Licorice gouramis

[Synirr]

I've been thinking that the next time I get a new aquarium I'd like to keep licorice gouramis (Parosphromenus deissneri) because... well... they're absolutely stunning!!
The thing is, though, that I hear they're difficult to keep... how true is this? Live Aquaria rates their care level as "difficult" and the care level of discus as "moderate," and that makes me nervous!
I'm pretty confident in my abilities (though right now the most delicate fish I own are dwarf puffers ) but I want to make sure I know what I'm getting myself into...

 

[lucky62]

I bought 2 along with 2 sparling Gouramis about 3 weeks ago 1 of the liquorices died over the first night [ only 2 at the shop ] I'm guessing it wasn't very healthy to begin with as they were very small , and I couldn't see anything wrong with them , the other 3 have been fine .

I would say if you keep the Ph between 6.5 and 7.0 and the at most moderately hard / leaning to the soft side , you'd be OK .[ my water in neutral and slightly hard , well not soft anyway .

Water current should be at a low flow and reg partial water changes a must .

I have yet to see mine eat any food I've put in the tank , the sparklers have eaten freeze dried bloodworms .
My saving grace here is that my tank is well matured and I have seen this little guy eating something off of plant leaves and from other areas of the tank [ tiny bugs I can't see ].

He/she looks real good too . I often see it out and about the tank , looking very casual / not stressed .

I think there are more than one species sold as liquorices , mine looks very Little like the one pictured on live aquaria , and cost me about $4 each .

I think mine is [ according to Axelrods mini ] a Parosphromenus filamentosus , unless it is a female P deissneri [ males look awesome ] . try a google search , if you haven't already .
I read they build bubble nests ........in caves , and should be kept in a species set up .
I'm pretty new to them though , but hope this helps a little .

 

[Synirr]

Yeah, I've already researched them a bit, but really couldn't find much about how hardy they are... I'm planning to order some sparkling gouramis from Live Aquaria as soon as they start carrying them, so if I have the money for a new tank by then, I might go ahead and get some licorice gouramis as well. The species Live Aquaria carries is deissneri, or so their website says
My tap water is pretty darn soft, so I guess I'd have to find a way to harden it up, but that's the only problem... I'm also thinking of ordering an altum angel when they start carrying those

 

[lucky62]

Yeah, I've already researched them a bit, but really couldn't find much about how hardy they are... I'm planning to order some sparkling gouramis from Live Aquaria as soon as they start carrying them, so if I have the money for a new tank by then, I might go ahead and get some licorice gouramis as well. The species Live Aquaria carries is deissneri, or so their website says
My tap water is pretty darn soft, so I guess I'd have to find a way to harden it up, but that's the only problem... I'm also thinking of ordering an altum angel when they start carrying those

how soft , they're supposed to do better in water softer than I have , but again I'm not sure which of the 2 species I have , I don't think they are as delicate as live aquaria makes them seem JMO , good luck all beautful fish , just be ready to change water more freaquently.
Sometime you need to do that with guoramis , I've croackers and sparklers in the pastthat I think had some kind of bacterial infections most died , but water changes seemed to help .
The ones I have now most have come from a good breeder though .