Parosphromenus sp. 'Sentang'

Overview

Parosphromenus sp. 'Sentang' is a provisionally named small gourami resembling Parosphromenus bintan and fish labeled blue line. Its identity remains unresolved. The invented sales name sintangensis should not be treated as a formal scientific name.

Distribution & habitat

It is said to come from Jambi in central Sumatra, Indonesia, possibly the Sentang River near the South Sumatra boundary. The precise locality and habitat are unconfirmed. Peat forest and black-water streams are a proposed setting, not a verified collection survey.

Aquarium setup

Allow about 40 × 20 cm for a pair. Wood, roots, leaves, and small containers create shelter and spawning caves; a bare bottom aids cleaning. Use subdued lighting, shade-tolerant plants, and floating cover. Leaf microorganisms supplement fry feeding.

Maintain very soft acidic water with negligible carbonate hardness, potentially using reverse osmosis. An established, low-waste aquarium is essential. Gentle sponge filtration and weekly changes of about 5–10% avoid irregular large changes. Filterless pairs require controlled feeding and strict maintenance.

Diet & feeding

These fish mainly hunt tiny aquatic invertebrates and need varied small live foods, including brine shrimp nauplii, Daphnia, Moina, mosquito larvae, and microworms. Most dry products are rejected. Occasional frozen-food acceptance does not justify using them as the sole provision.

Behaviour & compatibility

Species-only pairs preserve clear stock identity and improve chances of natural fry survival. Mixed-sex groups are possible, but extra adults commonly reduce offspring survival. Do not mix similar congeners because females are difficult to identify and hybrids are possible. A busy ordinary community is unsuitable.

Sexual dimorphism

Male unpaired fins have a thin pale blue-white edge, a black band, and inner blue to greenish-blue iridescence. Pelvic fins combine dark and blue areas with a white filament tip. Females lack bright bands and become pale beige near spawning. Both sexes may show an oblique eye stripe and rapid mood-related color changes.

Breeding

The male displays head-down around a small cave territory. Temporary pairs attach eggs to the ceiling after spawning embraces, with or without a few bubbles. Inexperienced fish may dislodge or eat eggs.

The female then guards outside while the male tends the brood. Hatching takes roughly 24–36 hours, mobility another four to six days, and complete departure a further three to five days later. Care ends at that point. Begin with Paramecium or rotifers, soon followed by brine shrimp nauplii. Complex mature aquariums may retain some young beside parents; simpler ones favor separate rearing.

Notes

Inner blue fin bands may be slightly narrower than in similar fish, but this alone does not establish species boundaries. Preserve the Sentang label, source history, and breeding-group records instead of merging lookalike stocks.