| Chocolate gourami | ||||||||||||||
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| Scientific classification | ||||||||||||||
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| Binomial name | ||||||||||||||
| Sphaerichthys osphromenoides Canestrini, 1860 |
The chocolate gourami, Sphaerichthys osphromenoides, is a small species of gourami. These fish originate from the Malay Peninsula, Sumatra and Borneo.[1]
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Appearance and anatomy
Chocolate gouramis reach a length of 6 centimetres (2 in).[1] These fish have a chocolate colour with golden bands running down its body.
Ecology
These fish are restricted to peat habitats.[1] Unlike many other labyrinth fish, which breed by incubating their eggs in a bubble nest, this species is a mouthbrooder.[1] The female incubates the eggs in her mouth.[2] These fish are omnivorous, but feed primarily on insects.[1]
In the aquarium
They are popular aquarium fishes but they are a challenging species to keep in an aquarium. Without optimum water conditions, these fish are susceptible to bacterial infections and skin parasites.[2] Chocolate Gouramis are best kept on their own in well planted species aquaria with gentle filtration. They require soft, acidic water; most of all, they prefer a higher temperature than most fish. Temperature should be maintained at 25–27°C (77–81°F).[2] They are generally fussy eaters, preferring to eat live foods or freeze-dried, frozen equivalents over flake food.[3]
References
- ^ a b c d e "Sphaerichthys osphromenoides". FishBase. Ed. Ranier Froese and Daniel Pauly. May 2007 version. N.p.: FishBase, 2007.
- ^ a b c Sanford, Gina (1999). Aquarium Owner's Guide. New York: DK Publishing. ISBN 0-7894-4614-6.
- ^ Axelrod, Herbert R. (1996). Exotic Tropical Fishes. T.F.H. Publications.
