(Osphronemidae)
Origin
The dwarf gourami (Colisa lalia, family Osphronemidae, genus Colisa) comes from the waters off the coasts of Bangladesh. The name "dwarf Gourami" comes from the fact that it grows only up to 5 centimeters.
It is a very beloved aquarium fish, because it is peaceful and gets along well with other fish. The basic color of the male differs from that of the female, helping to distinguish them.
Food Gourami
In its place of origin, dwarf Gourami fish lives in slow and backwaters, where it feeds on larvae and small insects. It is a predatory fish, but practically omnivorous.
You can feed it with tubifex and artemia Balina (saltwater crustacean and hypersalate). When buying an aquarium, consider that it likes rich vegetation and Bright Water.
Appearance Gourami
The basic color of the male is blue with red transverse stripes, during spawning they are very intensive.
The female has no red stripes. Besides this, the dorsal fins are different: in the female they are rounded, and in the male they are sharp.
Features Gourami
In the aquarium you can put roots and floating plants. Water must have neutral PH (6,5-7,2), temperature 24-26grc (at temperatures below 24grc the color of the gourami fish washes away and loses its wonderful chromatic universe).
Gourami fish does not need a large aquarium, but do not stress it in a too small one either. For two fish you need at least a 60-liter aquarium to make them happy.
If you put several males in an aquarium, they will run during spawning. Mainly, it is a very peaceful fish, it gets along with Betta, molli, xipho and neon fish.
Types/species of Gourami
Flame dwarf Gourami-colisa lalia
Dwarf Gourami-colisa lalia
Red neon Dwarf Gourami-colisa lalia
Three spot Gourami-Trichopodus trichopterus
Pearl Gourami-trichoqaster leeri
Powderblue Dwarf Gourami-colisa lalia
Honey dwarf Gourami-colisa sota
Samurai Gourami –
Opaline Dwarf Gourami-colisa lalia
Chocolate Gourami-Sphaerichthys osphromenoides
Gourami-trichopsis vittata
Sparkling Gourami-trichopsis pumila
Moonlight Gourami-trichogaster microlepsis
Golden dwarf Gourami-colisa lalia
The kissing Gourami – Helostoma temmincki
Giant Gourami-Osphronemus goramy
Breeding Gourami
During spawning, the mature pair is better to be put in another aquarium, preferably one with a richer vegetation.
The water temperature should be between 27-28grC. The male builds a foam nest from an air bubble and the floating plants in the aquarium.
The nest is relatively stable, durable. The female lays approx. 500 eggs, which hatch in 24 hours and swim in 3 days.
The chicks are very small, they feed on paramecs and saltwater crustaceans.
