Anabantids
The other aspect of their labyrinth organ means some species can across land, on a humid night, to find better waters. It can be classed as 'walking' by use of their pectoral fins.
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Dwarf Gourami (Colisa lalai) is suited to a community tank & should be kept in pairs. The male is the more colourful fish. Their natural habitat is in India, Pakistan & often found in the Ganges together with other rivers. They swim in the mid-upper levels & their maximum size is 2". They are often prone to disease & water quality needs to be checked together with bullying from other fish. |
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Golden & Opaline Gourami is tank-bred coloured varieties of Three-Spot Gourami (Trichogaster trichopterus). The fish are hardy & swim in the mid-upper levers of the water. In their natural habitat, Southeast Asia, they grow to a maximum of 4". They can be shy but the male can be aggressive when breeding. | 
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| The name Kissing Gourami (Helostoma temminckii) comes from the obvious. This is not just part of the mating ritual but also males deciding who is the 'top dog'. Due to their prominent mouths, they are good at controlling algae. In the wild, Southeast Asia, their size grows to a maximum of 12". Needless to say, I have never seen a fish grow to its maximum but these need reasonable space. They are happy in a community tank as long as the others are of similar size. | 
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Siamese Fighting Fish (Betta splendens) are often thought to be very aggressive to all fish. The actual fact is the males are aggressive to their own sex & sometimes females. Put two males in a small tanks & they will fight until the one dies! Females can be aggressive & once I read a comparison to males. The percentage is 99% for males & 45% for females. I have been told that putting two males in a large tank, set up for them to have their own territory, they will be fine but I haven't tried & probably never will.
As far as colours, they are generally royal blue or crimson. Albinos are around but they are not my cup of tea. Their swimming & breeding are interesting. When not in any danger, they 'meander' along. When either defending or showing aggression, their fins flare & they raise their gill covers. In breeding the first part is the bubble nest, which attracts the female. The next is a display by both to the other followed by an embrace under the nest. When done, the female must get out of the area or be taken out by the owner. One book I read explained that if they are unable to reach the surface, they are likely to die. Needless to say, no chance of me proving them wrong! |
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