What type of gourami do i have

They have a labyrinth organ that acts sort of like a lung, which allows them to breathe air at the surface. In nature this adaptation enables them to live in shallow, stagnant, oxygen-poor water. Some gouramis are mouthbrooders, and some make bubble nests at the surface to incubate their eggs until they hatch.

Males are usually larger and have brighter colors and longer fins than females. Several species have been selectively bred for different colors and fancier fins. Gouramis are found throughout eastern and southern Asia, from Pakistan through Thailand, Vietnam, the Malaysian Archipelago, China and as far north and east as Korea and Japan. They live in slow-moving rivers, swamps, marshes, canals, wetlands and temporary pools. Many gouramis are found in soft, acidic water in the wild, however the majority of aquarium species sold today are raised commercially in water that has a higher pH and alkalinity than their native environments, so they are very adaptable.

Do not forget to treat tap water with Aqueon Water Conditioner before refilling your tank. It earned this name due to a funny kissing display it shows.

It is another large gourami that grows up to a length of 12 inches, with a life span of up to 25 years! The kissing gourami has been known to display some traits of aggressiveness towards other smaller sized fish. They might not be suitable tank mates for the average gourami because of their size and bully nature. They need to be kept among equally competitive tank mates such as the large catfish.

If you want to have some excitement in your aquarium however, you can opt for the kissing gourami to do just that.

It might also require the skills of a seasoned aquarist in its successful keeping. Many people often ask if gouramis are aggressive. Indeed this is a valid question, in order to know what sort of fish community they can be kept in. Some species of gouramis show a bit more aggression than others. Some are even regarded as being peaceful. But the fact is that all types of gouramis can actually show some aggression. It all depends on the kind of environment they find themselves. Many can co-habit with other fish successfully but it is necessary that they are monitored and kept with similar sized fish.

That is why it is usually advised that they stay in a large fish tank where they can claim some but of individual territory. Their tank should also be well vegetated so that they can hide and stay less aggressive. The reason why some gouramis could be aggressive might be due to uncomfortable tank conditions, such as cramped space or being amongst too many fishes.

Gouramis get generally irritable when subjected to such conditions. Of all the species of gourami, the blue gourami or three spot gourami is notable for its aggressive nature.

The kissing gourami also shows such traits. Then, the dwarf gourami might lose its peaceful nature if kept in uncomfortable tank conditions. However, this should not dissuade anyone from keeping gouramis. Gouramis are actually known to be good community fish under the right and suitable living conditions.

They do not naturally threaten other peaceful fish in the aquarium. For instance, the dwarf gourami is well known for its non-interfering nature, as it would happily swim without disturbing other fishes.

While it might be exciting it keep gouramis, building a community tank requires that you create a harmonious environment for all the fishes. Many different species of fish can cohabit with gouramis, but you need to observe that they are equally peaceful and share the same preferences of water. Gouramis can live successfully with similar sized dishes. This is because they are relatively small themselves and could easily get bullied by bigger fishes.

Gouramis could be quite timid and be picked on by aggressive fish. They should also not be kept with too tiny fishes, which could seem like food to them. Note however that some gouramis themselves can bully their tankmates, such as the Three Spot Gourami and the kissing gourami.

So also, male gouramis should not be kept with other male gouramis because they could act really territorial and fight each other. However, if it is a very large aquarium where each can protect its territory, then you may keep more than one male.

The important thing is to ensure that their natural needs and preferences are compatible. Gourami fish make good community dishes. Many people are familiar with the small-sized gouramis. Well, you might be surprised to know that there is actually the giant gourami, which is a specie known for its really large size.

Gouramis can grow to such surprising lengths too. Although many species of gouramis are usually within 4 inches thereabouts. Each type of gourami grows in varying proportions. For instance, the dwarf gourami grows to about 2 inches. The flame gourami is also about 2 inches in length. If you are a new aquarist, you might get confused when distinguishing between males and female fishes. It is, however, a skill required if you want to keep an aquarium successfully. Gouramis are not always very easy to identify based on sex.

Usually, male fish are quite smaller than female fish, and more colorfully patterned than the female fish, and this is particularly true for gouramis. Female gouramis usually come in grey colors with lesser colors. In regard to water chemistry, this species is delicate and is particularly prone to bacteria and skin parasites meaning they are not good for beginners. However, it is a rewarding challange for experienced aquarist if maintained in a properly set up 30 gallon fish tank.

Chocolate gouramis are only compatible with other shy, peaceful tankmates such as danios, small rasboras like harlequins and eye-spot rasboras or some loaches like kuhli loach or mini loyal loach. These fishes are slow-moving and are easily intimidated, so any fish that will out compete them for food or scare them should be avoided. Chocolate gouramis are omnivores and will accept most fish foods, but they require a balanced diet that includes algae-based flake as well as meaty treats.

