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Blue gourami

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Blue gouramis are freshwater fish that belong to the Osphronemidae family, which also contains dwarf, gigantic, and other types. The two spots along each side of the gourami’s body in line with the eye, which are regarded as the third spot, give the gourami its name. Blue gouramis can be territorial, but they are generally docile.

Trichogaster trichopterus is blue gourami that can be found in Asia, particularly in Pakistan, India, and Korea. Gouramis are often found in rivers in many parts of the world, and they form a staple of many cultures’ cuisines.

Distribution

This widely distributed species can be found in Southeast Asia in its natural habitat. It can be found in southern China, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Thailand, Myanmar, Malaysia, Sumatra, Java, and Kalimantan, as well as the Mekong River basin. Sulawesi, the Philippines, Taiwan, Papua New Guinea, and the islands of Reunion, Seychelles, Namibia, the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, and Colombia have all been imported outside of their native range.

Blue gouramis swimming through the water
credit:hometanks.com

The blue gourami is commonly found in shallow lowland marshes, swamps, and peatlands, although it can also be found in streams and canals, as well as flooded woodlands during flood season. During the flood season, they migrate from permanent water sources to flooded places, such as the middle and lower Mekong’s seasonally flooded forests. They return to these permanent water bodies during the dry season. Zooplankton, crustaceans, and insect larvae are all eaten by these fish. The male constructs a bubble nest for the eggs, which he fiercely guards.

Behavior

  • Blue gouramis are labyrinth fish, which means they can take oxygen from the air they breathe.
  • Blue gouramis love a gentler water flow and prefer to swim in the middle or near the top of the tank.
  • They are sluggish swimmers. Gouramis are typically non-aggressive fish, however, males can be violent toward one another.
  • To avoid fighting, it’s preferable not to keep male blue gouramis together.

Habitat

The blue gourami is one of the most resilient members of the gourami family. Their native habitat includes ditches, canals, ponds, marshes, rivers, and lakes, and they prefer heavily vegetated waters of any kind. Blue gouramis can withstand a wide range of temperatures and aren’t fussy about their water. During the breeding season, however, they prefer soft, somewhat acidic water.

Body Characteristics

The species has a long, flattened body with big, rounded fins and a labyrinth organ that allows it to directly breathe air. Females are slightly larger than males, reaching up to five inches in length. The distinctions between males and females are minor. Female blue gouramis, on the other hand, have shorter, rounded dorsal fins.

Blue guoramis looking for diets
credit:azgardens.com

During the breeding season, females may appear rounder or fuller. Blue gouramis come in a variety of colors, from a light blue to a richer, darker blue. Marbled patterns with pieces of black, white, or even gold can be found on blue gourami fish. Each blue gourami is stunning and one-of-a-kind.

When they are under a lot of stress or aren’t kept in good conditions, three spot gourami are known to change color. Two bright black spots appear on either side of a healthy fish’s body, but these disappear with age. The most frequent selectively grown variants in the aquarium trade are opaline, platinum, blue, golden (or gold), and lavender the result of crossing a blue and golden, having a purple coloration.

Spawning

The male builds a bubble nest early in the day, which is the start of the spawning process. The male will try to persuade the female when a suitable nest has been made. The eggs are released immediately after that, and by the time they reach the bubble nest, they have been fertilized. Over the course of many hours, the duo may repeat the act several times.

It’s not uncommon for the number of eggs produced to exceed tens of thousands. Once spawning is accomplished, the female’s role is finished; remove her to avoid a male attack. The male will look after the eggs from now until they hatch.

Blue gouramis around its nest
credit:

Diets

The blue gourami is an omnivore, meaning it eats both algae and meat. These fish get their nutrition from an algae-based flake food, as well as freeze-dried bloodworms, tubifex worms, and brine shrimp. Mosquito larvae and daphnia larvae are both useful live meals. They can live for 5 years.

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