|
|
|
LABYRINTH FISH
OSPHRONEMIDAE FAMILY
The Osphronemidae Family consists of the genus
Osphronemus
and inhabits Southeast Asia and Australia.
Common Gourami, Giant Gourami, Gourami, True Gourami
[
Pictures
]
Osphronemus goramy
SYN
:
Osphronemusgourami, O. gourami, O. olfax, O. notatus
PD
: A large, laterally compressed fish with an oval-shaped body. Young fish have a pointed head, while older individuals have a small, blunt head. The pelvic fins are long and thread-like, and the anal and dorsal fins are located on the rear part of the body. Young fish are reddish brown to dull orange with a number of brown,transverse bands. The fins are orange. As the fish gets older, it becomes less attractive and loses its handsome stripes. Adults have a dark brown back and brown flanks covered with iridescent silver scales. The fins are also brown.
SIZE
: To 28" (71 cm)
SS
: Young fish resemble the Chocolate Gourami.
HAB
: Originally from Java and Sumatra, although, now imported from throughout Southeast Asia and Australia where it has been introduced as a food fish.
S
: All
TANK
: A 40" (101 cm), 45-55 gallon (170-209 L) tank is sufficient for small specimen measuring up to 8" (20 cm) in length. Be aware that this species does not stop growing at this size and constantly requires a larger tank. For instance, a 60" (152 cm) tank with a capacity of 90-110 gallons (342-416 L) will only house a specimen to 15" (38 cm). In any case, the tank should be well-planted with a cover of floating plants. Provide retreats with large rocks and pieces of wood. Use a large filtration system, as a fish of this size produces a great deal of waste.
WATER
: pH 6-8 (7.0), 5-25°dH (10), 68-86°F (20-30°C)
SB
: While small this species can be combined with most other medium-sized community fish. It grows quickly and gradually smaller tank mates may disappear. When the Giant Gourami reaches this stage, it is best combined with other large, peaceful fish.
SC
:
Leporinus,Anostomus, Botia, Helostoma
, Silver Dollars, Knifefish, Loricarids,
Scleropages.
FOOD
: Pellets; tablets; oatmeal; vegetables; lettuce, spinach; live; fish, earthworms,larger crustaceans; aquatic insects; flakes.
SEX
: The dorsal and anal fins of the male are pointed.
B
: Fairly easy in a large, well-planted tank. Fish are sexually mature at 6 months. A large nest is built near the surface, out of grasses, plants, and roots. The large eggs are laid near the nest and are maneuvered there by the male. The male cares for the eggs and may chase off the female. The eggs hatch in 24-36 hours and the fry are free-swimming after 3-5 days. The male continues to guard them for 14-21 days, until the young are able to fend for themselves. Start feeding with newly hatched
Artemia
nauplii and powdered flake foods.
BP
: 7. This prolific species is easily bred, the only catch being that a large tank is needed.
R
: A major food fish, that was introduced throughout Southeast Asia and Australia to stock ponds and lakes. A golden color variant exists. These fish can live a long time- one individual was reportedly 20 years old.
DC
: 6. This robust species is easily cared for in a large tank.
Species Index
|
Fish Home
|
Rainforests
|
|
|
|
Recent news
Sushi lovers may be eating Critically Endangered species without knowing it
(11/24/2009)
Restaurants sampled in New York and Colorado are serving up bluefin tuna without informing their customers know they are dining on an endangered species, according to a new study in PLoS ONE. Using DNA barcoding researchers from the Sackler Institute for Comparative Genomics at the American Museum of Natural History found that nearly a third of tuna sampled in one restaurant in Colorado and thirty restaurants in New York served bluefin tuna, and nine of the restaurants did not label the tuna as bluefin.
Videos and Photos: over 17,000 species discovered in waters beyond the sun's reach
(11/23/2009)
Deep, deep below the ocean's surface, in a world of ever-present darkness, one would expect few, if any, species would thrive. However, recent expeditions by the Census of Marine Life (CoML) have found an incredible array of strange, diverse, and amazing creatures. To date a total of 17,650 species are now known to live in frigid, nearly lightless waters beyond the photic zone—where enough light occurs for photosynthesis—approximately 200 meters deep. Nearly 6,000 of these occur in even harsher ecosystems, below depths of 1,000 meters or 0.62 miles down.
Using fish as livestock feed threatens global fisheries
(11/18/2009)
Fish doesn't just feed humans. Millions of tons of fish are fed every year to chickens, pigs, and even farmed fish even in the midst of rising concerns over fish stocks collapses around the world. Finding an alternative to fish as livestock feed would go a long way toward preventing the collapse of fish populations worldwide according to a new paper in Oryx.
ICCAT fails to protect critically endangered tuna—again
(11/15/2009)
The International Commissions for the Conservation of Atlantic Tuna (ICCAT) ignored the advice of its scientists to end fishing of the Atlantic bluefin tuna. Instead ICAAT set a quota of 13,500 tons of fish. This is not the first time ICCAT has flouted its own researchers' advice: it has repeatedly set quotas well-above its researchers' recommendations.
Governments, public failing to save world's species
(11/04/2009)
According to the International Union for the Conservation of Nature's (IUCN) 2008 report, released yesterday, 36 percent of the total species evaluated by the organization are threatened with extinction. If one adds the species classified as Near Threatened, the percentage jumps to 44 percent—nearly half.
Atlantic bluefin tuna should be banned internationally: ICCAT scientists
(10/29/2009)
Scientists with the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tuna (ICCAT) have said in a new report that a global ban on Atlantic bluefin tuna fishing is justified. ICCAT meets in November to decide if they will follow their scientist's recommendations.
|
|
