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Things You should know...
Breeding these fishes present no problem as both fish are very easy to
get them to spawn. Live food as well as freeze dried foods will condition
the fish and get them into spawning condition very rapidly. The only problem
in spawning the fish is the raising of the fry, as they are very tiny. Set
up a 10 gallon tank with about 2/3 full, and a temperature of about 80 degrees.
You can maintain this temperature with a heater in an jar of water placed
into the spawning tank. Remember to cover the tank so the temperature above
the water is the same temperature as the water itself. These fish are buble
nest builders and the tank should be supplied with a lot of floating type
plants. I would recomend that you use only one pair when trying to spawn
these fish as the males will defend their territory
.......................Bubblenest
Builders.......................
One of the easiest of all Tropical Fish to raise and
to breed.
The Dwarf Gourami tends to be shy and will hide
a lot, but you can obtain the Three spot which is a very pretty blue, and
is sometimes called the Blue Gourami.
Anabantids are found in Africa and Asia. Members
of the families Anabantidae, Belontiidae, helostomatidae, and Osphronemidae,
Anabantids are also referred to as the ``labyrinth fishes''. This is due
to a special breathing organ referred to as the labyrinth organ which is
essentially a maze of tunnels near the fish's gills. Labyrinth fish gulp
air at the surface of the water and absorb it through the labyrinth organ,
allowing them to live in water with too little oxygen to support fish which
only breath through their gills. Some Anabantids can survive out of water
for several hours breathing only through their labyrinths, as long as they
stay moist. Anabas testudineus, known as the Climbing Perch, is said to be
able to climb trees and to live out of water for up to two days.
As well as giving aquarists some additional choices
for community-tank fish, Anabantids offer some unique options to fish keepers
as well as presenting a few problems. Because some Anabantids are able to
withstand cooler temperatures, and because of their ability to survive in
water with very low oxygen, these fishes can be kept in tanks or bowls
without heaters or filtration.
On the other hand, some Anabantids (particularly males of some species) are
very territorial and some grow quite large.
Breeding Anabantids can be quite rewarding. Some
species build nests out of bubbles into which they place their eggs while
others, like some Cichlids, are mouthbrooders.
A better choice for keeping alone in a bowl
or small tank is the Paradise Fish - Macropodus opercularis. These are much
hardier fish than the Fighters and can withstand temperatures down to 60F.
They may jump, however, so the tank should be covered to be safe. Also, like
Siamese Fighting Fish, male Paradise Fish can be extremely territorial towards
one another. Paradise Fish may get up to 4" long.
Three-Spot Gourami
Labyrinth Fish
Families: Anabantidae, Belontidae,
Helostomatidae, Osphronemidae
Another very commonly seen Anabantid is the Blue
or Three-Spot Gourami - Trichogaster trichopterus. Gold, Silver, and Cosby
Gouramies are also widely available and are simply artificial color varieties
of the Blue Gourami. Blue Gouramies can get up to 6" long. They are not as
aggressive as Fighters or Paradise Fish, but more than one in a small tank
may lead to constant (if not overly deadly) chasing. They will do well in
a tank with larger schooling fishes. Similar, though slightly smaller species
include the Banded or Giant Gourami - Colisa fasciata (which is only a giant
compared to the similarly colored Dwarf Gourami described below), the
Thick-lipped Gourami - Colisa labiosa and the somewhat less aggressive Pearl
Gourami - Trichogaster leeri and Moonlight Gourami - T. microlepis. The Kissing
Gourami - Helostoma temmincki grows larger (up to 12") but makes a good fish
for beginners with larger tanks. It is peaceful, though males will contest
with one another by pressing their lips together and pushing - the so-called
``kissing'' from which the common name derives. Most Kissing Gouramies seen
will be of the Pink variety.
Small Gouramies, only growing to 2" or so in length,
are also available. These include the Dwarf Gourami - Colisa lalia, the Honey
Gourami - C. chuna, and the Sunset Dwarf Gourami (probably a cross between
C. lalia and C. chuna). In theory, these would all be good fish for the community
aquarium. In practice, these fish are often the victims of poor breeding
practices in the Far East (like so many others described before) and many
are even treated with hormones before they are shipped to make them appear
brighter in the store tanks. A good rule of thumb is, ``If it looks too good
to be true, it probably is.''
Although harder to find, Anabantids which have had
less human interference with their reproduction are generally better choices.
Look for the Mouthbrooding Betta - Betta pugnax, the Licorice Gourami -
Parosphromenus deissneri, the Spike-Tailed Paradise Fish - Pseudosphromenus
cupanus, the Croaking Gourami - Trichopsis vittatus, and the Dwarf Croaking
Gourami - T. pumilus, which range in size from 1" to 4". Do not buy Chocolate
Gouramies - Sphaerichthys osphromenoides which are quite delicate, or the
true Giant Gouramies - Osphronemus spp. which grow quickly to well over two
feet long.
