Dwarf Gourami

COMMON NAME: Dwarf Gourami.

SCIENTIFIC NAME: Colisa /a/la.

DESIGNATION: Tropical.

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION: India, particularly Assam and Bengal.

SIZE: Up to around 5 cm (2 in).

WATER PREFERENCES: Not critical. Temperature: 24-28°C (75-82°F).DIET: All foods.

BREEDING: Typical Anabantoid surface bubble nester with the male taking charge ofthe eggs and fry. Vegetation is often incorporated among the bubbles.

DESCRIPTION: Despite its generally tolerant reputation, males of this species can become quite aggressive when inbreeding condition and can control a thankful of other, larger fish.

Several artificial varieties have been available for some years under various names: Sunset, Red, Blue, Neon and, most recently, a Redi Sunset variety with blue stripes.

• The dwarf Gourami is a popular aquarium fish among fish breeders. The fish is quite hardy and the male fish displays excellent coloration.
• The fish is widely caught in its native place, the streams of northern India as food. It is either sold fresh or in dried form.
• The fish can be found in variety of colors like the Neon Dwarf Gourami, Sunset Dwarf Gourami, Blue Dwarf Gourami, Powder Blue Dwarf Gourami and Flame Sunset Dwarf Gourami.
• The native place of the Dwarf Gourami consist of the fresh water streams of northan part of India, Bangladesh, Pakistan and even in Nepal and Myanmar. The fish is a typical benthopelagic freshwater breed. Due to its popularity in the commercial market the fish ahs also been introduced in the countries like the Singapore, Columbia and even in United States of America.
• The fish would be mainly found in the densely planted habitat with slow moving waters. In the rivulets the fish thrives along with other fish breeds like those belong to the genus Colisa specie.
• While keeping the fish as pet one should make sure that its captive environment must be somewhat similar to the environment of its natural habitat. The aquarium must be well planted. Though too large sized aquariums may not be required to keep the fish but you must ensure that the size of the water tank must not be less than 60 cm or 24 inches in length.
• Place the aquarium in the quietest space in your house as the fish get disturbed to a great extent in case it is kept in a noisy habitat.
• The fish mainly swims in the middle and top layers of the water.
• It is a peaceful community tank fish ideally to be kept with other non aggressive species of fish. Common the fish is kept along with breeds like guppies, sword fish and the tetras. The fish can be easily bullied if kept with larger sized fish.
• Keeping several male dwarf Gourami can be quite troublesome as they turn out to be territorial. So, you are advised to keep the fish large tanks where they would be forming their own territories with the water plants acting as natural boundaries.