DWARF GOURAMI

AQUA-SEPEAKS : Dwarf gourami

The first dwarf gourami I have had was a male when I probably was in my 20’s. I was awestruck by the striking stripes of orange-blue it displayed when de-stressed. I was very naive in the hobby.

ORIGIN:

Trichogaster lalius (tri-ko-gas-tar-la-lee-us) is the scientific name given to the dwarf gouramis, belonging to the order-Anabantiformes.

It is a species native to South Asia specifically North-eastern India, Bangladesh, Myanmar etc.

SIZE:

The general size ranges from 2.6 - 3.6 inches. Males are larger than females and are more colourful & vibrant, although during the breeding season the females also get pale orange – blue vertical stripes on their body. At present I have one female in my Indian biotope tank.

Water pollution has almost dropped the population of this species in the adjoining rivers. Being a shy species & small too, it is very hard to spot it in the murky waters of the rivers & lakes around my place.

FEEDING HABIT:

The specimens that I have kept till to date were either caught in the wild or purchased from LPS. I never encountered any problem with any sort of food I served. Generally a mixed diet of pellets, bloodworms, daphnias are savored without any hesitation.

Live earthworms were fed to them as a occasional delicacy. 

 

HEALTH:

To maintain their optimum health, a weekly water change of 10% is recommended, although all gourami’s including dwarf gourami belong to the family of labyrinth-organed fishes others including betta fish etc.

A pH of 6.0 to 7.8 is best to sustain their long life expectancy of 4-5 years. General hardness of 4-10 dgH and a temperature of 20-30°C keeps them in a good shape.

VARIETIES:

LPS are more likely to have the colour hybrids – neon, red, powder blue & other such varieties, of all I find the one with red body as the most brilliant & striking.

TANKMATES:

I have kept gouramis with practically every other fishes that I had purchased till to date except for 2 pairs of Oscars once way back in 2013-2014. Being a shy species, I learned that it’s better to keep this species with neons, rainbows, other tetras, mollies, to name a few large fishes should be a strict no-no. 

Bullying for hierarchy to common between the males, so it is best to keep many females with a male or only females, although I have noticed a bit of pecking order even in between the females.

BREEDING:

Dwarf gouramis are amazingly famous for building beautiful bubble nests, which are binded together by twigs, leaves etc. Live plants are generally preferred by to build nests.

Once the nest is completed the males with it fins flared swims across the females and display its full velour of colour. If the female accepts his proposal, both begun to encircle each other and swim around.

The female will release the eggs in the nest, the male will fertilize them immediately. The circle may be repeated few number of times until around 500-700 eggs might be released. Females are usually removed or else she might devour the eggs. For the next coming hours the male will fan the eggs until they hatch. Males are removed after 2-4 days, when the babies are strong enough to feed for themselves. Shrimps & pellets (finely powdered) can be fed.

DISEASES:

Bad water quality is said to be the major reason for Dwarf Gourami Disease (DGD). Symptoms may include pale colour of the body or very little appetite, swelling of the abdomen region, tumors & lesions.  Regular water change habit can eradicate the probability of these diseases.

CONCLUSION:

Dwarf gouramis like all other gouramis are exotic, shy and peaceful fishes to be kept either among themselves or in a community tank.

The beauty of the species is that has its own personality traits and hence creates a greater impact on the minds and eyes of the fish keepers.

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Check our other blogs on INTROVERTS:  INTROVERT SPEAKS

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