Thick Lipped Gourami

Thick Lipped Gourami is a peaceful petite fish. It is a hardy fish as well. Scientifically, it is known as Colisa labiosa. It grows to the size of around 3.2 inches or 8 cms. Its life span is that of about three years. If you are interested in knowing more about Thick Lipped Gourami, help yourself by reading the account below.

Geographical Distribution

Thick Lipped Gourami is found in Burma, India, and South East Asia.

Diet

The Thick Lipped Gourami is an omnivorous fish. A good base to its diet is provided by quality flake or pellet food. Blood worms, white worms, brine shrimp or any other suitable live food should be among the supplementary diet. You can treat it with fresh vegetables as well such as blanched lettuce.

Breeding

For breeding Thick Lipped Gourami, you need to have a separate tank. Ideal depth of water is about 5 inches (13cm). Keep the tank current at the minimum. Introduce a healthy pair of adults. A large bubble nest is built by the males. After spawning eggs are deposited in the nest. At this time female must be removed or else she is at the risk of being killed by the male. Soon fry emerge. Keep them on liquid fry food or infusoria until they can eat baby brine shrimp. The male must be removed when the eggs hatch.

Physical Description

Thick Lipped Gourami has an elongated body which is laterally compressed. The shape of its caudal fin is like a fan. Its ventral fins are slender and long and are almost like a thread. Color of its body varies but its back is generally dark orange-brown, while the belly is dark turquoise. Flanks of this fish are orange-brown with alternating transverse, turquoise stripes. Its ventral fins are orange to red, while the anal fin is bluish with an edging of white to orange. Its caudal fin and dorsal fin are dull orange. It may have an orange iris of its eye. Less colorfulness is seen among females with a white-silver belly region. This is a beautiful species (particularly in breeding coloration). It has recently given rise to a new golden form which is sometimes erroneously sold as the Golden Dwarf Gourami.

Tank Set Up

Tank of Thick Lipped Gourami should measure 24 inches or 61 cms. It should hold 38-75 liters or 10-20 gallons of water. Temperature it requires is 22 degree C to 28 degree C or 72 degree F to 82 degree F, pH should be 6-7.5 (6.8) and hardness of water should be 4-12 dH. Minimum 25% of water changes should be done weekly. As the labyrinth organ allows the fish to stay alive in oxygen depleted water, do not carry the misconception of considering water changes as unnecessary. Provide some plant cover and a few hiding places. This fish appreciates the cover of floating plants. A strong current in the tank bothers Thick Lipped Gourami, especially if the tank is small. Keep the tank in a room with a temperature as close as possible to the tank water or else there will be a risk of damage of the labyrinth organ.

Social Behavior

Thick Lipped Gourami registers its name among the most peaceful fish of its group. Some hierarchal behavior is displayed by it but it is not violent or aggressive like some of the other fish in the group. A small group of same size would be able to live together peacefully. It will be idyllic to have a group of five, alone or sharing the tank with some calm and friendly ones. Be careful never to mix fin nippers and Gouramis or else your Thick Lipped Gourami will become a victim.

The Thick Lipped Gourami in its natural colors is becoming a rarer and rarer view. Its popularity has been lost to the Dwarf Gourami to an extent because there are only few hobbyists who have the patience to wait for the Thick Lipped Gourami’s full colors, which are slower in coming. Such hobbyists are richly rewarded when males flush with breeding colors which are some of the most brilliant of the family.