Licorice gourami is a group of small, beautifully colored labyrinth fish with males more brightly colored then females. There are about 20 scientifically described fishes but most are facing extinction because they live in peat swamps that have been drained exntesively for oil palm ciltivation in their native habitat. Also, due to their small size, they are prey to many predators that include herons, snake heads, and large shrimp.

Male licorice gouramis have verticle stripes in black and silver and iridescent, turquoise blue and red hues on the fins and tails, while females are brownish with black edging on the fins. Licorice gouramis make a great addition to the accomplished hobbyist, but are largely challenging to new fish keepers.

They like a well planted aquarium that is gallons or more, with soft, slightly acidic water and a good filtrations. Dim lights and dead leaves are a prerequisite to succeful care and breeding licorice gouramis as well. The fish are care breeders so adding a couple of pots and shells in the tank is also recommended. Licorice gouramis are omnivores that prefer both algae-based food as well as meaty treats. So, an algae-based flake food along with freeze-dried bloodworms, tubifex, and brine shrimp will provide your fish with the necessary nutrition.

Also known as pygmy gourami, sparkling gouramis are tiny but glaring fish that are not too common in home aquariums hence a unique addition. They have golden bodies that are speckled with flecks of iridiscent red and fins that are adorned with blue and green spots. They only reach a total length of between 1 and 1.

Keep your sparkling gouramis in an aquarium planted with live aquatic species and decorated with rocks or driftwood as they need plenty of places to hide. A dark substrate or slightly tinted water is advisable to bring out the best colorations of the fish and best mimic their natural environment.

Males can be territorial with each other but become timid around more aggressive species, so maintain them with slightly boisterous fish of the same size and similar water requirements. However, due to their small size, avoid species that will agitate or devour your sparkling gouramis.

Good tankmate include dwarf gouramis, rasboras, and dwarf rainbow fish. Corydoras, tetras, and Otos make ideal companions as well. Moonlight gouramis are some of the most popular gouramis in the aquarium trade and are sometimes called moonbeam gourami. The fishes are native to Cambodia and Vietnam.

Usually, these gouramis grow to a maximum of 5 inches and require an aquarium that is at least gallons in size. In the wild, they inhabit still or slow-moving waters with plenty of vegatation such as ponds, bogs, swamps, and lakes, although they are also found in floodplains of the Mekong river. Moonlight gouramis are long and flat with a head that is concave shaped.

They have ventral fins with thin filaments which are sensitive to touch and males pelvic fins are red. Overall, the fish have small, silvery scales which develop a pretty greenish glow as they mature; their eyes are red and orange.

Keep your moonlight gouramis in a planted aquarium with sturdy plants like Java fern, Java moss and vallisneria. Water sprite and Amazon swords are good alternatives as well.

The fish are largely shy and may hide most of the time, but they are largely peaceful and will accomodate non-aggressive tankmates. However, a thing to note is males can get quite territorial, so if you keep them together in a small aquarium, there is a chance you will end up with both fish having grievous wounds which often prove fatal.

In the wild, moonlight gouramis feed on insects, inverts, algae, and small amounts of plant matter. For this reason, a high quality flake food with occasional treat of live foods is considered good enough. One of the best staples to offer these fish is micro wafers and their favourite live food happens to be mosquito larvae, bloodworms, blackworms, daphnia and brine shrimp. Paradise gourami, paradise fish, or paradise-fish are a colorful species of freshwater fish of the gourami family that have a thin rectangular body and characterized by their flowing fins.

Wild form paradise gouramis have both red and blue markings, though in modern times, solid red and solid blue types have been produced by breeders. Blue gourami, also known as three spot gouramis, are one of the larger species. A tank of at least 1 meter 3. Keeping more than one male together in a tank is not recommended, as they can become quite territorial. Other gouramis, loaches, and larger schooling fish are a better choice. As with all gouramis, a densely planted tank is appreciated. Be sure to always keep in mind that these fish need access to the surface to breathe air more information on surface breathing.

However, information was given for these several species because they are the most popular and most likely to be found in your own aquarium store. Should I just go with one, or would the pair swim nicely together? And definitely not two males! How do you feel about the sparkling gourami Trichopsis pumila? Thanks again for the help! I really urge you to decide against the dwarf gourami, even if you get only one.

Sorry to keep bugging you about the dwarf gourami I seemed to have missed this comment. Well, I think I am going to look for a different specie. I left another comment on the cherry shrimp before I read this last comment, just ignore that one. They can do really well in hard water and unheated tanks.