Dwarf gourami
Encyclopedia
The dwarf gourami, Trichogaster lalius (formerly known as Colisa lalia), has an almost translucent blue color, with vertical red to dark orange stripes. In its native range it is dried for food, and it is also kept as an aquarium fish. It has become highly popular for aquaria
.
Dwarf gouramis from Singapore may carry dwarf gourami iridovirus
. Recent research has shown that 22% of Singapore Trichogaster lalius carry this virus.
; it originates from Pakistan
, India
and Bangladesh
. However, it has also been widely distributed outside of its native range. This fish inhabits slow-moving streams, rivulets, and lakes with plenty of vegetation.
: at maturity, it will reach an average size of 4 to 5 centimeters (1.5 to 2 inches), though some individuals can grow as large as 8.8 centimeters. Male dwarf gouramis in the wild have diagonal stripes of alternating blue and red colors; females are a silvery color. They carry touch-sensitive cells on their thread-like pelvic fins.Dwarf gouramis sold in fish stores may also be solid colors (e.g., powder blue dwarf gourami or red flame variety).
in which the eggs are laid. Unlike other bubble nest builders, males will incorporate bits of plants, twigs, and other debris, which holds the nest together better.
Once the nest had been built the male will begin courting the female, usually in the afternoon or evening. He signals his intentions by swimming around the female with flared fins, attempting to draw her to the nest where he will continue his courting display. If the female accepts the male she will begin swimming in circles with the male beneath the bubblenest. When she is ready to spawn she touches the male on either the back or the tail with her mouth. Upon this signal the male will embrace the female, turning her first on her side and finally on her back. At this point the female will release approximately five dozen clear eggs, which are immediately fertilized by the male. Most of the eggs will float up into the bubblenest. Eggs that stray are collected by the male and placed in the nest. Once all the eggs are secured in the nest, the pair will spawn again. If more than one female is present in the breeding tank, the male may spawn with all of them. The spawning sessions will continue for two to four hours, and produce between 300 and 800 eggs. Dwarf gouramis have a fecundity
of about 600 egg
s. Upon completion, the male will place a fine layer of bubbles beneath the eggs, assuring that they remain in the bubblenest.
The male will protect the eggs and fry. In twelve to twenty-four hours the fry
will hatch, and continue developing within the protection of the bubblenest. After three days they are sufficiently developed to be free swimming and leaving the nest. When the fry are 2–3 days old the male should also be removed or he may consume the young.
s, the dwarf gourami is a labyrinth fish. That is, dwarf gouramis can breathe oxygen from the air through their labyrinth organ (like the betta
) if necessary. It is important, therefore that the surface of the water be exposed to fresh air. This is usually accomplished by using a hood that allows air ventilation. If you are using good air pumps, this is not always needed, since the air pumps will refresh the air above the water.
The aquarium should be heavily planted and have at least part of the surface covered with floating plants. A darker substrate will help show-off the gourami's colors, and peat
filtration is recommended. Dwarf gouramis should not be kept with large, aggressive fish, but are compatible with other small, peaceful fish as well as with fellow gouramis. Dwarf gouramis should not be kept in tanks with any breeding fish which provide parental care, such as Cichlids, as they will likely badger the timid gourami relentlessly in defense of their young. Dwarf gouramis are so docile that they will allow themselves to be bullied to death before fighting back. Male siamese fighting fish
may attack dwarf gouramis and should be avoided. The males of larger gouramis species may also bully dwarf gouramis. Despite their shy, and docile nature they are aggressive towards fellow dwarf gourami. Each fish tends to establish a territory, and hiding places are a must. Loud noises often scare them, so the tank should be in a quiet area. Regular water changes are a must, as this gourami can be susceptible to disease.
Dwarf gouramis are tolerant of fairly high temperature
. This can be used to eliminate fish diseases such as Ich from the aquarium. Temperatures of 80 °F (27 °C) are easily tolerated.
, and brine shrimp
, will provide these fish with proper nutrition.
