▷ Golden Gourami in the Aquarium | All information and details

Datasheet Golden Gourami

German name:
Golden Gourami

Scientific name:
Trichogaster trichopterus

Origin:
South East Asia

Size:
Body length up to 12 cm

Aquarium

Length:
Length from 100 cm width

Contents:
from 200 liters

water values

Temperature:
22°-28° C

pH:
6 – 8

GH:
5° – 19° dH

Behave

Area:
upper area

Lining:
omnivore; flake, frozen and live food; Granules, plant-based food

Behave:
basically peaceful; during the breeding season the males tend towards territorial to aggressive behavior towards the females

Number:
in pairs or in small groups with more females than males

Difficulty level:
advanced

Origin

The golden gourami belongs to the labyrinth fish family and is a cultivated form of the blue gourami. The animals are originally from Southeast Asia, where they are found in rice fields, swamps and moors. The gourami prefers slow-flowing or standing water and likes to hide in floating plants, roots or stones.

The additional so-called labyrinth organ, which enables them to absorb atmospheric oxygen above the water surface, is characteristic of gouramis. Thus, the animal survives in relatively low-oxygen waters by surfacing briefly and absorbing oxygen from the air.

Look

The golden threadfish owes its name on the one hand to its color and on the other hand to the special ventral fins, which have developed into a very mobile, long and thread-like organ.

With these fins it is possible for the fish to taste and touch. It can be observed that food is examined with this taste and touch organ or that conspecifics are examined more closely with it. If kept and cared for in a manner appropriate to the species, golden threadfish can grow up to ten years old become.

gender differences

At first glance, it is not so easy to tell males and females apart. However, a closer look reveals some differences:

while the female is somewhat smaller and less colourful, the male has a larger physique and pointed dorsal and anal fins. In addition, the male is equipped with stronger colors.

breeding and rearing

Provided the golden gourami have enough space and places to retreat and the conditions in the water are optimally adapted to the species, breeding them in the aquarium is relatively easy. All threadfish have a very special way of reproduction, in which the males use a secretion and air bubbles to build a so-called foam nest on the water surface (preferably between floating plants) in which the eggs are laid. Mating passes directly under the foam nestwith the male entwining the female and turning it onto his back.

Gradually, she ejects up to 1000 eggs, which are fertilized by the male’s sperm in the water. Due to their low weight, they migrate upwards and land directly in the foam nest. After spawning, the female swims away again, while the male takes care of the brood. During this time it tends towards territorial to aggressive behavior towards the other fish.

If possible, the foam nest should be placed with the male in an extra rearing tank to keep the stress as low as possible for everyone. As soon as the small, hatched fish larvae have become juveniles that swim and eat independently, the father should also be removed from the rearing tank, since the brood care instinct ceases as soon as the little ones leave the nest.

socialization

Overall, the golden threadfish is quite peaceful, only in the mating season does it tend to be rough.

Therefore, it should not be kept together with other territorial fish. Socialization works well with smaller, peaceful fish such as guppies, carp, tetras or catfish.