Licorice Gourami Vs Sparkling Gourami – A Complete Care Guide

Written ByHoward Parker

Staring at two tiny, shimmering fish at your local store, trying to decide between the elusive Licorice Gourami and the bubbly Sparkling Gourami? It’s a classic aquarist’s dilemma, and one I’ve faced myself many times.

You see these little jewels, both promising to add a splash of unique personality to your nano aquarium, but you’re not sure which is the right fit. One looks mysterious and delicate, the other bright and active. Which one will thrive in your setup?

Don’t worry, you’re in the right place. I’m here to walk you through everything you need to know, drawing on years of experience keeping these nano wonders. This guide will give you the clarity to choose the perfect fish for your aquarium and your skill level.

We’ll dive deep into the key differences in their appearance, temperament, and, most importantly, their specific care needs. By the end, you’ll have a complete picture of the licorice gourami vs sparkling gourami debate and feel confident in your decision.

Meet the Contenders: A Quick Introduction

Before we get into the nitty-gritty, let’s properly introduce our two contenders. Both are part of the gourami family and possess a special labyrinth organ, which allows them to breathe atmospheric air directly from the surface. It’s a fascinating adaptation to their native, often oxygen-poor, habitats!

The Licorice Gourami (Parosphromenus sp.) isn’t a single species, but a whole group of similar-looking fish from the blackwater peat swamps of Southeast Asia. They are the connoisseur’s choice—shy, stunningly beautiful, and demanding of specific conditions.

The Sparkling Gourami (Trichopsis pumila), also known as the Pygmy Gourami, is a single, well-defined species. Hailing from the slow-moving waters of Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam, they are known for being hardier, more outgoing, and making an adorable “croaking” or “clicking” sound.

Appearance and Size: Spotting the Difference

At first glance, they might seem similar—both are tiny! But when you look closer, their differences are as clear as day. This is a crucial part of our licorice gourami vs sparkling gourami guide.

The Enigmatic Licorice Gourami (Parosphromenus sp.)

Licorice Gouramis are the supermodels of the nano fish world. They are incredibly slender and grow to about 1-1.5 inches (2.5-4 cm).

  • Coloration: Their base color is typically a dark brown or black, like a piece of licorice. This is overlaid with brilliant, iridescent horizontal stripes of blue, green, or red.
  • Fins: Their fins are often works of art, edged with vibrant colors that flash spectacularly when they are displaying for a mate or sparring with a rival.
  • Mood Ring Effect: A key trait is that their best colors only show when they are comfortable, healthy, and in proper breeding conditions. A stressed or unhappy Licorice Gourami can look quite plain.

The Dazzling Sparkling Gourami (Trichopsis pumila)

Sparkling Gouramis are the cheerful jewels. They are slightly smaller and more robustly built, maxing out at around 1 inch (2.5 cm).

  • Coloration: Their body has a lighter, often brownish or olive-green base. It’s covered in iridescent blue and red spots that catch the light and “sparkle,” giving them their name.
  • Eyes: One of their most endearing features is their bright blue, expressive eyes.
  • Always On Display: Unlike the Licorice Gourami, Sparkling Gouramis tend to show their colors more consistently, making them a vibrant addition to the tank at all times.

Temperament and Behavior: Peaceful Neighbors or Tiny Terrors?

This is where their paths truly diverge. Their personalities are starkly different and will heavily influence your tank setup and choice of tank mates.

Licorice Gouramis are incredibly shy and reclusive. They spend much of their time exploring caves, leaf litter, and dense plant thickets. They are easily outcompeted for food and can be stressed to death by boisterous tank mates. For them, a species-only tank is often the best path to success.

Sparkling Gouramis, on the other hand, are much more bold and curious. While still peaceful, they will actively explore all levels of the aquarium and interact with their environment. They are famous for the audible croaking sound males make during courtship or territorial disputes. It’s quiet, but you can hear it in a silent room!

The Ultimate Licorice Gourami vs Sparkling Gourami Tank Setup

Creating the right environment is paramount. This section of our licorice gourami vs sparkling gourami care guide breaks down the ideal home for each fish, highlighting one of the most significant benefits of licorice gourami vs sparkling gourami: their differing adaptability.

Tank Size and Layout

Both can be kept in a 10-gallon aquarium, but the layout is key.

  • For Licorice Gouramis: A 10-gallon is perfect for a pair or small group. The tank should be densely packed with hiding places. Think driftwood, small caves, and tons of leaf litter (Indian almond leaves, oak leaves) to create a complex, shaded environment.
  • For Sparkling Gouramis: A 10-gallon works well, but they will use the space in a 15 or 20-gallon tank even more. They thrive in a heavily planted aquarium with plenty of broad-leafed plants like Anubias and floating plants like frogbit or red root floaters to diffuse the light.

The Blackwater Biotope: A Must for Licorice Gouramis

This is non-negotiable. Licorice Gouramis come from peat swamps where the water is stained dark with tannins from decaying leaves. Replicating this is essential for their health.

  1. Add a generous layer of Indian almond leaves (catappa leaves) and alder cones to your tank.
  2. These botanicals release tannins, which lower the pH, soften the water, and have antifungal properties.
  3. The water should look like weak tea. Don’t be afraid of the color—this is what makes them feel at home! This is one of the most important licorice gourami vs sparkling gourami tips to remember.