, and the temperature should be approximately 28-30 °C (82 °F). Vegetation is essential, as males build their bubble nest
using plant material, which it binds together with bubbles. Nests are very elaborate and sturdy, reaching several inches across and an inch deep. Limnophila aquatica
, Riccia fluitans
, Ceratopteris thalictroides
, and Vesicularia dubyana, are good choices for the breeding tank. Peat
fiber may also be offered as building material.
After spawning
the female should be moved to a different tank. The male will now take sole responsibility for the eggs, aggressively defending the nest and surrounding territory. When first hatched, the tiny fry should be fed infusoria
, and later, brine shrimp
and finely ground flakes. Freeze-dried tablets may also be fed to older fry.
Aquarium
An aquarium is a vivarium consisting of at least one transparent side in which water-dwelling plants or animals are kept. Fishkeepers use aquaria to keep fish, invertebrates, amphibians, marine mammals, turtles, and aquatic plants...
.
Dwarf gouramis from Singapore may carry dwarf gourami iridovirus
Iridoviridae
Iridoviridae are a family of viruses with double stranded DNA genomes. The name is derived from Iris the Greek goddess of the rainbow. This name was chosen because of the "rainbow like" iridescence observed in heavily infected insects and pelleted samples of invertebrate iridoviruses.-Taxonomy:The...
. Recent research has shown that 22% of Singapore Trichogaster lalius carry this virus.
Distribution and habitat
The dwarf gourami originally came from South AsiaSouth Asia
South Asia, also known as Southern Asia, is the southern region of the Asian continent, which comprises the sub-Himalayan countries and, for some authorities , also includes the adjoining countries to the west and the east...
; it originates from Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
and Bangladesh
Bangladesh
Bangladesh , officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh is a sovereign state located in South Asia. It is bordered by India on all sides except for a small border with Burma to the far southeast and by the Bay of Bengal to the south...
. However, it has also been widely distributed outside of its native range. This fish inhabits slow-moving streams, rivulets, and lakes with plenty of vegetation.
Appearance and anatomy
As its name implies, this is a small gouramiGourami
Gouramis are a family, Osphronemidae, of freshwater perciform fishes. The fish are native to Asia, from Pakistan and India to the Malay Archipelago and north-easterly towards Korea. The name "gourami" is also used for fish of the families Helostomatidae and Anabantidae. "Gouramis" is an example of...
: at maturity, it will reach an average size of 4 to 5 centimeters (1.5 to 2 inches), though some individuals can grow as large as 8.8 centimeters. Male dwarf gouramis in the wild have diagonal stripes of alternating blue and red colors; females are a silvery color. They carry touch-sensitive cells on their thread-like pelvic fins.Dwarf gouramis sold in fish stores may also be solid colors (e.g., powder blue dwarf gourami or red flame variety).
Reproduction
The male builds a floating bubble nestBubble nest
Bubblenests, also spelled bubble nests or bubble-nests, created by some fish species, are floating masses of bubbles blown with an oral secretion, saliva bubbles, and occasionally aquatic plants, or an area for egg deposit attached at the bottom. Fish that build and guard bubble nests are known as...
in which the eggs are laid. Unlike other bubble nest builders, males will incorporate bits of plants, twigs, and other debris, which holds the nest together better.
Once the nest had been built the male will begin courting the female, usually in the afternoon or evening. He signals his intentions by swimming around the female with flared fins, attempting to draw her to the nest where he will continue his courting display. If the female accepts the male she will begin swimming in circles with the male beneath the bubblenest. When she is ready to spawn she touches the male on either the back or the tail with her mouth. Upon this signal the male will embrace the female, turning her first on her side and finally on her back. At this point the female will release approximately five dozen clear eggs, which are immediately fertilized by the male. Most of the eggs will float up into the bubblenest. Eggs that stray are collected by the male and placed in the nest. Once all the eggs are secured in the nest, the pair will spawn again. If more than one female is present in the breeding tank, the male may spawn with all of them. The spawning sessions will continue for two to four hours, and produce between 300 and 800 eggs. Dwarf gouramis have a fecundity
Fecundity
Fecundity, derived from the word fecund, generally refers to the ability to reproduce. In demography, fecundity is the potential reproductive capacity of an individual or population. In biology, the definition is more equivalent to fertility, or the actual reproductive rate of an organism or...
