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.
Compatible Tankmates
Best tank mates for Paradise Fish
Every species below passes the compatibility engine when paired with Paradise Fishin a suitably sized tank. Verdicts come from the same rules the builder uses — click a card to see that species' own care profile and its tank mates in turn.
Cardinal Tetra
ExcellentPeaceful pairing — temperament, water parameters, and size all line up.
Harlequin Rasbora
ExcellentPeaceful pairing — temperament, water parameters, and size all line up.
Zebra Danio
ExcellentPeaceful pairing — temperament, water parameters, and size all line up.
Fancy Guppy
ExcellentPeaceful pairing — temperament, water parameters, and size all line up.
Platy
ExcellentPeaceful pairing — temperament, water parameters, and size all line up.
Molly
ExcellentPeaceful pairing — temperament, water parameters, and size all line up.
Swordtail
ExcellentPeaceful pairing — temperament, water parameters, and size all line up.
Dwarf Gourami
ExcellentPeaceful pairing — temperament, water parameters, and size all line up.
Honey Gourami
ExcellentPeaceful pairing — temperament, water parameters, and size all line up.
Bolivian Ram
ExcellentPeaceful pairing — temperament, water parameters, and size all line up.
Bronze Corydoras
ExcellentPeaceful pairing — temperament, water parameters, and size all line up.
Panda Corydoras
ExcellentPeaceful pairing — temperament, water parameters, and size all line up.
Photo: André Karwath aka Aka / Wikimedia Commons · Source · CC-BY-SA-2.5