About Time

[stef30]

got me fish about a week ago 3 pearl danios and 3 gold gouramis........one of me gouramis is already building a bubble nest and stays in the corner of the tank guarding it is this normal? also rest are doing fine will post pics later

 

[Miss Wiggle]

good stuff

perfectly normal for him to guard his nest, i'd do some research into breeding gourami's, even if you dont want to save the young it's best to know what behaviour you should expect from him

 

[stef30]

good stuff

perfectly normal for him to guard his nest, i'd do some research into breeding gourami's, even if you dont want to save the young it's best to know what behaviour you should expect from him

Gouramis are a popular choice with fish hobbyists and nurturing them through the breeding and birthing process is a great way to increase your joy and appreciation of the breed. Breeding gouramis can pose a challenge to the novice fish breeder but anyone with a little knowledge and determination can experience good results. There are many different types of gouramis and in this article I will be specifically referring to the bubble nest breeder, the Colisa Lalia or dwarf gourami. However, this advice can be applied to any of the bubble nest breeders.


To start, you will need to prepare a ten or twenty gallon tank as the breeding tank. Sprinkle a light layer of gravel on the bottom of the tank, just enough to eliminate the reflection from bouncing up off the bottom. Place a small, foam filter in the corner of the tank, do not use anything stronger then this. Provide a clump of Java moss and some duck weed for vegetation and an up turned clay pot for the female to hide in. Set the temperature between 25 degrees to 28 degrees Celsius and adjust the PH in the range of 7.6 to 6.6.



After your tank is prepared, place the female gourami in the breeding tank by herself for two weeks prior to introducing the male. If you introduce the female into the male’s tank he will likely kill her in his attempt to defend his territory. Feed both the male and female gouramis brine shrimp and blood worms to ready them for breeding.


Once the female is fat and gravid, you will then be ready to introduce the male into her environment. Over the next few days, the male will attempt to build the bubblenest and entice the female to breed. Watch for the male and female to “danceâ€￾ together. He will cup her body and wiggle beside her in an effort to have her release her eggs to be met by his milt. Once the fertilization has taken place, the fish break apart and the male will collect the eggs to the nest. They will repeat this sequence over the next few hours.


Once the gouramis have bred, you will need to remove the male and female fish and turn the filter off, taking care not to disturb the nest. Using a small siphoning hose, gently lower the water level in the tank to one half the capacity and cover it with a Plexiglas lid. This is an important step as babies require warm air and low water pressure to develop their labyrinth. In the next 24 hours the eggs will hatch and in three to five days the fry will become free swimming. When the babies are free swimming you need to feed them young brine shrimp hatchlings or liquid fry food. Be very cautious not to overfeed them and foul the water, as this will cause sudden death.


Among the 600 eggs that will be produced, only a small handful of fish may survive. This high mortality rate is a natural occurrence partially due to sibling cannibalism, imperfect water conditions and physical frailties. When the fish grow to 1/2 an inch, you can then introduce them into your community tank....


Breeding gouramis is a rewarding challenge that may not bring you results on your first time at it, but if you are patient, observant and learn from your mistakes, you will soon meet with success and when you do, the rewards will be great


this is what i learned think i will give it a go

 

[Miss Wiggle]

this is the bit i envisage being difficult!!

have you got much experience of catching fish? i rarely manage it without destoying the tank, i'd undoubtedly break the nest up

Once the gouramis have bred, you will need to remove the male and female fish and turn the filter off, taking care not to disturb the nest.