Do you recall setting up your initial freshwater aquarium several years back? You got some neon tetras from the store clerk and maybe a goldfish. He remind you to perform a water change once per week, and off you went with well wishes. Many people begin their hobby this way but at some point, it dawns on you that fish arent merely decorations. Fish have behaviors and characteristics; they has personalities. In turn, these traits determine if your tank turns into an ecosystem of life or a place of stress.
For many folks, it’s then that they decide to maintain gouramis. What sets them apart from other species is that labyrinth fish are both beautiful and complex. With so many gouramis on the market today, it helps to have some sort of visual reference when considering them. In the chart above, I’ve categorized the Osphronemidae family according to their space requirements and general temperament (i.e., community fish vs. These are large giants that require a space like a pond.
How to Care for Gouramis
Size isnt everything, nor is color, but rather a matter of both space and personality. Case in point: many people purchase the dwarf species such as powder blue or flame gourami because they’re sold in little bags and assume they’ll always be tiny. That couldn’t be further from the truth, and this leads to overstocked tanks and stunted growth. Know what you’re getting into and understand their adult sizes compared to volume of your tank, that’s good, responsible ownership.
One thing that distinguishes gouramis from other fish is their ability to extract oxygen from the air. They have what’s called a labyrinth organ that enables them to do this and breathe from the surface of the water. Because of this adaptation, they can lives in oxygen-poor water as long as they are able to occasionally get to the surface to breathe. When setting up your tank, keep this in mind. Blocking their path to air will harm them.
For example, if you cover the water surface with too many floating plant, you’ll be blocking their main air source. You’ll also harm them by using a tight lid. They dont like strong current either; otherwise, they wont be able to get to the surface where they need to breathe. As the infographic shows, they need access to the surface. It also provides some suggestions regarding gentle filtration (since strong currents makes it hard for them to reach the air).
A few things set apart dedicated hobbyists from casual keepers, their behavior. Many gourami species, especially males, construct bubble nests. They’ll be seen gathering plant matter and salivating on it, producing a floating raft of bubbles on the water’s surface. It’s not just random decoration; it’s either an indication of territory claim or a signal that he’s ready to breed.
Aggression in a community tank can result when you have more than one male of the same species due to fierce competition, so keep that in mind. Most popular varieties does best when kept alone, i.e., one male to each species, according to the visual guide. Keepin’ em separated is often the smart move for peacekeeping, so pair them accordingly or get females instead.
Omnivorous gouramis must be fed a balanced diet that resembles their wild diet. While some flake food is important as a nutritional base, variety is the key for best health, each type of food has its own benefits. Adding blanched vegetables (such as zucchini) or frozen bloodworms aids in digestion and promotes their naturally colors. As noted above, what exactly you feed them is up to observation, since all fish have preferences.
For example, some are opportunistic hunters and will bite anything that drifts into view; other species are more reserved and require you to get the coast clear first. After deciding on your gourami, choosing tank mates is arguably the next most important step. The chart recommends some non-competitors such as Harlequin Rasboras or any other small fish that stays in another part of the water column (e.g., Corydoras catfish).
Avoid anything too aggressive, especially cichlids! Avoid anything that nips fins, because a gourami’s long and flowing fins can be tempting to troublemakers. When everyone has their place and no single species dominates, the tank is nicely stocked and balanced.
In conclusion, maintaining gouramis is all about providing them with surroundings that allow their natural behaviors to thrive while still being harmless to other occupants. In order to do this, you should of observe and be patient, you will make mistakes along the way and learn from those errors. When you witness a dwarf gourami flash its striping amongst the plants or watch a male dutifully caring for his bubble nest, you know you’re providing a complex life in your tanks. And that is why people come back to the hobby, tank after tank.
