Breeding Blue Paradise Gourami check availability today.

 

Gourami fish represent a group of tropical fish which are native to Asia. There is a number of Gourami species grouped into a handful of families. Most Gouramis can be identified by their elongated ventral fins that are considered feeler-rays. These tropical fish range in size from what is considered dwarf to quite large, some species can exceed 20 inches. Interestingly some Gourami fish are mouthbrooders that build bubble nests for their eggs much like Betta fish do.

 

Gouramis are also known as labyrinth fish because of they have a lung like labyrinth organ which allows them capture or gulp air to utilize atmospheric oxygen. This organ is common in fish that are known to inhabit warm, shallow, oxygen-poor water. Another aspect of these wonderful fish is that they are also a food fish in certain parts of the world. The Giant Gouramis or Osphronemus goramy are fancied as a meal in Indonesia, China and other oriental countries.

 

Gourami can be housed with many species, such as danios, mollies, silver dollars, and plecostomus catfish, but will often show aggression toward species with long, flowing fins like male guppies, goldfish, and bettas. Their tankmates depend on the size of Gourami in question. Dwarf Gouramis would work well with the aforementioned species of tropical fish. Larger types of Gourami fish would make a snack of danios, mollies, etc. so it’s important to understand what size they can reach. Gourami fish are omnivorous and can be offered a variety of most aquarium foods.

 

One of the most popular and identifiable genus of Gouramis is Trichogaster. In this genus there are a number of species some of which are T. chuna or the Honey gourami, T. fasciata or the Banded gourami, T. labiosa or the Thick lipped gourami and T. lalius or the Dwarf gourami. While there are more species in this genus these particular species are listed on the IUCN Red List of Endangered Species site mostly for overexploitation for the aquarium trade.