New black paradisefish

[Jayhawk]

Well, needing a fish to help cut down on the platy population suddenly exploding in my tank, I found black paradisefish in town (Macropodus spechti).

Not sure if it's a young male or a female, but it's pretty cool. I've kept quite a few M. operlacaris over the years, and simply love paradisefish.

The tank is quickly becoming an anabantoid heaven (spike tailed paradisefish, honey gouramis, and now the black paradisefish).

Anyone else ever kept a black paradisefish? From what I've read, they're a little more peaceful than the standard blue paradisefish, but otherwise their care is the same.

I'll post pictures after he/she has settled in.

Eric

 

[BioHazard]

Can't wait to see some pics!

 

[psyche]

Picture!

 

[Jayhawk]

I'll post pictures in a few days...the fish hasn't adjusted to the tank yet. You can definitely see why they're a different species...definite physiological differences from the standard blue paradisefish.

Forgot to add that I don't expect him to eat adult platys...just those fry that have appeared since I went to smaller fish for the tank. Obviously, my leopard bushfish was having a few baby platy snacks.

Eric
Eric

 

[Jayhawk]

OK, I managed to get a few shots...and took a few more of some of my other fish:

The new black paradisefish (M. spechti)

Spiketailed female with black paradisefish

Pair of spiketailed paradisefish

Honey gouramis with variatus platys

Cool shot of female spiketail paradisefish

I'll post more pictures in a few months when I know for sure if the black paradisefish is male or female.

Eric

 

[Jayhawk]

Just a quick update - the black paradisefish is settling in very well. No more small platy fry around the tank (which is what I hoped would happen), and it's not aggressive to anyone.

Very outgoing personality just like a standard paradisefish.

He is, however, being bullied a bit by a 1.5" long honey gourami (who is also pushing around a spike tailed paradisefish that is also a good inch longer than the gourami).

I'm starting to see some longer fin growth on the black paradisefish, but I'm going to wait a bit longer to post updated pictures. Unlike the stunning look of a blue paradisefish, the black one is more of an understated beauty. I like him a lot, and highly recommend them as a slightly more peaceful paradisefish that still is a great wet-pet type of fish.

Eric

 

[supgourami]

Very cool! I've never seen any spiketails or black paradise fish in an LFS or else I'd definately get some!

 

[rsanz]

Cool! Always wanted a paradisefish, but I've never seen even a common one at the LFSs in my area.