| 1. Conservation Status |
|---|
| Scientific Name | Parosphromenus ornaticauda |
| Common Name | Ornate‑tailed Licorice Gourami |
| Family | Osphronemidae |
| IUCN Status | Critically Endangered (CR) |
| Distribution | Borneo (Kalimantan); isolated peat swamp pockets |
| Notes | One of the rarest licorice gouramis; extremely sensitive to water chemistry and habitat disturbance. |
| 2. Natural Habitat & Ecology |
|---|
| Habitat Type | Shaded peat swamp forest; extreme blackwater |
| Water | pH 3.0–4.2; conductivity 8–25 µS/cm; heavy humic acids |
| Substrate | Leaf litter, peat, root tangles, submerged branches |
| Behaviour | Secretive; males defend tiny cave territories; pair‑bonding during spawning |
| 3. Water Chemistry Requirements |
|---|
| Temperature | 24–26°C |
| pH | 3.2–4.2 (spawning), 3.8–4.8 (grow‑out) |
| Conductivity | 8–25 µS/cm |
| Tannins | Very high; catappa leaves, peat, alder cones |
| Lighting | Extremely dim; floating plants essential |
| 4. Social Structure & Behaviour |
|---|
| Group Dynamics | Pairs or trios (1M:2F) |
| Male Behaviour | Displays ornate tail patterning; guards nest aggressively |
| Female Behaviour | Inspects caves; curves body to signal readiness |
| Territoriality | High around nest; low otherwise |
| 5. Conditioning Protocol |
|---|
| Duration | 2–3 weeks |
| Diet | Live foods only: grindal worms, mosquito larvae, daphnia, micro‑worms |
| Environmental Stability | Ultra‑soft water; no large changes; maintain tannins |
| Indicators | Males intensify colour; females round with roe |
| 6. Spawning Strategy |
|---|
| Method | Cave‑spawning bubble‑nest builder |
| Nest Sites | Film canisters, leaf pockets, root tangles, small tubes |
| Spawning Behaviour | Male leads female to cave; embraces; eggs adhere to ceiling |
| Parental Care | Male guards eggs and fry until free‑swimming |
| 7. Spawning Triggers |
|---|
| Pre‑Trigger | Ultra‑soft water (10–20 µS/cm), heavy tannins, stable temperature |
| Trigger Event | Small cool water change (5–10%); fresh botanicals added |
| Additional Stimuli | Lower light further; increase leaf litter depth |
| 8. Eggs & Incubation |
|---|
| Clutch Size | 15–40 eggs |
| Egg Type | Adhesive; attached to cave ceiling |
| Incubation | 24–36 hours at 25°C |
| Male Role | Guards eggs; retrieves fallen eggs; maintains nest |
| 9. Larval Development |
|---|
| Day 0–2 | Larvae remain in cave; yolk sac absorption |
| Day 3–4 | Free‑swimming; male may still guard
|
| Day 5–14 | Extremely small fry; require microfoods; avoid bright light |
| Week 2–4 | Colour begins forming; labyrinth organ developing |
| 10. First Foods & Feeding Schedule |
|---|
| Stage 1 (Day 3–7) | Infusoria, rotifers, paramecium |
| Stage 2 (Day 5–14) | Vinegar eels, microworms, tiny Artemia nauplii (if tolerated) |
| Stage 3 (Week 2–4) | Moina, powdered fry foods, micro‑daphnia |
| Stage 4 (4+ weeks) | Small live foods; fine pellets |
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