Chocolate gourami: description, grooming, feeding and reproduction

Sphaerichthys osphormenoides – this cute little aquarium fish which is called "chocolate gourami". It is very difficult to maintenance and reproduction. But if you do everything as needed, the aquarium will sparkle with new colors.

Origins

It is believed that wild chocolate gourami lives in Malaysia, Borneo and Sumatra, although home to indicate India. In different areas fish different from each other its shape and even fin type colors.

Chocolate gourami is Found in peat swamps and in streams and rivers with a special color of the water. So how in that area on the bottom of water bodies accumulate a large amount of decaying organic matter, which creates the impression that the water – strong brewed black tea. But this is a very important point that reveals what you need for what fish lived long and pleasing his master. What are you talking about?

The Process of decomposition of organic matter has a particular effect on the softness and acidity of the water. Due to the fact that the reservoirs are hidden from the sun, a dense canopy of numerous trees, water pH varies between 3.0 and 4.0.

Chocolate gourami – it is a very timid fish, care which done only by experienced aquarists who devotes a lot of time with their Pets.

Appearance

In General, fish is very small even in Mature age. The length of her body is barely five centimetres from tip of snout to end of tail. Like all fish species gourami, chocolate is shaped like the eye – oval body with a pointed nose and a long mouth.

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As mentioned above, its color varies according to habitat, although in General it can be called chocolate. If we talk about color, it shades from red to greenish brown.

But not whole body fish of the same color. On the sides contrasting white color, are from three to five vertical stripes. Fins on the tips of the yellow, which gives them the tip edge of a zest to it.

Aquarium

Chocolate gourami in nature - only in soft water with low acidity. Plus it's dark. What this means for the aquarist? In the aquarium should be a lot of algae and other vegetation, which will not only be planted in the ground, but float on the surface. Moreover, the water itself needs to be not just defended, but with peat extract, which is added either directly into the aquarium, or put in the filter. Regarding the latter, it should create a small current.

That chocolate gourami loves the turf, does not mean that the aquarium should not be cleaned or completed in the water. To fill it should be no more than 10 percent of the total. A lack of regular cleaning may result in fungal or bacterial diseases to which gourami are very prone.

Water

The temperature should be constant – above 25 degrees. In the cooler the fish died. Moreover, you need to make sure the air was warm and very humid. It is recommended to put on top of the glass. This will protect the fish from respiratory diseases.

So, let's make some conclusions on the state of water, which is required for keeping the chocolate gourami. First, the temperature is from 25 to 30 degrees. Secondly, it is hardness not higher than 10 degrees. And of course, thirdly, this is a pH with a maximum value of 6.5.

Omnivorous?

What else is needed for this fish, chocolate gourami? The content involves attention to power quality. Depend on the brightness and health of not only the fish but also her offspring. Initially the fish may refuse dry food. But with time it passes.

However professionals highly recommend to feed the fish live and frozen foods. Gourami are very fond of Daphnia, bloodworms, brine shrimp and Tubifex.

When feeding fish you need to avoid monotony. Alternate feed, and fish will always be healthy and active.

Compatibility

Chocolate gourami – this is not a schooling fish. It is slow and timid. From this we can conclude that neighbors need to absorb prudently. First of all, you can't put any predators. It is best to choose the dimensional and power fish such as tetras, Danio, rasbory.

An interesting fact: if one tank is more than six gourami, they have formed a dominant, which behaves accordingly. Owners of large aquariums will be interesting to watch them.

To keep fish with other species of gourami experts do not recommend. This is done in order to avoid hybridization.

Sex characteristics

If you plan to breed fish, you need to learn to distinguish her by gender. Males have sharper features than females. Boys have a more direct profile of the lower jaw and a pointy head. Girls, in turn, have a more rounded form.

In the color scheme it is considered that females are more vivid, especially in the spawning period. It is a reddish throat. Males in the same period, become almost black.

To Distinguish the sex and the fins. Dorsal fin boysmore pointed, and the anal - more yellow. The girls on the tail is a black spot.

Breeding and reproduction

Before you start breeding, you need to examine carefully what should be a chocolate gourami. The maintenance, care and proper nutrition will help to grow beautiful and healthy fish.

For breeding you need to buy a separate aquarium for spawning, the bottom of which should be sandy. It is important to comply with the same water parameters as in the General aquarium. To spawn you need to feed the fish live food

The spawning place two heterosexual gourami. The boy, ready to spawn, it's getting dark, and the bride becomes chocolate brown. Unlike other fish of this same family, carrying the fry have been female. On rare occasions, fish can build a nest of foam.

Spawning occurs in several stages and lasts for several hours. First fish in the fine sand with current and make a hole. In her female later lays the eggs. Next, the male fertilizes it and the female collects the eggs in his mouth. Known cases where the male helped the female to do it, and spits them out in her direction.

Next comes the process of gestation. After spawning the female should hide. To eat it will not. It was during this period of time it is recommended to transplant the female into the third aquarium, so she can safely incubate the eggs.

On average, the process of carrying the fry lasts from a week to 20 days. When the fry is old enough, the female spits it out. One spawning can be obtained from 10 to 40 fish. Now comes the hard part.

The Fry are absolutely not adapted to any changes, so the aquarium in this period need special care. Growth is very slow. To feed the fish, you can microcarpum or Cyclops. Water changes can do the most rarely and very carefully. In the aquarium and live fish, also need to close the glass to the temperature of the water and air were the same.

Knowing what kind of chocolate gourami in the nature, a description of its form and content rules, you can get bright and beautiful fish in your aquarium.