Teleostei (teleosts) >
Anabantiformes (Gouramies, snakeheads) >
Osphronemidae (Gouramies) > Luciocephalinae
Etymology: Sphaerichthys: Greek, sphaira = ball + Greek, ichthys = fish (Ref. 45335).
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Freshwater; benthopelagic; pH range: 4.0 - 6.0; dH range: 0 - 4. Tropical; 24°C - 27°C (Ref. 30491)
Asia: Indonesia (Sumatra and Borneo) and Malaya.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 6.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 7050)
Facultative air-breathing (Ref. 126274); Restricted to peats (Ref. 57235). An air-breathing species (Ref. 118402). Male broods eggs in the mouth (Ref. 129190). Omnivorous.
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
The female lays 20-40 eggs which the male incubates in its mouth for about 2 weeks (Ref. 1672, 129190).
Kottelat, M., A.J. Whitten, S.N. Kartikasari and S. Wirjoatmodjo, 1993. Freshwater fishes of Western Indonesia and Sulawesi. Periplus Editions, Hong Kong. 221 p. (Ref. 7050)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2025-2)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Fisheries: commercial; aquarium: commercial
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