Breeding Honey Gourami (Trichogaster Chuna) In The Aquarium

Location

This freshwater fish lives in reservoirs with soft water and a lot of plants. These reservoirs usually are ponds, ditches, floodplains, slow-flowing creeks in India and Bangladesh.

Body description

Colour of the body is orange-amber-honey with navy blue or black under-side and part of the anal fin. There are several variants of this fish e.g. yellow, orange, red. The species has elongated pelvic fins which look like thread-like appendages which are sensitive to touch. This species has also extra auxiliary respiratory organ known as the labyrinth organ. This organ allows the fish to breathe atmospheric air, so they can live in oxygen-poor reservoirs. Colour of the female is light beige with brown, horizontal stripe on the sides.

Temperament and behaviour

This is peaceful and shy species. Males can be territorial and a bit aggressive towards each other during the spawning season.

Aquarium decoration

This species prefers a spacious tank. This aquarium should have a lot of plants, floating plants, hiding-places among caves, rocks, gentle filtration system, dimmed light. The air above the water surface should have the same temperature as water. You should keep pair of this fish (male and female) or small group.

Breeding

This is an oviparous species. Male builds small nest from parts of plants, algae and bubbles among floating plants. He sets almost vertically in front of the female. Male tries to lure female to the spawn. He swims to the nest and back to her until she follows him. Then male wraps his body around female and he stimulates her to release eggs. Male carefully places them in the nest and. Female can lay up to 300 eggs. Male chases female after spawning. The eggs hatch after 4-5 days. The fry starts to swim and feed 1 day later. Male takes care for the offspring for the next few days.