Species Profile
Paradise Fish
Macropodus opercularis
Anabantoidssemi-aggressiveLong-finned
Adult size
4″
Minimum tank
20 gal
Temperature
60–78°F
pH
6–8
Schooling
Solitary OK
Water level
top
Grows from juvenile
Typically sold at ~1.5″ and reaches 4″ over ~9 months. Plan tank size for the adult, not the fish at purchase.Diet
Flake, frozen, live
Notes
Hardy labyrinth fish, one of the first tropical fish kept in the West (introduced 1860s). Tolerates cool water (60-80°F), even survives unheated. Males extremely territorial, one per tank.
Photo: André Karwath aka Aka / Wikimedia Commons · Source · CC-BY-SA-2.5