heart into your diet .
Behavior and compatibility of the paradise fish
These fish are aggressive towards other fish of their own species, especially paradise males. This attitude becomes greater when they are in reproductive period . For this reason, it is not advisable to have several males together in the same aquarium, since in this period, they can kill the females. They are very similar to the fish of the same family such as bettas .
Reproduction
It is not necessary to separate species for Macropodus opercularis to reproduce. In the breeding period, the male forms a bubble nest in the aquarium to prevent other species from hindering or attacking the female and invites her to spawn.
In mating, the fish’s own “hug” takes place. At the point where the female climaxes, a few eggs are released and float to that nest made by the male earlier. The process is repeated until the female manages to lay hundreds of eggs. Later the nest is broken and the eggs remain together in one part of the aquarium.
The eggs hatch after 3-4 days . To feed the fry we will supply them with smaller worms or shrimp (brine shrimp).
Diseases
The diseases that they usually contract are mild and are generally due to the conditions of the water and the species that inhabit it. Due to its aggressive nature, amputations in the fins produced by other species are usually the most common problems with this type of fish. If they do occur, I advise you to consult an expert.
Species price
We can find paradise fish for an affordable price which will range between € 3 and € 8 .