Paradise fish: Care, Tank Mates, Breeding & More

Discover the interesting world of paradise fish

The paradise fish is a striking species for its variety of colors and usually adapts easily to different environmental environments. Due to their characteristics, they can be found in streams, irrigation canals, swamps and rice paddies because they require little attention to survive. Unlike other genera, this species can subsist in total oxygen scarcity which means that it has the capacity to withstand hypoxia conditions.

Natural habitat

Thanks to its wonderful peculiarities today it is considered a resistant species due to the hostile circumstances in which it usually lives. In this case it is recommended the formation of broken lines with abundant shadows and that are in full view inside the aquarium to facilitate the swimming of these fish. With this you will contribute to the paradise fish not being stressed since this can cause their defenses to go down quickly.

Unfortunately it is now difficult to find them in their places of origin, this is due to the pollution of the environment and the decline of their habitat. For this reason they are within the group of animals in danger of extinction, even the specimens found in pet stores come from their breeding in captivity. So if you opt for this species feel lucky to have them at home.

Their first appearance was in East Asia so they can still be located in their wild state, especially in the Yangtze River located in China, in Taiwan, on Hainan Island and in northern Vietnam. Almost all paradise fish livein waters populated with natural vegetation to mark their own territory.

General characteristics of paradise fish

In terms of its behavior we can say that it is abrupt, when another species approaches its territory it usually attacks so that they move away. Most of the time it is kept away and hidden, at night you usually go out only to feed on food such as mosquitoes, shrimp, crustaceans, among others. You have to be very careful because it is usually jumping and in an oversight can fall to the floor suffocating due to lack of oxygenation.

Aquariums for paradise fish

The choice of an aquarium is important since that is where the fish you choose will live, depending on the species you must make sure that it meets all their needs. In this case because it is a paradise fish you do not need a large installation since it adapts perfectly to cold and hot environments, however you have to periodically change the water to avoid the accumulation of bacteria or pests.

Fish tanks for paradise fish

You must make sure that the fish tank you choose for paradise fish has at least 60 liters to make its movement more comfortable. It has the ability to withstand temperatures up to 18° C but most of the time it prefers a slightly larger climate almost reaching 26°C. Both males and females prefer a wooded place, that is, they have plant plantations such as trunks, tall plants and stones that offer shelter to those who are less gifted.

The fish tank you choose should have a lid since this species usually jumps frequently, be very careful because in an oversight it can jump and suffocate due to lack of oxygenation until it causes death. Another important aspect is to leave a free space between the lid and the water since they need air that comes directly from the surface.

For proper maintenance, coexistence with other genera is not recommended since the male, being more aggressive, can end up seriously attacking the rest of the fish. Although in some cases the paradise fish usually hides in its habitat so as not to coexist with others and thus defend its territory, at night it only goes out to feed so as not to have confrontations.

Aquarium elements

Make sure you don’t place heavy or pointed items inside the aquarium that could cause injury to your fish. The most convenient thing is to use natural vegetation so as not to obstruct the visibility of the same at the time of their swimming, with these tips be sure that their movement will be much faster and will gain advantage at the time of their feeding. It is not recommended for community aquariums due to its aggressive character with other species.

Types of paradise fish

Paradise fish are native to the Gourami family, one of the species that has a variety of colors and are accustomed to living in fresh water at both cold and hot temperatures. Because it is striking, it is currently in one of the tropic groups to be distributed mainly in Europe. Like the other genera, it has two filiform pelvic fins that allow its swimming to be faster.

What types of paradise fish exist

Within this species there are other types of similar characteristics, among them we find the most important:

Albino paradise fish: it is a species that adapts perfectly to conditions of hypoxia and in a variety of temperatures, in this case its movements are slower so that when living with other fish they can gain an advantage. A male raised in good condition can reach 10 centimeters, so a capacity of at least 100lts is required.

• Azul paradise fish: it is characterized by having a peaceful behavior, most of the time is spent hidden in its habitat and ensures that no one steps on its territory. It usually attacks other species that want to appropriate their area but half a time they move away leaves them alone. His swim is done at night so as not to live with others.
• Green paradise fish:procomes from the family of omnivores so it accepts all kinds of food,as long as it is healthy for its correct development. For an efficient swim the aquarium has to have dark areas full of natural vegetation to mark its territory. It does not require further care so it is ideal for those who begin to integrate into the world of aquariums.

Tips to know how to distinguish them

Sometimes it is difficult to differentiate the paradise fish among other species of fish, but particularly the males have a larger size and have a more intense hue. They also have filiform radii in both the caudal, dorsal and anal fins so that their movement is more flexible at the time of swimming.

