Facts about Paradise Fish

Caring for Paradise Fish

Paradise fish, native to Asia, thrive in heavily planted tanks with calm waters. It's important to provide ample space for each fish, ideally at least 40 liters (10.57 US gallons, 8.80 Imperial gallons) per fish, due to their territorial nature. While they can be kept together, males are particularly aggressive towards each other, and dominant individuals may bully weaker ones.

Young Paradise fish are playful and peaceful, but their aggression increases with age. To minimize conflicts, create a heavily planted tank with plenty of hiding spots, such as driftwood, which helps to establish territories and reduce aggression.

For optimal care, feed your Paradise fish a varied diet of live or frozen foods. While this may not be ideal for Guppy enthusiasts, small Guppies can be a part of their diet. Providing a mix of granules, dried food, frozen bloodworms, and live foods will help them achieve an average lifespan of 2-3 years.

Tank Setup for Paradise Fish

Paradise fish, native to Asia, thrive in well-planted aquariums. These hardy fish do well with a general water hardness ranging from 4 to 20°N dGH (71.43 - 357.14 ppm, 1.43 - 7.15 mEq). For adults, maintain a pH level between 6 and 7.5. However, for juvenile Paradise fish, it's best to keep the pH around 7, as they are more sensitive. Since these fish can breathe air from the surface, oxygen levels are not a major concern. Ensure the carbonate hardness (KH) is at least 4, as levels below this can cause pH fluctuations that may harm the fish, potentially leading to health issues or death. Maintaining a KH of 4 is particularly crucial for fry.

The tank height should be around 30 cm (11.81 inches). Paradise fish do not require tall tanks, as they often rest at the bottom, among plants, or on decorations.

Regarding temperature, Paradise fish are coldwater species and can tolerate lower temperatures better than tropical fish. It is not recommended to keep them in outdoor ponds during winter unless you can maintain a temperature of about 16°C (60.80°F). In general, they do not need a heater in their tank.

Diet

Adult Paradise fish are typically fed once or twice a day. To help keep their digestive systems healthy, it's beneficial to let them fast for one day each week. When feeding live foods, such as feeder guppies, offer 3-4 guppies per Paradise fish, ensuring they are consumed before adding more.

When feeding granules or other commercial foods, be cautious not to overfeed. Avoid products that discolor the water, as this can indicate that the food contains additives that don't benefit the fish. Any uneaten food should be promptly removed from the tank to prevent decay, which can degrade water quality.

Paradise fish also enjoy the presence of Ramshorn snails in the tank, as they are a valuable part of their diet.

Juvenile Paradise fish require more frequent feeding, typically 2 to 4 times a day, with smaller fish needing more frequent feedings.

Do Paradise Fish Eat Mystery Snails?

Yes, Paradise fish will eat Mystery snails, but only when they are small enough. As the snails grow larger, the fish typically lose interest. Paradise fish are also known to consume Ramshorn snails.

Sexing Paradise Fish

Determining the sex of Paradise fish is relatively straightforward. Males are more colorful and larger than females. Females tend to be smaller and rounder due to the eggs they carry. If you have two fish and one appears smaller with less intense colors and shorter fins, it may not necessarily be a male. Focus on the size of the belly; the female will generally have a more rounded belly compared to the male.

Before breeding, males may build a bubble nest. This behavior can also indicate that the fish is comfortable and healthy in its environment. If a male is kept alone, he might build a bubble nest simply to show that he feels secure. Note that females do not build bubble nests.

Breeding Paradise Fish

Breeding Paradise fish is relatively straightforward. To start, place one male and one female (ensure the female is full of eggs by checking her belly) into an aquarium with a capacity of about 80-100 liters (21.13 - 26.42 US gallons, 17.60 - 22 Imperial gallons). For optimal breeding conditions, consider the following tips:

• A well-planted aquarium supports successful breeding.
• Maintain a temperature between 25-26°C (77 - 79°F) to encourage breeding.
• Keep the pH level around 7 - 7.5 to help the fry survive.
• Ensure carbonate hardness (dKH) is at least 4 to avoid pH fluctuations that can harm the fry.
• Most fish breed just before sunrise, so plan accordingly.
• Subdued lighting is more effective for breeding than bright lights.
• Slow water flow is crucial; fast currents can damage the nest.
• Change 10% of the water daily to simulate rainy seasons and maintain water quality.
• Feed the fish live foods such as small worms and insects to enhance breeding conditions.

The breeding process involves the male building a bubble nest and attempting to attract the female. Once successful, he forms a U-shape and helps expel the eggs from the female. After this, the male may momentarily sink to the bottom before swimming to the surface for air. He then takes responsibility for the eggs. Note that this process might need to be repeated several times for success.

After 24 to 72 hours, the eggs will hatch. If the female had a large number of eggs, hatching might occur in stages, with some eggs hatching a day or two after the initial spawn. The fry require high-quality food and a stable pH of around 7. While a pH of 6.5 can be adequate, a higher pH often leads to better survival rates. Feed the fry newly hatched Artemia salina (brine shrimp), egg yolk, and crushed dried food.

Be sure to keep snails, such as Ramshorn or Mystery snails, out of the breeding tank, as they may consume the eggs.

Raising Baby Paradise Fish

As the fry begin to accept crushed granules as food, their growth will accelerate. However, as they grow, the development of their labyrinth organ becomes a critical stage. Unfortunately, during this period, up to 80% of the fry may not survive, despite the best efforts of the fishkeeper. There isn’t much that can be done to prevent this; the key is to continue feeding them regularly and maintaining stable water conditions.

Once the babies reach a size of about 3 cm (1.18 inches), they are ready to be given away or sold.

Other Questions

Can I Keep Paradise Fish in Fish Bowls?

Only if the bowl is large enough - at least 60-70 liters (15.85 US gallons, 13.20 Imperial gallons). Additionally, create artificial corners or other points of reference to help the fish orient themselves. Fish kept in small, round bowls without these features often become disoriented, which can lead to illness and eventual death.

How Long Will Paradise Fish Live?

The average lifespan of a Paradise fish is around 2 to 3 years, with 3 years being the usual maximum. Although it’s possible for them to live longer with proper care, this is not common.

Are Paradise Fish Aggressive, and What Should I Do If They Are?

Yes, Paradise fish can be aggressive, particularly when kept in small aquariums or if the tank is overcrowded. This issue can often be resolved by adding more plants to the aquarium. The additional plants create barriers, preventing the fish from constantly seeing each other, which reduces territorial aggression. If aggression persists, consider moving them to a larger tank where they can have more space to coexist peacefully.

Typically, male Paradise fish are the most aggressive toward other males, but these fights rarely result in severe injury or death unless the tank is extremely small.

Remember, Paradise fish need territories. Keep this in mind when purchasing this species.

Related Question:

• Can You Keep Multiple Male Paradise Fish Together?

  Yes, but it depends on several factors. If you plan to keep them together in a pond, it should be fine as long as you add some plants for cover. In aquariums, each male needs at least 40 liters (10.57 US gallons, 8.80 Imperial gallons) of water. Otherwise, they may become overly aggressive.

How Can I Enhance the Colors of My Paradise Fish?

Healthy and happy fish naturally display vibrant colors. However, if you want to enhance their coloration, you can feed them foods that contain carotenoids, such as those found in carrots. Since Paradise fish are not herbivores, a practical approach is to feed Ramshorn snails with carrot, then place these snails in the aquarium for the fish to eat.