Licorice gouramis (genus Parosphromenus) are 22+ species of micro-gouramis from blackwater peat swamps in Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand. Tank size: 10-20 gallons for a small group. Water: blackwater - pH 4.0-6.5, GH less than 2, KH less than 1, TDS less than 50. RODI water + Indian almond leaves + alder cones + driftwood tannins. Temperature: 72-78°F. Diet: live and frozen micro-foods only - they rarely accept flake or pellets. Microworms, baby brine shrimp, daphnia, mosquito larvae. Compatibility: species-only or with chili rasbora / dwarf rasbora. Almost any other fish outcompetes them at feeding. Breeding: males build bubble nests in caves or under leaves. Eggs hatch in 24-36 hours. Note: almost the entire genus is conservation-vulnerable due to peat-swamp habitat loss. Captive-bred specimens are the ethical sourcing choice.
The full Q&A library answers the most-searched aquarium questions. Browse calculators and disease database for related help.
Whatever specific topic brought you here, four fundamentals govern long-term aquarium success: water quality, parameter stability, biological filtration, and species-appropriate husbandry. Skip any one and the others struggle to compensate.
Water quality: ammonia + nitrite at zero, nitrate under 30 ppm freshwater + 10 ppm reef. Test weekly with API or Salifert kits. Use our water parameter checker to score your readings against your tank type.
Parameter stability: stable wrong parameters beat fluctuating ideal parameters. Most fish tolerate a wide pH range if it's stable. Sudden swings of 0.4+ pH or 5+°F kill fish faster than chronic suboptimal values. Use temperature controllers (Inkbird) + automated dosing for consistency.
Biological filtration: the bacterial colony on your filter media + rock + substrate is the engine. Never replace all media at once. Use our filter turnover calculator to size correctly.
Species-appropriate husbandry: research adult size, territoriality, diet, and tankmate compatibility before purchase. Use our tank stocking calculator + compatibility guides.
How long does an aquarium take to set up? 4-6 weeks for full cycling + first stocking. Use our cycle ETA calculator + how long does cycling take.
What's the best aquarium for beginners? 20-gallon long. Big enough for parameter stability, small enough for budget + space. See beginner picks.
How often should I do water changes? 25-30% weekly. See water change frequency Q&A + water change calculator.
Why does my fish keep dying? 5 leading causes: uncycled tank, wrong species pairings, no quarantine, undersized tank, neglected water-change schedule. See full diagnosis.
Saltwater livestock · Freshwater livestock · Coral catalog · Care library · Q&A library (222) · Glossary (127) · Disease database (50) · Calculators (29) · Interactive tools (7) · Husbandry deep-dives · DIY projects · State legality directory