Product Details

Flame Paradise Fish – Macropodus opercularis

The Flame Paradise Fish is a colourful captive-bred form of the classic Paradise Fish, known for its bold red, orange and blue patterning, flowing fins and confident personality. Also sold as the Paradise Fish, Paradise Gourami, Flame Paradise Gourami or Blue Paradise Fish, this hardy labyrinth fish is best suited to spacious cooler tropical or temperate-style aquariums with carefully chosen tank mates. It is attractive and resilient, but adult males can be territorial and should not be treated as a peaceful nano community fish.

Key Identification:

Common Name: Flame Paradise Fish
Other Names: Paradise Fish, Paradise Gourami, Flame Paradise Gourami, Blue Paradise Fish
Scientific Name: Macropodus opercularis
Strain / Form: Captive-bred Flame ornamental strain
Fish Type: Labyrinth Fish / Gourami Relative
Water Type: Freshwater / Lightly Brackish Tolerant

Natural Range & Habitat:

Macropodus opercularis is native to East and Southeast Asia, where it occurs in slow-moving or still waters such as streams, ditches, ponds, marshes, rice-field margins and heavily vegetated waterways. These habitats often include dense plant growth, shaded margins and areas with low or variable oxygen levels.

As a labyrinth fish, the Flame Paradise Fish can breathe atmospheric air from the surface. In the aquarium, it must always have clear access to the surface, with a secure lid and warm, stable air above the water.

Appearance & Adult Size:

Flame Paradise Fish have a deep, laterally compressed body with extended dorsal, anal and caudal fins. The Flame form usually shows strong red to orange-red colouration, often combined with blue, turquoise or darker striping and contrasting fin markings.

Males are usually more colourful and longer-finned than females, with more intense display colour and more territorial behaviour. Females are generally rounder-bodied and less dramatic in fin length. Adults usually reach around 7–10 cm.

Aquarium Suitability:

This species is well suited to planted temperate-style aquariums, cooler tropical displays and specialist labyrinth fish setups. It appreciates plants, floating cover, open surface access, gentle filtration and visual barriers.

Flame Paradise Fish are hardy, but they are not always suitable for standard peaceful community aquariums. Adult males can be territorial, especially with other paradise fish, similar-looking gourami-type fish or slow long-finned tank mates.

Recommended Aquarium Size:

A practical minimum is 90–120 litres for a single adult or compatible pair, with a tank length of at least 75–90 cm recommended. Larger aquariums are better for carefully planned community setups.

Males are best kept singly unless the aquarium is very spacious and heavily structured. A compatible pair may work in a larger aquarium, but the female must have plenty of cover and escape routes. Avoid keeping multiple males together in small or medium tanks.

Water Conditions:

Temperature: 16–26°C
pH: 6.0–8.0
Hardness: Soft to moderately hard
Additional Notes: Flame Paradise Fish are adaptable and can suit cooler tropical or temperate indoor aquariums. They should not be kept long term in overly warm tropical conditions. Provide calm to gentle flow, stable water quality and open access to the surface. Avoid cold draughts above the water, poor maintenance and cramped aquariums.

Temperament & Tank Mates:

Aquarium Category: Semi-Aggressive

Flame Paradise Fish can be territorial and assertive, especially mature males. They may chase similar-shaped fish, nip fins or dominate smaller, slower tank mates. Their behaviour varies between individuals, so tank mate choice should be made carefully.

Suitable tank mates may include robust peaceful barbs, danios, White Cloud Mountain Minnows, larger rasboras, weather-tolerant livebearers in suitable water and peaceful bottom-dwellers such as bristlenose catfish or larger cory-type catfish. Avoid tiny fish, slow long-finned fish, male bettas, delicate gouramis, fin-nippers and aggressive cichlids.

Feeding:

Flame Paradise Fish are omnivores with a strong appetite for small animal foods. Offer quality flakes, small pellets and floating granules as the staple diet.

Supplement with frozen or live foods such as bloodworm, daphnia, brineshrimp, cyclops, mosquito larvae and small insects. Vegetable and spirulina-based foods can also be included. A varied diet supports colour, fin condition and breeding condition.

Behaviour in the Aquarium:

This is a bold, intelligent fish that spends much of its time in the middle and upper areas of the aquarium. It will patrol the tank, investigate plants and décor, and regularly visit the surface to breathe air.

Males may display by spreading their fins, intensifying colour and defending a chosen area. Like many labyrinth fish, Paradise Fish are bubble-nest builders. During breeding, the male may become especially territorial and should be monitored closely.

Care Notes:

Provide a secure lid, as Paradise Fish can jump. Surface access is essential, and the air above the water should not become cold compared with the aquarium water.

This species is hardy when kept correctly, but its temperament must be respected. Do not mix males in small tanks, and avoid delicate or long-finned tank mates. A planted aquarium with floating cover, broken sightlines and calm flow will help reduce stress and encourage natural behaviour.

Recommended For:

Intermediate

Availability:

Occasional / Captive-bred ornamental strain

Image Disclaimer:

All images are a visual representation of the fish you will receive, made to be as accurate as possible. Natural variation in size, colour, pattern, fin shape, body tone and markings can occur between individual fish.