▷ Gourami and Gouramis | All information, keeping and breeding

Datasheet Gourami

German name:
gourami

Scientific name:
Trichogaster, also Trichopodus

Origin:
western threadfish from South Asia, eastern ones from Southeast Asia

Size:
Body length approx. 6 cm – 15 cm, depending on the species

Aquarium

Length:
Length depending on the species 60 cm – 120 cm width

Contents:
about 200 liters

water values

Temperature:
22°- 28° C in eastern, slightly higher/lower in western temperatures possible

pH:
6 – 8

GH:
up to 15° dH

Behave

Area:
upper area

Lining:
Omnivores – feed as varied as possible, flake/granulate food, frozen/live food (mosquito larvae, small insects), fresh vegetables (algae, blanched spinach, lettuce)

Behave:
problematic with other aggressive, territorial fish species; However, socialization with peaceful smaller fish is good: e.g. guppies, tetras, danios

Number:
Individual housing recommended for male gouramis (more aggressive)

Difficulty level:
medium

© Mirko Rosenau – stock.adobe.com © Mirko Rosenau – stock.adobe.com

Threadfish breathe air

Threadfish belong to the labyrinth fish. These have a special organ, the labyrinth, with which they can absorb oxygen from the air.

That’s why gourami sometimes stand below the surface of the water and breathe air.

Can different threadfish species be socialized?

The socialization of threadfish species among each other depends on the same conditions as the socialization with other species.

Gouramis cannot judge whether another fish comes from its genus and is also a gouramis.

Because most threadfish species become rough, at least during the breeding season, there is a high risk when socializing with each other.

However, the same risk also exists when socializing with other aggressive or territorial fish species.

Gourami threads grow back.

The threads of threadfish and gouramis can tear off or be bitten off under the cramped conditions in trade, during transport or in the home aquarium.

The threads usually grow back without any problems.

The threads are basically modified fins. Fins and threads are reproduced without major problems for the fish if the fin stump or the thread attachment is still intact.

If a thread doesn’t grow back, a threadfish can still orientate itself.

It is often claimed that gouramis cannot live much longer without threads. In such cases, as a rule, the threads have rotted off due to a bacterial infection. Affected fish are almost impossible to save. The cause is not a missing thread, but the infection.

If the cause of missing threads is a disease, then the causes of the disease must be eliminated.

Raising and breeding gourami

My threadfish made a foam nest, now what?

If a threadfish has built a foam nest, no changes should be made to the aquarium if possible. Every intervention and every change can be perceived as a disturbance by the fish.

The water surface should be moved as little as possible so that the nest is not destroyed.

Breeding successes with gouramis often occur on vacation because the animals are undisturbed during this time. Once a threadfish has built a foam nest, reproduction usually works.

If the gourami have already spawned and predators are threatening the brood, the foam nest can be carefully transferred to a suitably prepared rearing tank with a large ladle.

Once eggs are in the nest, it takes a day or two before the young are visible as small, black dots.

Food for young threadfish

If there are not enough microorganisms in the rearing tank, liquid food must be given for the first few days. Artemia or powdered food can be fed after about a week. Crumbled egg yolk, creamer and some paprika powder are also suitable. The paprika powder must not be very hot. Artemia should be used immediately for fast-growing species. With dust food, the young grow very slowly. Feeding young threadfish is very time-consuming.

In order for as many young as possible to survive, the larvae can be transferred to a rearing tank when the larvae are swimming freely and the parents are no longer taking care of the brood.

Mating gouramis:

Water level for threadfish in keeping and breeding

The importance of water level for gourami

Sometimes it is stated that threadfish and gouramis need a low water level in the aquarium, e.g. B. 35 centimeters.

The background is experience in breeding gouramis and keeping dwarf gouramis and veil fighting fish.

Water level when breeding gourami

Depending on the species, water levels of 10 to 15 centimeters or 30 to 35 centimeters are recommended for breeding. After the young have hatched after about 3 days, the water level should be lowered to 3 to 5, 5 to 10 or 10 to 15 centimetres, depending on the species.

This should make it easier for the boys to fill up the maze and breathe normally.

Water level when keeping dwarf gourami

Because dwarf gouramis often die from ascites, attempts have been made to determine the cause through experiments.

Dwarf gouramis that overwintered at temperatures of 25° to 27° at a water level of between 40 and 60 centimeters usually died of ascites after a year and a half.

Animals that wintered at temperatures of 20° to 24° at a water level of between 15 and 20 centimeters lived and reproduced for several years.

Source:

Larger and more robust species are not affected.

Water level when keeping veil fighting fish

For male veil fighting fish, swimming up is said to be so strenuous at higher water levels because of the veil fins that they become susceptible or become ill. Because females have smaller fins, they are unaffected.