Happy Pets

Fishes in this family are often referred to as ‘labyrinth’ fishes because they have a labyrinthine organ in the head which allows them to breathe atmospheric air if necessary. Another distinguishing feature of this group is the breeding pattern: the majority of the fishes are bubblenest builders. The nests are made of saliva-coated bubbles blown by the male, into which the fertilized eggs are placed following the nuptial embrace beneath the nest. The fry are guarded and kept within the vicinity of the nest by the male. The female is best removed after spawning as the male may attack her. When breeding, care should be taken not to allow any cold draughts of air to pass acrossthe water surface as the fry may become chilled. As it is, a fairly high mortality rate occurs within the first two weeks of life with many species, and the ratio of males to females may be low.

Labyrinth fishes are native to Africa and Asia. The Asian species have long, filament-like ventral fins, which can be extended in front of the fish at will. These have taste cells at their tips so that the fish can find food in the often dark waters of its natural habitat. With one or two exceptions, the Anabantidae is a peaceful family and provides welcome additions to the community tank.

Siamese Fighting Fish Betta splendens 60 mm 24 in. Thailand :standing waters. This fish has a reputation for the pugnacity of the males, and the likely results of combats between them are the subject of many wagers in their native country. The body is cylindrical, with very flowing fins, particularly the dorsal, anal and caudal fins. The ventral fins are very elongated and narrow. When males confront each other, the gill covers are raised and the fins spread in a threatening manner. The females, which are not aggressive, do not have such elongated fins and are less colourful. Many colour strains exist in the ‘man-made’ varieties: the Cambodian strain has a light-coloured body with dark-coloured fins. Temperature: 24^°C (75^°F). Diet: all foods. Breeding: fairly prolific, but space has to be found for the separate accommodation of male fishes from the brood; luckily, in a space-heated fish house, small jars will suffice.

Honey Gourami Colisa chuna 45 mm 11 in. India: various waters. The smallest of the genus. The body is compressed laterally and is honey- brown in colour. Males have a purple/green coloration to the head and breast, which extends diagonally across the red-edged anal fin during the spawning period. The dorsal fin has a yellow/gold top edge. The ventral fins may be red. The female is a uniform brown, with a dark horizontal stripe along the flanks. Temerature: 24^°C (75^°F). Diet: all foods. Breeding: fry fairly small and need microscopic first foods — that is, green water and infusoria.

Thick-lipped Gourami Colisa labiosa 80 mm 3 in. Burma : various waters. The body is reddish-brown with transverse, slanting stripes of red in the male, blue-green in the female. The fins are bluish, with red edging and patterning in the male, reddish-brown in the female. At breeding time the male changes colour to a dark chocolate with red markings. Temperature: 24^°C (75^°F). Diet: all foods. Breeding: very prolific.

Dwarf Gourami Colisa lalia 60 mm n- in. India: various waters. The brilliantly coloured males have a basic body colour of blue/grey overlaid with numerous, zig-zag, slanting, bright-red stripes. The ventral fins are red. The other fins are highly decorated. The females are far less striking in colour. They are grey/ brown with only faint turquoise markings and semi-patterned fins. The males are aggressive at breeding time to any other fish in the vicinity. They will also attack the female if she is considered not ready for spawning. Temperature: 24°C (75°F). Diet: all foods. Breeding: bubblenest construction includes pieces of aquatic plants. Male very possessive and protective of nest and fry. Female best removed after spawning. Fry very small, so microscopic food a necessity. Ratio of males to females in brood low.

Ctenopoma kingsleyae 200 mm 8 in. Africa : various waters. The almost oval-shaped body has grey scales with dark edges. The fins are also grey with a white edging. Sex differences are unknown. This species is usually kept as a specimen fish in a tank of its own. It appears to be a sedate fish but may be predatory. Other species of Ctenopoma are more highly coloured and attractive, but not commonly available. Tem- perature: 24^°C (75^°F). Diet: all foods. Breeding: some species of Ctenopoma have been bred in the aquarium, but details unknown.