Filtration and Water Flow

Both species hate strong currents. Their natural habitats are still or very slow-moving. A gentle sponge filter is the absolute best choice. It provides excellent biological filtration without creating a disruptive flow. Avoid hang-on-back filters unless you can baffle the output significantly.

Water Parameters: The Make-or-Break Factor

If there’s one section you need to pay close attention to, it’s this one. Incorrect water parameters are the number one reason aquarists fail with these fish, especially Licorice Gouramis.

Licorice Gourami (Specialist):

  • pH: Extremely important. They need very acidic water, between 4.0 and 6.5.
  • Hardness (GH/KH): Very soft water is a must. Aim for a GH below 5 dGH, and a KH near 0. Using RO/DI water remineralized to these levels is often necessary.
  • Temperature: 72-79°F (22-26°C).

Sparkling Gourami (Adaptable):

  • pH: Much more forgiving. They are happy in a wider range, from 6.0 to 7.5.
  • Hardness (GH/KH): They tolerate a much broader range of hardness, from 5 to 20 dGH. Most tap water is suitable with a good dechlorinator.
  • Temperature: 72-82°F (22-28°C).

The key takeaway? Sparkling Gouramis are far more adaptable and suitable for beginners or those with average tap water. Licorice Gouramis require a dedicated effort to maintain their specific blackwater conditions.

Feeding and Diet: What’s on the Menu?

Both are micro-predators, meaning they hunt for tiny insects and crustaceans in the wild. Getting their diet right is essential for their health and color.

Licorice Gouramis are notoriously picky eaters. Many will never accept dried foods like flakes or pellets. You absolutely must be prepared to offer a consistent diet of live and frozen foods. Their favorites include:

  • Live baby brine shrimp
  • Daphnia
  • Microworms or banana worms
  • Frozen cyclops and bloodworms (as a treat)

Sparkling Gouramis are much easier to please. While they relish live and frozen foods and should be offered them regularly, they will typically learn to accept high-quality crushed flakes and micro-pellets. This makes their day-to-day care significantly simpler.

Health and Common Problems with Licorice Gourami vs Sparkling Gourami

A healthy fish starts with a healthy environment. Here are some common problems to watch out for.

The biggest health issue for Licorice Gouramis is stress. If their water parameters are wrong, the lighting is too bright, or their tank mates are too active, they will become stressed. This weakens their immune system, making them highly susceptible to fungal infections and parasitic diseases like Velvet (Oodinium).

Sparkling Gouramis are quite hardy by comparison. As long as their water is clean and stable, they are generally robust. Like any fish, they can be susceptible to common ailments like Ich if they experience sudden temperature drops or poor water quality, but they are far less delicate than their licorice cousins.

For both, a proper quarantine period of at least 4 weeks for new arrivals is one of the most crucial licorice gourami vs sparkling gourami best practices you can follow to protect your main display.

Frequently Asked Questions About Licorice Gourami vs Sparkling Gourami

Can Licorice and Sparkling Gouramis live together?

No, this is not recommended. Their environmental needs, particularly water parameters, are too different. The soft, acidic blackwater required by Licorice Gouramis is at the extreme end of what Sparkling Gouramis can tolerate, and the Sparkling Gourami’s more active nature would likely stress the reclusive Licorice Gourami.

Are these fish good for a community tank?

Sparkling Gouramis can be excellent additions to a peaceful nano community tank. Ideal tank mates include celestial pearl danios, chili rasboras, pygmy corydoras, and small shrimp. Licorice Gouramis are best kept in a species-only setup. If you must add tank mates, they need to be equally tiny, calm, and blackwater-adapted, like certain species of Boraras rasboras.

How can I encourage my gouramis to breed?

For both species, conditioning with plenty of live food is the first step. Licorice Gouramis are “cave-spawners” and will need small PVC pipes or film canisters to lay their eggs in. Sparkling Gouramis are bubble-nesters; providing floating plants will encourage the male to build a nest at the surface. Both require pristine water conditions to trigger spawning behavior.

What are the benefits of choosing sustainable, eco-friendly gouramis?

This is a fantastic question. Choosing captive-bred fish is a cornerstone of being a responsible aquarist. The discussion around sustainable licorice gourami vs sparkling gourami is important because many Parosphromenus species are threatened in the wild due to habitat destruction. By purchasing captive-bred specimens, you reduce pressure on wild populations. These fish are also healthier, already accustomed to aquarium life, and free from diseases they might carry from the wild, making them a more eco-friendly licorice gourami vs sparkling gourami choice.

The Final Verdict: Which Tiny Jewel Is for You?

So, after our deep dive, the choice should be much clearer. Let’s boil it down.

Choose the Sparkling Gourami if:

  • You are a beginner or have a standard community aquarium.
  • You want a more active, visible, and interactive nano fish.
  • You have neutral to slightly acidic tap water and don’t want to mess with RO systems.
  • You want a fish that is easier to feed and generally hardier.

Choose the Licorice Gourami if:

  • You are an intermediate to advanced aquarist looking for a rewarding challenge.
  • You love the idea of creating a specialized blackwater biotope.
  • You are prepared to maintain very specific, soft, and acidic water parameters.
  • You are committed to providing a steady diet of live and frozen foods.
  • You appreciate subtle, shy behavior and the thrill of seeing a rare fish flourish.

Whichever you choose, you’re bringing a tiny world of wonder and intricate behavior into your home. Trust your research, prepare their home with care, and enjoy the incredible journey of keeping these magnificent nano fish. Happy fishkeeping!

Howard Parker
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