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Giant Gourami
Origin:
Southeast Asia: probably limited to Sumatra, Borneo, Java, the Malay Peninsula,
Thailand and Indochina (Mekong basin). - Found in medium to large rivers and
stagnant water bodies including sluggish flowing canals
Temperament: Young fish may be aggressive in establishing territories,
but grow more peaceful, as these are established. Excellent for community tanks with large
fish. Will eat small fish.
Feeding: Easy to feed, will accept almost any food. Grows very quickly.
Plants are an important addition to the tank. Quite hardy.
Sexing:
The male has longer, extended anal and
dorsal fins.
Comments: A big fish, requiring a lot of tank space.
The Giant Gourami, also known as Banded Gourami, Rainbow Gourami, or Striped
Gourami, is a pale to golden yellow with silvery pale blue stripes running
vertically along its body. In some parts of India it is used as a food fish,
where it is dried and then eaten.
The Giant Gourami requires a tank that is 30 gallons or larger with densely
planted edges, with preferably a dark tank bottom. There should be plenty of
room left in the center of the tank for this gourami to swim. They prefer the
company of other fish that are similar in size and temperament.
The Giant Gourami is an egg layer and the male will build a bubblenest before
spawning. The male and female are distinguished by the dorsal fins and body
color. The dorsal fin on the male ends in a point and the body is darker,
changing to nearly black during spawning. When breeding, the water in the tank
should be decreased to about 8 inches deep and the temperature should be 82°F.
After spawning, the female should be removed to a separate tank because the male
will jealously guard the eggs, sometimes becoming aggressive towards the female.
The eggs will hatch in 24 hours.
The Giant Gourami is omnivorous and prefers algae-based foods as well as
meaty foods. An algae-based flake food, along with freeze-dried bloodworms,
tubifex, and brine shrimp will provide these fish with the proper nutrition.
Breeding Giant Gourami
and Raising Fry (Opens a new
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Other
Gourami Species (Opens a new browser
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General Aquarium Reference Books:
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