Frail gourami facts for kids
The frail gourami (Ctenops nobilis), also called the noble gourami, is a type of fish. It's known for carrying its eggs in its mouth, a process called mouth brooding. These gouramis live in parts of India and Bangladesh. They can grow up to about 10 centimeters (4 inches) long. You won't often see them in pet stores because they get stressed easily when moved. They can also be quite aggressive. This fish is the only known species in its group, or genus.
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Contents
Growing Up: From Friendly to Fierce
When young, frail gouramis are quite social. But as they get older and become adults, their behavior changes a lot. They become very aggressive towards other gouramis and sometimes even to other types of fish.
Life Cycle and Reproduction
You can tell male and female frail gouramis apart by their heads. Females have a thinner head and jaw. Males have a rounder jaw, which helps them with mouth brooding.
How Frail Gouramis Lay Eggs
The process of laying eggs can take many hours. The female lays her eggs, then carefully collects each one. She gently pushes them out of her mouth for the male to catch. The male holds the eggs with his anal fin and then places them into his mouth. They keep doing this until all the eggs are laid. During this time, both parents guard their area.
The Male's Role in Raising Young
After the eggs are collected, the male gourami becomes the parent who carries them. He develops a strange, marbled pattern on his body. During this time, the male eats much less, or sometimes not at all. The eggs stay safe in his mouth for about 7 to 20 days. After this, tiny, free-swimming baby fish, called fry, are released.
These smart fish show that even young or new parents learn how to hold the eggs properly. They learn not to swallow them by mistake!
Where Frail Gouramis Live
These small predators live in clear, slow-moving waters. Their homes are often filled with plants. You can find them in eastern India, northern Bangladesh, and even in Nepal.
Adapting to Their Environment
Frail gouramis are very good at adapting. They can live in places with lots of plants or in areas where plants are scarce. Their habitats experience big changes throughout the year. For example, during June and July, there are often heavy monsoon rains.
The water temperature where they live can range from 15 to 32 degrees Celsius (59 to 90 degrees Fahrenheit). The coldest temperatures are found in the northern parts of their range. These fish are able to survive big changes in water levels and flow.
What Their Habitat Looks Like
In Bangladesh, frail gouramis have been found in shallow, slow-moving streams. These streams have clear water with sand and bits of decaying plants on the bottom. They share these waters with many other fish species.
For example, in West Bengal, frail gouramis were found in a river basin. The water there was clear and flowed at a moderate speed. There were some small bits of dirt floating in the water, but no water plants.
