Hey, I'm looking to get insite from anyone who may have had any luck breeding the licorice gourami. I have 8 fish, all stuffed in a 10 gel. tank. I am using a peat substrate for both soft water and to grow any possible micro organisms. I have 5 clay pots in the tank 3- 2 1/2" 2- 4". I also have a nice sized clump of Java moss floating on top. The tank is at 82F and is filtered with an aged sponge filter. Here's the questions, How do I sex them accuratly? Should I have only a pair at a time in the tank, or will they spawn in the group setting? They are just so small I didn't want to give 2 fish the whole tank! I am working with alot of spiecies and I only have so many outlets! Thanks

What sort of Parosphromenus are those? Some paros are quite tricky to spawn. P anjunganensis is one of the stubborn spp (in my care). But P paludicola is another story. So far I have 3 spawnings. Or maybe 4. Now I'm left with three fry (3 months old) from the second spawning (out of seven). The others ... some eggs are eaten (when the father felt threatened) and some fry were left in the breeding tank. Just wanna see what will happen.
The main thing about breeding this spp (as for me) is to minimised disturbance and correct water parameters. I use a 60 cm tank; divided into 2 halves (the other for P anjunganensis). A thin layer of black sand; 3 tank sided are covered and the top partly covered. No lighting. Minimal plant - a clump of Java fern and some Java moss. A piece of bogwood, some 1 1/2" pipes and a few broken clay pots complete the tank. Feeding is done twice a day (BBS and mosquito larvae). pH 4.0-5.0 with no filtration. Water change; 30% every 2 weeks.
The peculiar thing about my pair is, the male always use the same place to build his nest. It's a "elbow" pipe under a piece of arched bogwood.
No. of eggs usually around 10 ++ and the fry hatch after 2 days. Free swimming is achieved on day 5 or 6. Feeding starts with infosuria and later microworm.
As for me, I scooped out the whole nest (the pipe) with all the occupants (father included) inside on day 3 or 4, before the fry started to leave the nest. This small container is usually floated in the breeding tank to maintain the tempreture.