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Keeping and Breeding Dwarf Gouramis

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Dwarf Gourami: Tips For Keeping And Breeding Them

The Dwarf Gourami (Colisa Lalia) is the most popular of all gouramis found in the hobby today. Their bright colors and peaceful temperment make them an attractive addition to a community tank. They are bubble nest builders and build nests of bubbles at the water's surface to hold their eggs after spawning. Color variants are Neon Blue Dwarf Gouramis, Powder Blue and Neon Red Dwarf Gouramis.

Learn more about Dwarf Gouramis and other freshwater aquarium fish at Bala Shark Bay Aquarium Fish Resource.

Dwarf Gourami Building Bubble Nest

Dwarf Gourami making bubble nest
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A Healthy & Happy Dwarf Gourami

A healthy and happy Dwarf Gourami shows very striking color that will add beauty to any aquarium. There are certain things that should be done to ensure a Dwarf Gourami is always showing it's most vibrant colors.

Water conditions must be kept optimal. Dwarf Gouramis will not tolerate poor water conditions. Keep water temperature between 72 - 79 F with a pH range between 6.8 - 7.5. Water surface should be fairly still and there should be some floating plants to dim the light. Use proper filtration and do regular partial water changes to keep tank water clean and optimal.

Dwarf Gouramis are best kept in pairs of one female for every male. Because of their shy, peaceful nature, Dwarf Gouramis should not be kept with boisterous tank mates. Avoid extremely active Barbs, Danios and Tetras. Do not mix them with some of the more territorial Gouramis like Blue, Opaline or Gold Gouramis.

Keeping them with less active tank mates and in optimal water conditions will insure that they will be happy, healthy and always display bright colors.

Different Color Variants of Dwarf Gouramis

Besides the common Dwarf Gourami, here are the three popular color variants of the Dwarf Gourami.
  • Neon Blue Dwarf Gourami
  • Powder Blue Dwarf Gourami
  • Flame Red or Neon Red Dwarf Gourami

The Dominant Male Dwarf Gourami

Occasionally a male Dwarf Gourami may show signs of being a dominant male. He may show aggression towards other Gouramis and bully other males in the aquarium. This is not an abnormal thing and there are a few things that can be done to reduce the aggression.

Providing plants and different types of hiding places will help divide up the tank, provide shelter for the Gouramis on the receiving end of the aggression and will give different areas for the dominant male to choose as his territory. In tanks with only males it is a good idea to add one female for every male Dwarf Gourami. This will help divide the aggression of the dominant male. Keeping both males and females is always a good idea even if there isn't a dominant male Dwarf Gourami in the aquarium.

Tips For Dwarf Gourami Breeding

Dwarf Gouramis will readily spawn if water conditions are similar to the conditions during spawning season. To achieve this the water level in the tank should be lowered to about 8" and the water temperature should be raised to about 80 F. Make sure the water surface is still and there are floating plants for the male to build a bubble nest in.

Once the bubble nest has been built the male and female will spawn then the male will place the eggs in the nest to be guarded. The female should be removed at this point.

The eggs will hatch after about 24 hours and the fry are free swimming about 24 hours after hatching. The male should be removed at this point because he will eat the fry. Feed the fry infusoria, baby brine shrimp and later, pulverized flakes.
Important!

Learn More About Dwarf Gouramis

The Dwarf Gourami Aquarium

A very important part of keeping Dwarf Gouramis healthy and breeding them is establishing an ideal aquarium for them. The aquarium needs to be a good size and have the all the right pieces of equipment for it to maintain the best conditions for keeping and breeding Dwarf Gouramis. I have broken this section up into the 4 basic parts that are needed to establish an optimal Dwarf Gourami aquarium.
Fish Tank and Stand
The most important part is the fish tank itself. The size of the tank will have a very big impact on the amount of Dwarf Gouramis that can be kept and how many fry can be raised in the tank before it becomes crowded. The stand needs to be sturdy and able to support the weight of the tank when it is full.
Hood and Lighting
The hood provides a cover for the tank and will also hold the lights for the tank. Some hoods have filters built into them.
Aquarium Heater
Dwarf Gouramis are warm water dwelling fish that prefer temperatures closer between 72 and 79 degrees. They prefer temperatures in the low 80s for breeding. A heater is necessary to maintain the right temperature for the Dwarf Gouramis to live in. There are many different types and styles of heaters each with their own special benefits.
Aquarium Filter
In an enclosed aquarium environment, waste products can build up quickly. Good filtration is a must for any tank that will be the home to Dwarf Gouramis. A good filter will remove the toxins from the water and help keep the water conditions optimal for keeping and breeding Dwarf Gouramis.
Home Aquarium Supplies
Not just supplies. This site gives you tips on buying all the right equipment to set up a fish tank. Be sure to visit this site if you're looking at setting up a dwarf gourami aquarium.

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Buy These Recommended Books From Amazon

Add These Great BooksTo Your Personal Library

With these books in your personal library you will have all the information you need to keep your fish happy and healthy. I highly recommend "Gouramis and Other Labyrinth Fishes A Complete Pet Owner's Manual". For less than $8.00 you can't go wrong buying that book for your personal library!
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In Summary

  • Dwarf Gouramis are the most popular Gourami in the hobby.
  • Color variants are the Flame Red, Powder Blue and Neon Blue Dwarf Gourami
  • Dwarf Gourmis will not tolerate poor water conditions
  • Keep them in pairs and with other peaceful fish
  • They are bubble nest builders and the male builds a nest before spawning

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Get Answers to Questions About Dwarf Gouramis

If you have any questions about anything to do with Dwarf Gouramis or any other aquarium fish there is one great place to ask questions and get answers. Yahoo Answers is a place where you can ask questions and then other people can give their advice to try to answer your questions. Follow me on Yahoo Answers.

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WebGazelle

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