More details please visit our species page on the website https://www.parosphromenus-project.org/en/paludicola

P. paludicola was the second form after ‘deissneri’ recognised clearly as a distinct species due to its structural peculiarities. It was discovered only around 1950 in Terengganu by the curator of the Raffles Museum, M.W.F. Tweedei and got its first description in 1952.

The distribution is very large extended in the north-east of the Malaysian peninsula (province Terengganu), occuring even in southern Thailand as the only licorice gourami species.

The almost total absence of light colours in this unusual species shows that its centre of distribution is not situated in black water. Like other Parosphromenus some of their local variants inhabit black water habitats as well, but opposite to almost all other Parosphromenus forms, they live in clear water, too (but mainly in transitional areas). They prefer lighter biotopes, compared to other species of the genus: their adaptability to man-made water bodies (roadside channels, reservoirs, pond-like structures) is much higher.

P. paludicola is described as quite an unusual species of parosphromenus, as it has some characteristics which is different from other species. This can particularly be observed in the fin structure and in the lack of fluorescent colors in the unpaired fins (with few exceptions). The body appear more elongated. (see https://www.parosphromenus-project.org/en/paludicola.)

Within the species, though, variations occurs quite often in coloration, with beige-brown, bluish-pink, or brown-red or almost entirely red colour. Furthermore fish of most populations are elongated and thin, while others appear compact with higher backs. The ventral fins of all males have very long filaments. The caudal fins of some males are also oval or triangular elongated with several filaments, while others are more rounded with just one middle filament ray

Usually one of the least demanding licorice gouramis, because it is not necessarily dependent on the simulation of pure black water conditions. The species is therefore (together with P. filamentosus or P. linkei) particularly well suited for beginners in the licorice gourami aquarium hobby. The conductivity of the water should be less than 100 micro Siemens / cm, a value between 30 and 50 is considered ideal. The pH value can range between 4.0 and 6.5, the height of the value is not crucial, but a low value can be useful for its antibiotic effect. The addition of humic substances or humic acid-emerging material is also helpful. That the species is not found in pure black water, does not mean that humic substances can be dispensed entirely.

P. paludicola clutches may be among the largest in the genus (up to 100 eggs). A bubble nest is built, but often it remains rudimentary.

P. paludicola is one of the species which the Parosphromenus Project has good success with, – it is being safely kept in good numbers in our CCP programme.

Source Peter Finke, https://www.parosphromenus-project.org/en/paludicola

Photos 1. Male and female (Wentian Shi) 2 + 3 Paludicola habitat (Mohd Illiam Norhakim Lokman) 4. male (David Jones) 5 Paludicola ‘Paka’ (Christian Hinz)