In males the dorsal, anal and caudal have a black subdistal band bordered on either side by bluish iridescent bands, with the inner one significantly thicker.

The pelvic fins are iridescent emerald green with a dark blotch at the base and a subdistal dark spot, while the pectoral fins are hyaline.

This species is said to be slightly easier to maintain than the majority of congeners and is therefore a recommended choice for those new to maintaining Parosphromenus spp. in the aquarium.

It’s occasionally available on a commercial basis and we’ve seen it traded as ‘moonspot licorice gourami’ in the past.

There exist at least three colour forms on…

Parosphromenus spp. have been grouped arbitrarily based on courtship behaviour in males which adopt a ‘head-down’, ‘head-up’, or ‘horizontal’ position depending on species.

P. harveyi belongs to the former, most abundant, assemblage in which the male assumes a near-vertical position with the head lowermost and fins splayed during nuptial displays.

This species is not generally available in the aquarium hobby on a commercial basis but is occasionally collected and distributed by private aquarists.

It’s name is sometimes misapplied to commercial shipments of other species, and there also exist a number of other fish with rounded caudal-fins that may or may not be conspecific, including P. sp. ‘blue line’ and P. sp. ‘Selatan’ from Sumatra.

This species is very rare in the aquarium hobby and may never have been available on a commercial basis although it has been collected, bred and distributed by some private collectors.

It’s a member of the putative G. surinamensis ‘group’ of closely-related species within the genus and ca…

The most essential item of décor is a soft, sandy substrate so that the fish can browse naturally (see ‘Diet’).

Coarser materials such as gravel or small pebbles can inhibit feeding, damage gill filaments and even be ingested with the potential of internal damage or blockages.

Additional furnishings ar…

It’s care requirements, disposition, and especially conservation status dictate that it should be maintained alone or alongside a group of small, peaceful cyprinids such as Boraras or Sundadanio spp.

Likewise, different Parosphromenus spp. should not be kept together since the females of many are very difficult to tell apart and some are undoubtedly capable of hybridising.

Type locality is given only as ‘Sarawak state, Borneo, East Malaysia’, with the material deriving from Sibu Division in western Sarawak.

It’s since been recorded at other localities within Sarawak, to which it appears endemic, but it remains unclear whether all represent a single species or not with those from the area around Lundu in northwestern Kuching Division in par…

Type locality is ‘Kota Tinggi, Mawai-Desaru road, Johor, Peninsula Malaysia’ and this species is endemic to a small portion of eastern Johor state, Peninsular Malaysia around the towns of Kota Tinggi, Mawai and Desaru.

A great deal of its original habitat has been lost via deforestation and other human alterations and it’s considered in grave danger of extinction.

This fish is normally imported alongside the congener R. candidianus and is actually the commoner of the two in the aquarium trade.

It looks very similar to R. candidianus but does not grow as large and possesses a more rounded snout.

Most specimens also have spot-like markings on the sides of the head which has led to them being identified as R. nantaiensis, but the fish do no…