paradise fish

Paradise fish (Macropodus opercularis), from what I've read, should be able to handle a wide range of temperatures, from maybe as low as 50 F up to 80 F.

Were yours males, and were they kept together? If so, it's possible that they simply killed one another. They're aggressive like bettas.

I'm afraid I'm working from net reading only, not personal experience. I'd very much like to have a paradise fish, but haven't found any in my local stores yet.

As far as the aggression, I've read that they're similar to bettas, and if that's the case it would be *extremely* obvious.

How big is your aquarium? How was it cycled? Filtered? While Paradise fish are very tolerant of a wide temperature range they are very sensitive to nitrites and not suitable for an uncycled tank. They are less intolerant thn male fighters -more like the female Betta in temperament IME.

Sue

Paradise fish can be aggressive, but they are not near as aggressive as Bettas. I've kept them in community aquariums. Their native habitat is stagnant ponds, and, like Bettas, they can breathe air. For years I looked for some albino paradise fish and found only a few sick looking ones in a local aquarium shop. Then I ordered six from oddballfish.com. The fish were healthy and colorful, they spawn often, but I have trouble getting the fry big enough to eat baby brine shrimp.

i once had a paradise fish in my aquarium, it was really mean and almost killed one of my gouramis! i dont recommend them because they are mean just like bettas. but they are pretty.

Paradise fish don't mix well with other top dewlling fish or with small fish, which they will try to have over for a snack. Although as a rule I don't mix angelfish with other species, I have a male albino paradise fish in with some large angelfish. They more or less leave each other alone.