Baby paradise fish

The paradise fish has the advantage of adapting easily to cold and hot temperatures so it is recommended for beginners because it requires little attention. Within the water the males can reach a size of 12 centimeters while the females turn out to be smaller. However, they like to stay in natural and large environments to facilitate their swimming, especially to reproduce whenever they want.

Reproduction of the paradise fish

The species is characterized by being from river resources since they do not grow as much as other fish of its subfamily, for its distribution they have been acquired by selection in captivity. Now they can be found in pet stores in a variety of colors with fantastic fin development, especially an albino that allows your swim to be faster and more efficient.

As for their reproduction we can say that paradise fish resemble other labyrinthine. In this case the male is in charge of building a precise area for his nest of bubbles in the depths of the water to prevent his young from being lost or being eaten by the other species. When he is ready, he invites the strand to the courtship by giving him some blows on the belly so that the eggs are laid.

At the time of laying the sperm is released, then the male gathers them in his mouth and takes them to the nest built to keep them safe. It is also responsible for taking care of them all the time as well as the fry which it always keeps close to the nest. No high temperature is necessary for fish breeding is sufficient with 22 to 23°C. In some cases the female contributes to the making of the nest and with the special care of the calf.

Tips for your care

For the calf to be born you will have to wait 24 to 30 hours, after this time the little fish are born and until approximately five days they begin to swim. Although the paradise fish is resistant and strong from a young age, they require some care to survive during their development. For this reason it is recommended to give them special foods rich in vitamins,minerals and proteins, although in the first days you can give them egg yolk in small quantities.

Food for paradise fish

Depending on the care given to the paradise fish, it can live up to five years. The most interesting thing is that this species is temperamental, it is very striking for its variety of colors and is ideal for the decoration of community fish tanks since they do not require precise attention. The only thing that must be taken care of is his diet so that his defenses are always strengthened and prevent him from contracting any type of disease.

What paradise fish eats

Paradise fish come from the omnivore family but sometimes can become carnivores. They are also used to eating small fish, insects, shrimp, crustaceans, mollusks, mosquito larvae, among others. They are perfectly suited to commercial foods but almost prefer live foods, so it is recommended to combine the foods so that they do not lose interest in eating.

Although this species can survive without having greater attention, the diet must be as balanced as possible that contains vitamins, minerals and proteins to strengthen your body. At least twice a week you should incorporate fruit flies such as artemina nauplius or infusoria, as well as tubifex, Drosophila and daphnias to maintain an always robust and strong coloration.

Following the necessary regulations your fish will always be kept safe. Being native to China they can easily adapt to very hot summers and cold winters. One of the advantages of opting for a paradise fish is that it withstands almost all water conditions but for this it must be well fed so that its defenses are always maintained as a wind in the stern.

How to feed paradise fish

It is recommended to feed this class of fish at least three times a day in small portions. To keep them healthy requires a constant cleaning with siphoning at the bottom so that all accumulated bacteria that can be absorbed inside the food can be eliminated, causing at the same time some malignant disease. Although they require little attention, it is always good to take a look at them to avoid confrontations between themselves.

Paradise fish care

Although the paradise fish is not as recognized a species as others, it has been characterized by being a spectacular fish within the family of labyrinthids. It has a resemblance to the Fish Betta splemdems, the advantage is that they do not require much care due to their high resistance, they even have the extreme ability to withstand maintenance among which the lowest temperatures can be named so it is recommended for the aquarium of beginners.

Basic care

Its coloration can be varied being able to incorporate orange, bluish or brown tones but always having above vertical stripes of red and blue color. These details make it different from the other genera that make up its subfamily. For paradise fish to always remain robust it is not advisable to keep them at very high temperatures.

It is a strong and resistant species that although it does not need special attention requires to be well fed, in this way it is possible to strengthen its immune system making it resist any type of disease. For this type of genus it is not necessary to place at the bottom of the heating aquarium, the most convenient thing is to opt for natural elements for good oxygenation.

It may not be essential but it is productive to give him live food at least once or twice a week to vary his diet, you will also prevent him from getting bored of the routine. Another important aspect is to take care of the water, that is, the aquarium must be cleaned from time to time to prevent pests or contagious bacteria from accumulating. With these tips your fish will always be safe.

How to care for a paradise fish

So that the paradise fish always remains active and robust, it is recommended to place natural elements such as tall and fine plants, non-pointed stones or trunks in the water to facilitate their swimming and so that other fish do not gain an advantage when feeding. This species likes to have its own territory to take refuge in case of having any confrontation with other fish, therefore the fish tank must be full with a lot of natural or artificial vegetation as long as it does not affect its visibility.

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