Kissing Gourami Helostoma ternmincki 2oo mm 8 in. Far East : various waters. Has a large, pink- coloured body with almost colourless fins. Its main attraction is the ‘kissing’ action between two fishes using their protruding lips. The real purpose of this lip action in individual fishes is to scrape algae from rocks and other surfaces, but often two fishes approach each other with the well- known amusing result. The action is not a sign of affection, but may be a display of territorial aggression. A green-coloured species, H. rudolfi, grows slightly larger. Temperature: 24^°C (75^°F). Diet: all foods, particularly greenstuffs. Breeding: has been achieved in the aquarium, but is not a regular occurrence. A bubblenest is, not built : the eggs float.

Paradise Fish Macropodus opercularis 8o mm 3 in. China, Korea, Vietnam : various waters. A very old aquarium favourite introduced in the 186os. Has. a similar body shape to the Gouramis, and is gold/brown with transverse blue bands. The fins are red, blue and brown, with red flecks in the dorsal and caudal fins. Males have elongated fins. An albino form exists in aquarium conditions only. An aggressive fish. Temperature: 16-24^°C (61-75^°F). Diet: all foods. Breeding: prolific; a bubblenest is built. High temperature (24^°C, 75^°F) required for breeding.

Gourami Osphronemus goramy 500 mm 20 in. Sunda Islands (Indonesia) : various waters. A food fish in nature. A grey/pink, mottled fish with a certain appeal to the hobbyist who likes, and can accommodate, big fishes. Temperature: 24^°C (75^°F). Diet: consumes large amounts of vegetable matter, such as lettuce, and is usually kept in isolation. Breeding: possible, but unlikely to be a regular occurrence in the aquarium.

Chocolate Gourami Sphaerichthys osphromenoides 6o mm 24 in. Malaysia : various waters. A challenging fish which is difficult to keep. The chocolate-brown body has cream/ gold transverse stripes which merge into a pale band along the ventral contour. The dorsal and anal fin is light brown. No sex differences are

Identifiable. This fish is prone to diseases and is also sensitive to the cures used to counteract them. Temperature: 28^°C (81 ^°F). Diet: insect larvae and live foods. Breeding: problematical. May be nest builder and/or mouthbrooder depending on habitat.

Lace, Pearl or Mosaic Gourami Trichogaster leeri 11o mm 41 in. Thailand, Malaysia : various waters. A very beautiful fish, whose common name describes it exactly. A mosaic pattern covers the silvery body. The dorsal and anal fins have extended rays in the male. This longer dorsal fin identifies the adult male fish, but develops late as this species does not mature very early. During breeding time the male has an orange throat, breast and part of the anal fin. A dark line runs from the snout along three- quarters of the body. There is a dark spot on the caudal peduncle. The ventral fins are orange. Temperature: 24^°C (75^°F). Diet: all foods; will eat Hydra if hungry enough. Breeding; very prolific, but only spawns when nearly fully grown.

Moonlight Gourami Trichogaster microlepis 14o mm 51/2in. Thailand, Malaysia : various waters. Has a similar body shape to T. leeri. The body colour is a burnished silver/grey. The dorsal fin is long in males. The snout is often upturned. A peaceful fish. Temperature: 24^°C (75^°F) or slightly higher. Diet: all foods.

Breeding: prolific.

Three Spot Gourami Trichogaster trichopterus 11o mm 44 in. Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam: various waters. Has a pale blue/grey body with a central dark spot on the flank, and another on the caudal peduncle. The third ’spot’ is formed by the eye. The fins are slightly patterned, and the anal fin is edged with orange. The dorsal fin is longer in the male. Other sub-species include the Blue and Opaline Gouramis. In recent years another variety has been introduced in which the blue coloration is replaced by yellow/gold. This latter form is slightly smaller. Temperature: 24°C (75°F). Diet: all foods. Breeding: prolific.

Sparkling Gourami Trichopsis (formerly Ctenops) pumilus 45 mm 11 in. Far East : various waters. A small, beautiful species, with a nearly cylindrical body like Betta splendens. The metallic blue-grey body has dark blotches that form an intermittent horizontal line along the flanks. The fins are yellow/brown with red speckling. The eyes are red. This species emits a croaking sound when mating. A similar species, T. vittatus, is a little larger. Temperature: 24^°C (75^°F), or a little higher. Diet: all foods. Breeding: builds a bubblenest, or may deposit eggs on tank floor.

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This entry was posted on Wednesday, September 17th, 2008 at 3:15 am and is filed under Aquarium, Fish, Fish Tank, Pets, aquarium. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.