I know of these rumours too. They were told for several times when an exciting species was new and expensive. Probably – the rumour said – the exporter or the breeder sells only one sex in order to prevent others to spoil his good business. This was told for instance with Dario-species and with Botia-species, but there was never a proof. I think it was nonsense, camouflaging the fact that one was unable at first to breed that new species. Certainly no export company takes measures to single out the sexes with Parosphromenus; they can be pretty sure that most licorice gouramis will be dead in the tanks of unexperienced aquarists in a few months time. This is quite in time before the new spawning and catching season begins, and they can sell all fish again.
One of the motives of the Parosphromenus-project is to change this mentality of mere “keeping” that fish. The most interesting thing with licorice is their behaviour and the most interesting behaviour is shown during courtship and breeding. We must learn to breed them, not only to keep them.
But I admit: for that purpose you need both sexes. The people who buyed that spec. Sentang-fish out of that tank I showed had no opportunity to breed them. They received only males. And why? I don’t know, but I suppose that the catch was like this. And why? I don’t know, but I suppose some kind of environmental change (perhaps by a chemical input, or merely a rise in temperatures following the cutting of high trees around), and the developing fry and growing young developed (nearly) into males only.
Or what other cause could reasonably be thought of?
The
PAROSPHROMENUS PROJECT
