Easy to keep in larger community tanks, a dark soil and some plants bring out the colors better although it's no prerequisite. The fish are extremely hardy and will adapt to virtually every surrounding and water values. Since full grown fish can be extremely aggressiv among eachother but also towards other fish, they shouldn't be kept with fragile peacefull fish. If they start to breed in a community tank they will completely terrorise the tank, and attack all fish approaching the nest. If they attack they usually go straight for the eyes of the intruder, and sometimes you will see fish with only one eye swimming around in community tanks with M. opercularis. Since the fish jump well, the tank should be covered.
Although the fish will reproduce in community tanks, breeding is best done in a large 80 cm breeding tank with lowered waterlevel, at higher temperatures(23-25 degrees). Between 100 and 500 floating eggs are produced, after which the female should be removed. If no hiding places are available in smaller tanks the male will sometimes kill the female. Eggs will hatch in 2-4 days, depending on the temperature. Fry are extremely small and can only be fed with infusoria in the beginning.
Common name: Paradise fish
Origin: E. Asia, China, Korea, Taiwan, Hai-nan, Malakka and on Ryukyu, in slow flowing or standing, usually shallow water with dark soil. In Southern Spain and in Florida(USA) introduced populations exist.
Tank setup: Fairly large tank, with refuges for females and gentle circulation.
Compatibility: Community, but males may be aggressive.
Temperature: 13-26 degrees, but also beyond these boundaries.
Feeding: Omnivore: feed flake, frozen and live foods. Will eat all given food including small fish!
Water chemistry: Not critical; fairly soft to hard, pH 6.0-8.0
Sexing: Males have brighter colours and much longer fins than females
Breeding: Bubble nest builder. Eggs hatch in about a day and are usually guarded by the male.
Comments: Several colour forms of this species exist.
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