of about 600 egg
Egg (biology)
An egg is an organic vessel in which an embryo first begins to develop. In most birds, reptiles, insects, molluscs, fish, and monotremes, an egg is the zygote, resulting from fertilization of the ovum, which is expelled from the body and permitted to develop outside the body until the developing...
s. Upon completion, the male will place a fine layer of bubbles beneath the eggs, assuring that they remain in the bubblenest.
The male will protect the eggs and fry. In twelve to twenty-four hours the fry
Fry
-Food and cooking:* Frying, the act of cooking food in oil or fat** Pan frying, frying food in a flat pan** Stir frying, frying food in a wok and stirring it while it cooks* Full breakfast, a traditional cooked meal, also called a fry-up or Ulster fry...
will hatch, and continue developing within the protection of the bubblenest. After three days they are sufficiently developed to be free swimming and leaving the nest. When the fry are 2–3 days old the male should also be removed or he may consume the young.
Aquarium requirements
Most dwarf gouramis live for about four years but with proper care can live longer. Dwarf gouramis are peaceful fish, sometimes they can become aggressive, they do well in most community aquaria. They require a tank that is at least 5 gallons (10 gallons is much better). They are usually found swimming on the middle to top regions of the aquarium. This is not surprising since, like all gouramiGourami
Gouramis are a family, Osphronemidae, of freshwater perciform fishes. The fish are native to Asia, from Pakistan and India to the Malay Archipelago and north-easterly towards Korea. The name "gourami" is also used for fish of the families Helostomatidae and Anabantidae. "Gouramis" is an example of...
s, the dwarf gourami is a labyrinth fish. That is, dwarf gouramis can breathe oxygen from the air through their labyrinth organ (like the betta
Betta
Betta is a large genus of small, often colorful, freshwater ray-finned fishes in the gourami family . The type species is B. picta, the spotted betta.By far the best known Betta species, however, is B...
) if necessary. It is important, therefore that the surface of the water be exposed to fresh air. This is usually accomplished by using a hood that allows air ventilation. If you are using good air pumps, this is not always needed, since the air pumps will refresh the air above the water.
The aquarium should be heavily planted and have at least part of the surface covered with floating plants. A darker substrate will help show-off the gourami's colors, and peat
Peat
Peat is an accumulation of partially decayed vegetation matter or histosol. Peat forms in wetland bogs, moors, muskegs, pocosins, mires, and peat swamp forests. Peat is harvested as an important source of fuel in certain parts of the world...
filtration is recommended. Dwarf gouramis should not be kept with large, aggressive fish, but are compatible with other small, peaceful fish as well as with fellow gouramis. Dwarf gouramis should not be kept in tanks with any breeding fish which provide parental care, such as Cichlids, as they will likely badger the timid gourami relentlessly in defense of their young. Dwarf gouramis are so docile that they will allow themselves to be bullied to death before fighting back. Male siamese fighting fish
Siamese fighting fish
The Siamese fighting fish , also known as the betta , is a popular species of freshwater aquarium fish. The name of the genus is derived from ikan bettah, taken from a local dialect of Malay...
may attack dwarf gouramis and should be avoided. The males of larger gouramis species may also bully dwarf gouramis. Despite their shy, and docile nature they are aggressive towards fellow dwarf gourami. Each fish tends to establish a territory, and hiding places are a must. Loud noises often scare them, so the tank should be in a quiet area. Regular water changes are a must, as this gourami can be susceptible to disease.
Dwarf gouramis are tolerant of fairly high temperature
Temperature
Temperature is a physical property of matter that quantitatively expresses the common notions of hot and cold. Objects of low temperature are cold, while various degrees of higher temperatures are referred to as warm or hot...
