Ornate Licorice Gourami

The ornate licorice gourami reaches no more than 3 cm in length. The name "ornate" is fully justified by the contrasting pattern on the body and fins. The lower part of the body is blackish-brown, while the upper part is lighter. During spawning, the lighter areas darken, nearly matching the lower part in colour. The tail fin stands out with a bluish-white edge, followed by a black inner part with a broad red band. The remaining fins are dark with a noticeable light edge. Males and females are virtually impossible to distinguish by colour, as it is identical in both.

The ornate licorice gourami is native to the Indonesian part of the island of Borneo, specifically West Kalimantan in Southeast Asia. It is found in peat swamps in the Kapuas and Pavan river basins. Its typical habitat is a shallow water body under the canopy of dense tropical forest, where only weak sunlight penetrates. The bottom of such water bodies is covered with a thick layer of organic matter, whose decomposition releases humic acids and other tannins, giving the water a characteristic rich brown colour.

Males compete for the attention of females, especially during the breeding season. However, this rivalry rarely goes beyond displays of strength, making it possible to keep several males in one tank. These fish are peaceful and get along well with other non-aggressive species of comparable size.

For one or two fish, the optimal tank volume starts at 20–30 litres. When setting up the tank, create plenty of hiding places using a combination of wood and dense live plants, including floating ones. Lighting should be dimmed, so shade-loving plant species are a good choice. Any dark substrate will work. A layer of pre-soaked dried leaves of certain trees is often placed on the substrate to prevent them from floating. The leaves not only complement the natural decor but also help give the water a chemical composition close to the fish's natural habitat. That said, the aquascape can be fairly minimal. Some aquarists even skip the substrate to make maintenance easier, using PVC pipe fragments, inverted ceramic pots and other decorative elements as hiding places. The long-term health of the ornate licorice gourami depends on maintaining a stable water environment within acceptable ranges of temperature and water chemistry. This can be challenging for beginners, as achieving low pH and dGH values may require a reverse osmosis system or traditional methods for producing soft water. Gentle filtration is essential, avoiding strong water flow. A simple sponge filter with an air lift often works well for this.

Live or frozen foods are preferred. The diet is based on small invertebrates such as brine shrimp, daphnia, bloodworm and mosquito larvae. It is noted that dry pelleted foods are typically not accepted.

Spawning occurs successfully when conditions and feeding are suitable. During breeding, males acquire an even dark tone, as mentioned earlier. They select a spot on the bottom with some shelter in the centre and begin courting females. A bubble nest is sometimes built in the shelter beforehand. When the female accepts the male, spawning begins. The fish press closely together in an almost vertical head-down position. At a given moment, a batch of eggs is released and fertilized immediately. The parents carefully place all the eggs in the shelter. After spawning is complete, the female leaves and the male guards the clutch. He remains with the offspring until the resulting fry begin to swim freely. The whole process takes about a week, after which the male loses interest. The fry can remain safely with their parents, as there is no risk of being eaten. However, if other fish species are present in the tank, predation will likely occur. In such cases, it is better to transfer the young to a separate tank.

Maintaining a stable biological system, providing a balanced diet and avoiding stress factors such as harassment from aggressive tank mates offer the best guarantee of fish health. If signs of illness appear, first check these three aspects, as something has probably gone wrong with one of them. Usually, resolving the problem leads to recovery on its own. However, if immunity is not strong enough, medication may be needed.

When buying, exercise caution: this species often arrives in the trade in a weakened state after transport and is extremely sensitive to bacterial infections. A healthy specimen should actively respond to external stimuli, have no visible fin damage, ulcers or coating on the body. Avoid fish showing signs of starvation, a sunken belly, or those that constantly stay at the water surface if this is not stress-related from handling. Given the reclusive nature of the species, fish in shops often look pale, but with proper care their colour recovers quickly. It is worth asking the seller about the fish's housing conditions and adaptation period in the tank, as sharp changes in water parameters can be fatal to this species.