🐟 Paradise Fish Macropodus opercularis

The Paradise Fish (Macropodus opercularis) is a easy-care, aggressive species from East Asia. Adults reach roughly 2.6", so plan on a minimum tank of 20 gallons. Keep the water between 61–79°F with a pH of 6–8. It does not school and can be kept singly or in species-appropriate numbers. Its long fins make it a target for known fin-nippers. As a carnivore, it does best on a varied diet appropriate to its feeding style.

At a glance

Good tankmates for Paradise Fish

This species is best kept in a species-only setup.

Avoid these tankmates

Endler's LivebearerAngelfishDiscusConvict CichlidOscarChili RasboraPictus CatfishCherry ShrimpNerite SnailMarble HatchetfishEmber TetraGreen Neon TetraCelestial Pearl DanioLambchop RasboraGlowlight DanioJack DempseyGreen TerrorTexas CichlidFrontosaPygmy CoryChinese Algae EaterRed Tail SharkDwarf PufferfishBlack Ghost KnifefishRopefishSenegal BichirLeast KillifishCrystal Red ShrimpAssassin SnailRamshorn SnailMalaysian Trumpet SnailBucktooth TetraGalaxy RasboraPhoenix RasboraEmerald Eye RasboraAxelrod's RasboraLicorice GouramiBanjar Red CichlidSalvini CichlidMidas CichlidFlowerhornRed Zebra CichlidVenustus CichlidLivingstonii CichlidCompressed CichlidCalvus CichlidTropheus DuboisiHabrosus CoryBlue Dream ShrimpYellow ShrimpBlack Diamond ShrimpBumblebee ShrimpClown Killifish

See the full tankmate guide for Paradise Fish →