Croaking gourami facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Croaking gourami |
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The croaking gourami (Trichopsis vittata) is a small freshwater fish. It belongs to the gourami family. These fish are known as "labyrinth fish." They come from calm waters in Southeast Asia. You can find them all over the world because people keep them as pets. Croaking gouramis can make a special "croaking" sound. They do this using their fins.
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All About Croaking Gouramis
Croaking gouramis usually grow to about 5 centimeters (2 inches) long. Some can even reach 6 or 7 centimeters. Their colors can be different. They might be light brown, green, or even dark purple. They often have black or red spots on their fins. You can also see 2 to 4 stripes or rows of spots on their sides. The edges of their middle fins glow with a thin blue color. Their eyes are a bright blue or purple. Female gouramis are usually lighter in color than males. They also have a rounder top fin and a shorter bottom fin. Most croaking gouramis live for about 2 years. But with good care, they can live up to 5 years in an aquarium.
Where They Live
These fish live in quiet water. This includes ponds, canals, and rice fields. They are found in places like Java, Borneo, Sumatra, Malaysia, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam. Some croaking gouramis have also been found living in Florida, USA. They likely got there from the pet trade.
Why They Croak
As their name suggests, croaking gouramis can make a grunting or chirping noise. They do this using special parts of their pectoral fins. Both male and female fish make these sounds. They use them when they are trying to find a mate. Males also croak when they are trying to show who is in charge. When two males face off, they swim in circles. They spread their fins and dart at each other. They also make croaking noises. This can go on for many hours if the fish are evenly matched.
Keeping Croaking Gouramis as Pets
Croaking gouramis are usually shy and peaceful fish. They get along well with most other fish in a community fish tank. Male gouramis can be a bit territorial with each other. This happens mostly when they are breeding. But they won't hurt each other if the tank is big enough. Males usually live together without problems.
Tank Setup
You need a tank that is at least 40 liters (10 US gallons). A bigger tank is even better. Each pair of males needs about 20 inches of space. This helps them feel comfortable. Croaking gouramis swim all over the tank. They like to hide among plants and under big leaves near the water surface. At night, they might "sleep" at the bottom. They might even rest on the gravel. This is normal and not a worry. They also might just float still at the water surface.
Breathing Air
Like some other fish, croaking gouramis can breathe air from above the water. They use a special organ called a labyrinth organ. So, it's important that fresh air can reach the water surface. You can do this by having an open-top tank. Or use a hood that lets air in. If the air above the water is too cold, it can harm their labyrinth organ.
Making Them Feel at Home
Your aquarium should have lots of plants. Part of the water surface should be shaded. You can use broad leaves or floating plants for this. Croaking gouramis get stressed in empty tanks. They need places to hide. A darker gravel or sand will make them feel safe. It also helps their colors stand out. These fish can get sick easily. So, you must change the water regularly. They can handle fairly warm water. This can even help get rid of some fish diseases. Temperatures around 26°C (79°F) are best. The water should have a pH of about 6.8. Using peat in the filter is often a good idea.
Tank Mates
Do not keep croaking gouramis with large, aggressive fish. They are good with other small, peaceful fish. They also get along with other types of gouramis. But male Bettas might pick on them. So, don't keep them together. Croaking gouramis are very sensitive to noise. The tank should be in a quiet part of your home.
What Croaking Gouramis Eat
In the wild, croaking gouramis mostly eat insects. They enjoy insects and their larvae. But they also eat other things. This includes tiny water animals, small crustaceans, and shrimp. Sometimes, they might even eat plant matter.
Feeding Your Pet Gourami
In an aquarium, it's important to give them different kinds of food. This helps them stay healthy for a long time. You can feed them standard flake foods. Also, give them freeze-dried bloodworms, tubifex worms, and brine shrimp. Some algae-based flakes are good too. Giving them live brine shrimp sometimes is fun. You can watch them hunt, just like they would in nature!
How Croaking Gouramis Have Babies
It can be tricky to tell male and female croaking gouramis apart. One way is to look at their top fin. The male's top fin is pointed. The female's is rounded.
Building a Bubble Nest
The male croaking gourami builds a special nest. He uses air bubbles and a sticky substance. He usually builds it under a leaf. For breeding, the water level should be lowered to about 8 inches. The water flow should be very gentle. The temperature should be around 28°C (82°F).
Laying Eggs
The male and female will meet under the nest. The female responds to the male's dance. She rolls over, and they embrace. About 5 to 10 eggs are released at once. The male then picks up the eggs. He spits them into the bubble nest. He might add more bubbles to the nest too. This can happen many times. They might lay around 100 eggs in total. Some large females can lay over 200 eggs.
Caring for Babies
After the eggs are laid, the female should be moved to another tank. The male will take care of the bubble nest. He looks after the eggs and the baby fish (called fry). After 2 or 3 days, the male should also be moved. When the babies first hatch, they need very tiny food. Later, you can feed them baby brine shrimp. You can also give them finely ground flakes. It's important to keep the breeding tank covered. Protect it from cool air drafts. Cold air can harm the baby fish. This is especially true when they start to breathe air using their developing labyrinth organs.
