Gouramis live in a middle ground for aquarium fish; they are either very noticeable and active, or they are one of the more peaceful fish that can live in an aquarium with other fish species. Gouramis come in several size and colors to allow people to create an aquarium of gouramis that suit there preferences. However, there are different requirement for each species of gourami.
A species chart helps people to decide on the species that will best suit the individual’s aquarium and their experience level in caring for aquarium fish. The most popular gourami species are usually the first that people choose for they’re aquarium. Many people choose the popular gourami species because they are easy to find and can handle small mistake made by aquarium owners.
How to Choose a Gourami for Your Aquarium
For example, dwarf gouramis and honey gouramis are popular gourami species because these two species of gourami is small in size and calm in their behavior around other fish. Dwarf gouramis and honey gouramis are also suitable for small tanks because other fish that live in tanks can become stressed in larger tanks. Other popular species such as pearl gouramis are more present in the tank without being as finicky in the water that they require.
Three-spot gouramis are also popular in aquariums because most aquarium stores carries these fish. These three-spot gouramis are also often kept in community tanks with other non-aggressive fish species because they rarely create problems for other fish once the water in the tank are properly established. A species chart will allow a person to compare the different gourami species for their need.
For instance, a person can use the temperament column on a species chart to determine which gourami species will chase after other fish in the aquarium and which species will leave other fish alone. The temperament of the gouramis will allow a person to determine which other type of fish can live in the same aquarium. For example, a peaceful type of gourami can live in an aquarium with tetras, rasboras, and catfish.
However, an assertive species of gourami will require a larger aquarium with fewer types of tank companions. The size of a gourami species is another factor that people tend to ignore when selecting gouramis for there tanks. It is easy for people to find a small gourami species in an aquarium store.
However, not all species of gouramis will remain small in an aquarium at home. A species chart will list the size of each species of gourami that is listed on the species chart. For example, a gourami species that grows to four or five inch can live in a moderate-sized aquarium with another person.
However, a gourami species that grows to be over eight or ten inches will require a much larger aquarium with more filtration. The giant gourami species can grow to be over twenty inches in length, making it another fish species that is not for the average home aquarium. Another factor that people must consider when selecting a gourami species is the water chemistry of the aquarium.
Most gouramis can live in water that has a broad range of ph levels. However, certain species require different types of water chemistry. For example, chocolate gouramis and licorice gouramis require soft, acidic water.
The species chart will show these requirements so that people dont buy a gourami species that cannot live in their tank due to incorrect chemistry in the water. People must consider the requirements of the gouramis beyond their appearance to ensure that the water in the aquarium is correct for the gouramis that they want to keep. Gouramis’ behavior in the tank also depend on the number of male gourami that are kept in the aquarium as well as the amount of cover that is provided in the aquarium itself.
As labyrinth fish, gouramis must have access to the top of the water and a lid to the aquarium to breathe the humidified air above the water. Gouramis also enjoy having plants and driftwood in their tanks as this break up their fields of vision. Providing these elements for the gouramis will reduce stress for the fish, which will eliminate chasing of other fish or nipping at the fin of other fish in the aquarium.
Gouramis are omnivores and will eat both plant and animal matter. People can feed flakes or pellets each day to gouramis, as well as live, frozen, or vegetable food to provide additional nutrients to the fishs diet. Because gouramis are active at the surface of the water, overfeeding the fish is a common problem.
Beyond the common gourami species are several rare gourami fish species. For example, licorice gouramis and samurai gouramis both require blackwater conditions in the aquarium. Another rare gourami species is the red tail gourami, which grows to be very large in size.
For these reason, most aquarium keepers will not choose the red tail gourami. However, both rare gouramis require more experience in caring for tanks and water chemistry than many beginner fish species, as marked on a species chart for gouramis. Choosing a gourami species to keep in an aquarium requires people to understand the level of care that will be required of the fish.
A species chart provides information regarding the size, temperament, and care level of each species of gourami. People will have to decide which of the differences between each species of gourami that they wish to keep for several years in there home aquarium. Once they have decided on the species of gouramis that they would like to keep, they can begin to set up the aquarium, the other fish that will share the tank with the gouramis, and the feeding routine for the gouramis.
