Simple breeding guide on the Dwarf Gourami, learn how to rear the fry on to maturity.
Colisa lalia a Labyrinth Fish.

Body colour and size. The female on the left is drab silvery coloured with very faint diagonal stripes. Size approx 5cm (2 inches) but plumper than the male. The male is larger at around 2½ inches, and coloured with an orange-reddish body and turquoise diagonal stripes which face from the shoulders towards the tail, the stripes and finage colours becoming beautifully enhanced when breeding. Identifying the male is easy, he has a long tapering dorsal fin, whereas the female has a rounded tip. Origin Native to India, also parts of South East Asia. Dwelling in stagnant ponds, swamps, ditches and backwaters. They require this type of habitat as they the "Male" builds a buble nest for breeding purposes, therefore fast moving waters would be unsuited for their breeding needs. Water conditions, and food. Dwarf Gourami can tolerate temperatures ranging from 24-28°c (75-82°f) and higher. pH 6.5 - 7.5 ideally on the softer side. Hardness 4-10 dGH. Food omnivorous-many kinds, in their natural inviroment gouramis live on small insects, grubs, and vegetation. In captivity they will readily take live foods, white worm, live brine shrimps and quality flakes not forgetting a bit of greenery. Be aware when food is frozen it loses a large percentage of it's nutritional value. Live brine shrimps, blood, or white worm, etc offer a far better food source than the frozen ones. About the labyrinth organ. Gouramis have the unique ability to breathe air from outside the confines of water utilising the organ known as the Labyrinth. In this organ there are lots of small maze like compartments of thin boney plates called Lamellae. These Lamellae are covered with soft tissue like membranes, blood passes through these and the oxygen is absorbed into the fish's blood circulation when breathing surface air. The organ is situated on either side of the head in the gill cavity, this enables them to dwell in stagnant pools that are denied a source of narurally oxygenated water. ImportantThe labyrinth fish must have access to the water surface at all times, as they cannot get the required amount of oxygen from the water alone, you will see them in the aquarium shooting up to the surface for a quick gulp of air but they don't hang about, just a quick up and down. Buying the breeding pair. Take someone along who has experience in the hobby, and buy only from established fish stockists. Unscrupulous dealers will sell sick and fin damaged stock to the naive without being questioned. Tropical fish become stressed in pet shop tanks, and are nervous from being netted or bagged. Dwarfs are usually only sold in pairs for breeding purpose, or sold singlely on demand. When you purchase your pair check the feelers are not broken or bent, they are in fact the pelvic fins consisting of single rays, the fish becomes handicapped if these are damaged. Only buy a healthy adult pair otherwise wait till you can. The aquarium The tank should be planted out with plenty of living greenery. I use Cabomba carolina (Green), this is a beautiful fast growing plant suitable for a new tank set up, adding good hiding places for the more timid fish. It's ideal to have a few clumps of Cabomba in the breeding tank as the male may use bits of leaf to strenghen the bubble nest. This plant requires regular trimming due to its fast growth. You can make new clumps using four cuttings binding them with a piece of sponge and securing them at the base of the main stocks by a length of stip-lead. Photographs The photograph above is some four weeks old gouramis feeding from a food trap, this is a handy little gadget because it only lets tiny bits of food through the sieve and any food left can be discarded. The feeder also stops uneaten food falling to the tank bottom and fouling the water. These bigger gouramis on the right are ready to go into the big boys section of my community tank.

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