. This can be used to eliminate fish diseases such as Ich from the aquarium. Temperatures of 80 °F (27 °C) are easily tolerated.
Feeding
A varied diet is very important to the dwarf gourami, which is an omnivore that prefers both algae-based foods and meaty foods. An algae-based flake food, along with freeze-dried bloodworms, tubifexTubifex
Tubifex is a cosmopolitan genus of tubificid Annelids that inhabit the sediments of lakes, rivers and occasionally sewer lines. There are over ten known species of Tubifex, but the number is not certain, as the species are not easily distinguishable from each other.-Food and feeding:Tubifex worms...
, and brine shrimp
Brine shrimp
Artemia is a genus of aquatic crustaceans known as brine shrimp. Artemia, the only genus in the family Artemiidae, has changed little externally since the Triassic period...
, will provide these fish with proper nutrition.
Breeding
Besides the difference in color, the sex can be determined by the dorsal fin. The male's dorsal fin is pointed, while the female's is rounded or curved. . The water level should be reduced to 7–10 cm (6-8 inches) during spawningSpawn (biology)
Spawn refers to the eggs and sperm released or deposited, usually into water, by aquatic animals. As a verb, spawn refers to the process of releasing the eggs and sperm, also called spawning...
, and the temperature should be approximately 28-30 °C (82 °F). Vegetation is essential, as males build their bubble nest
Bubble nest
Bubblenests, also spelled bubble nests or bubble-nests, created by some fish species, are floating masses of bubbles blown with an oral secretion, saliva bubbles, and occasionally aquatic plants, or an area for egg deposit attached at the bottom. Fish that build and guard bubble nests are known as...
using plant material, which it binds together with bubbles. Nests are very elaborate and sturdy, reaching several inches across and an inch deep. Limnophila aquatica
Limnophila aquatica
Limnophila aquatica, known commonly as the Giant Ambulia, is a plant belonging to the family Plantaginaceae. Limnophila aquatica grows naturally in Asia, Sri Lanka and India and is characterised by its fine leaves and bushy, pine-like appearance. It grows best in medium or very high lighting,...
, Riccia fluitans
Riccia fluitans
Riccia fluitans, whose common name is crystalwort, is an aquatic floating plant of the liverwort genus Riccia which is popular among aquarists as a retreat for young fry and is used in live-bearing tanks. It can be found floating in ponds, and often forms thick mats on and under the water...
, Ceratopteris thalictroides
Ceratopteris thalictroides
The species Ceratopteris thalictroides is a fern species belonging to the genus Ceratopteris, one of only two genera of the Ceratopteridaceae family. The species represents a special living form of ferns, and is thus of great botanical interest...
, and Vesicularia dubyana, are good choices for the breeding tank. Peat
Peat
Peat is an accumulation of partially decayed vegetation matter or histosol. Peat forms in wetland bogs, moors, muskegs, pocosins, mires, and peat swamp forests. Peat is harvested as an important source of fuel in certain parts of the world...
fiber may also be offered as building material.
After spawning
Spawn (biology)
Spawn refers to the eggs and sperm released or deposited, usually into water, by aquatic animals. As a verb, spawn refers to the process of releasing the eggs and sperm, also called spawning...
the female should be moved to a different tank. The male will now take sole responsibility for the eggs, aggressively defending the nest and surrounding territory. When first hatched, the tiny fry should be fed infusoria
Infusoria
Infusoria is a collective term for minute aquatic creatures like ciliates, euglenoids, protozoa, and unicellular algae that exist in freshwater ponds...
, and later, brine shrimp
Brine shrimp
Artemia is a genus of aquatic crustaceans known as brine shrimp. Artemia, the only genus in the family Artemiidae, has changed little externally since the Triassic period...
and finely ground flakes. Freeze-dried tablets may also be fed to older fry.
Color variations
Breeders have created different colour variations, varying degree of red/blue colouring. The neon red variant has a solid patch of bright red colour whilst the neon blue variant is almost entirely bright blue.External links
- Dwarf Gourami care information
- Dwarf Gourami Fact Sheet