Stats

Lifespan

6-8 yrs

Size

Small

Diet

Carnivore

Activity

Diurnal

Social

Solitary

Biome

Freshwater wetland

Range

East Asia

Movement

Swimming

Breeding

Egg-laying

Defense

Armor

Status

Rare

About

The paradise fish was one of the first tropical fish imported to Europe for the aquarium hobby, arriving in France in 1869. Males build floating bubble nests at the water's surface and defend them fiercely until the fry hatch.

Life cycle

1. 1.
   hatchling fry

   A tiny fry hatches with a yolk sac and begins free-swimming once the sac is absorbed.
2. 2.
   juvenile

   A juvenile takes on adult body shape and feeds on small prey, often in nursery waters.
3. 3.
   adult

   Fully grown at adult size and coloration.

Learn more

• Read on Wikipedia →
• View on iNaturalist →
• Watch on YouTube →

Taxonomy

Kingdom

Animalia

Phylum

Chordata

Class

Actinopterygii

Order

Anabantiformes

Family

Osphronemidae

Genus

Macropodus

Species

Macropodus opercularis