"Specific Gravity",
"Breeding the Clown Fish",
"Spirulina, all fish need it in their diet
",
"The Coral Aquarium",
"Maintaining the Reef Aquarium",
"The Brackish Water Aquarium",
"Marine Animals "
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Fresh Water Tropical
Fish
Anabantids
The Anabantids are often classified as "Labyrinth
Fish" due to an organ called the labyrinth which enables them to breathe
air through the surface of their bodies. This modification allows them to
live in areas where the oxygen content is not rich. T he labyrinths are located
on the top of the head, behind the eyes. It is a circular spot of tissue
which is very wrinkled, offering more surface area for oxygen intake. In
this group are the Betta, the Gourami and the Perch. They are generally wide
bo died fish with overly enlarged fins. Their pelvic fins are elongated and
trailing. Another common characteristic is their breeding habits. Most form
"bubble" nests. As the female prepares to lay her eggs, the male wraps himself
around her, catches the eggs in his mouth and spits the eggs onto the nest.
The males often become territorial and very protective of the
nest.
The
Labyrinth Fishes
.....This is one species
that can get along well in a community tank.
Any of the small tropical fish of the suborder
Anabantoidei (order Perciformes). Labyrinth fishes, like most other fishes,
breathe with their gills, but they also possess a supplemental breathing
structure, the labyrinth, for which they are named. This apparatus, located
in a chamber above the gills, is liberally supplied with blood vessels. It
enables the fishes to use oxygen from air gulped in through the mouth and
thus to survive out of, or in oxygen-poor, water.
The labyrinth fishes are found in the freshwaters
of Asia and Africa. They are often called bubble-nest builders because the
males of most species build, guard, and maintain a foamy nest of soaplike
bubbles that floats at the surface.
More about the Amazing Betta,
or
Siamese Fighting
Fish
 Breeding
The most commonly seen Anabantid is probably the
Betta or Siamese Fighting Fish (which is generally said to be Betta splendens
but is probably a crossbreed). Artificial color varieties with red, blue,
green, purple, and many other colors in various combinations are widely
available. Males are bred to have very large fins and both sexes are seen
with double tails. Siamese Fighting Fish generally make poor choices for
the community tank for two reasons. First, as their name would imply, they
are very territorial. The aggression is greatest between two males, but can
be directed towards any fish that looks to the Betta too much like another
Betta. Second, their long fins make easy targets for many fish such as Barbs.
Siamese Fighting Fish can be kept alone in bowls (the larger the better)
or tanks without filtration as long as frequent partial water changes are
done. They do need warm temperatures, however, and are sensitive to temperature
changes, so a constant heat supply is needed if the room is less than about
75F. Also, due to poor breeding, many Siamese Fighting Fish are not very
healthy. A 3" male would be a large adult; females stay smaller.
Labyrinth
Fishes
This is a discussion group for those aquarists interested
in South and Southeast Asian labyrinth fish and Anabantoids, including wild
Betta species, gouramies (Trichogaster, Parosphronemus, Pseudosphronemus,
Colisa etc.), paradise fish; as well as African Ctenopoma, Sandelia etc.
Not a list for keepers of bettas in bowls or fancy-finned bettas. Please
remember to observe Netiquette.
FRESHWATER
AQUARIUMS
with Shirlie Sharpe Your Guide to One of Over
700 Sites
Shirlie Sharpe is an expert in maintaining freshwater
aquariums.
Experience: Shirlie has been breeding, raising,
and studying freshwater fish for over thirty years. She keeps and breeds
hundreds of species of fish, and has an extensive library of books and magazines
about fish, aquariums, and ponds. Shirlie also works as a freelance fish
photographer. Her work has been included in various publications, including
Fishbase 2000.
From Shirlie Sharpe: "There's no need to wade through
the vast sea of information on the net looking for the good stuff. I'll serve
it to you with a side order of humor to keep a smile on your face. Whether
it's breaking in a new tank, how to look for a fish supplier, or wondering
how long your fish should live, you'll find your answers right here."
Read about the
PEARL
GOURAMI
The Pearl Gourami is not only one of the most
attractive, but also one of the hardiest and easiest to keep of the gourami.
Like others of it's family the body shape is elongated and laterally compressed.
The ventral fins are long and thin, having the appearance of feelers. The
mouth is small and upturned. Pearl and brown flecks covering the body give
it a mother of pearl appearance, from which is derives it's name. A horizontal
black line runs from the mouth to the tail, where it ends in a
spot.
Accustomed to heavy vegetation in their natural
habitat, they will thrive if given similar conditions in the aquarium. Floating
plants, subdued lighting, and a dark substrate are ideal. Although they prefer
soft acidic water, they are adaptable to a range of water conditions. This
adaptability and their peaceful nature make them well suited to community
tanks. However keeping them with overly aggressive tankmates should be avoided.
A well cared for Pearl Gourmet will live for approximately eight
years
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Member, Oscar Hammer 
ndre's
andrerich@aol.com
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