R.A.S. Fins & Friends
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R.A.S. Fins & Friends |
| The Indian Gourami or Colisa Fasciata |
This gourami closely resembles Colisa Labiosa in many ways. It is however larger and of different colored stripes. In care, temperament and spawning, it is similar.
This fish originates from India, Burma, Bengal, Thailand, and Malaysia where it thrives in still, shady waters. It is a gourami and as such breathes air at the surface. The males are larger and more brightly colored. They are also more aggressive towards their own and can be quite nasty to an unwilling female or towards a female he has just finished spawning with. Providing adequate hiding spaces for the females is very important to prevent injury, stress and possibly death. They are peaceful tank mates for most community tanks of ten gallons or larger capacity. They appreciate both top covers like Salvinia, or duckweed, as well as a well planted tank (water sprite or water lettuce are ideal plants to enhance the habitat for these fish). They accept flake readily but relish live food of any small sort. They do not do well with medium to strong current. They do very well however with little or no circulation and a well lit, planted tank. They don't like fast, busy fish either.
Spawning is easily induced if a well conditioned pair is placed alone, in a warm (80
degrees F), shallow (4-6 inches), planted tank that is void of circulation. Medium
lighting over a covered tank maintains both warm humidity above the surface and light for
plant growth and maintenance. They are surface bubble nest builders and the male will
carefully build his nest usually under a small floating leaf or in amongst a cluster of
duckweed. His behavior will give away his nest. Once the fish have spawned, he drives the
female away often inflicting bites and ripped fins on her. The eggs are opaque white and
float. They can have very large spawns (up to 1000 eggs). Once the male appears settled
into his 'station', I remove the female to another tank to recuperate.
The eggs hatch in 24-48 hours. The fry hang like tiny commas from the surface for a few
days. They aren't much bigger than micro worms initially so try using a magnifying glass
and a flashlight in order to see them. Once these tiny specs are free swimming, I remove
the male as his charges no longer need him and he may become cannibalistic as time goes
on. I feed them Micro food and micro worms several times a day for the first three weeks.
Then, I add brine shrimp nauplii. Water changes are necessary about every 2-3 days because
of the feedings and the number of fry in a relatively small amount of water. I use air
line tubing covered with a fine mesh net and drain off about fifty percent of the water. I
replace the water by placing the new water on top of the fish tank and siphoning the water
back in via the airline tubing. This way, only a very small opening is needed for the
tubing and the air above the surface of the water isn't chilled very much (Gouramies are
very sensitive to air temperature changes at the surface when their labyrinth organs are
developing.). By six weeks, the labyrinth organ is developed and the lid doesn't have to
be kept on so tightly. The fry soon resemble tiny silver replicas of their parents each
complete with a pair of tiny threadlike ventral fins.
A word of warning, once the fry are eating brine shrimp nauplii, avoid overfeeding as
it fouls the water and will kill the fry very quickly. Also, beware of hydra. I have found
hydra may appear when feeding brine shrimp nauplii. Hydra can and will capture and kill
tiny fry (and brine shrimp nauplii in their tentacles. It appears as tiny green 1/8-1/4
inch threads anchored to the glass, ornaments, airline tubing, etc. with 5-8 tentacles on
the end which wave gently in the water waiting to catch unwary fry that come close enough.
I use a double dose of Aquarisol at first sign of them. It should kill the hydra within an
hour if it's going to be effective. If not, try triple the dose, carefully. These fry
tolerated the Aquarisol fine but some other fish can't. Remember too that with water
changes, the concentration of Aquarisol is reduced so repeat treatment may be necessary if
the hydra recurs. Keep the equipment you use with these fry very clean and don't use it on
other tanks if you can help it - hydra can spread by siphon hoses, nets, plants, etc.
Should the first attempt fail, don't despair, provided the parents are in good health,
they should be ready to spawn again within two week if they are maintained in good
conditions and fed a varied diet of quality flake, brine shrimp nauplii, and some grindal
worms. They also nibble on the microorganisms that thrive on plants.
These are an interesting gourami to spawn especially if one has succeeded with easier ones
such as the paradise fish or gold gouramies.