Sparkling gouramis!

Taratron · Post by **Taratron** » 08 Feb 2004, 06:20

After searching the Phoenix area for nearly three years, I finally FOUND the last "oh dear Goddess that is a GORGEOUS fish" on my impossible to get list! (The first two were kuhli loaches and pygmy cories.)

And I found these gouramis at PetsMart, of all places!

I'd love to go back and grab the rest of them (I think there is 4 or 5), but all I have left without labyrinth fish is my 20 gallon tank. It has a BN pleco, pygmy cories, 7 cardinal tetras, a sole virgin molly, 1 amano shrimp, and the tank is planted.

How many sparklers could I safely get away with?

Fish Demon · Post by **Fish Demon** » 08 Feb 2004, 09:37

The tank is pretty full already, so I wouldn't put more than one or two gouramis in there.

Congrats on the find!

coelacanth · Post by **coelacanth** » 08 Feb 2004, 19:28

Taratron wrote:How many sparklers could I safely get away with?

Try putting them on their own in a 5 gallon aquarium, with some plants that touch the surface round the edges, gentle sponge filtration. I found them almost impossible to stop spawning once settled, and if you move them back to your main aquarium once the fry hatch you should raise a few. I honestly believe they'll breed in a bucket if it's in a warm place.

Taratron · Post by **Taratron** » 09 Feb 2004, 08:04

Not too sure about breeding.....I can't even sex these guys!

Plus, my water is so hard you can sharpen knives on it......ah well.

Post by **Silurus** » 09 Feb 2004, 10:21

Trichopsis are very adaptable fish and you can probably get them to spawn, even in hard water.

sidguppy · Post by **sidguppy** » 09 Feb 2004, 10:26

Maybe he's keeping Trichogaster leeri, instead of Trichopsis?

if so; males have a pointed dorsal and a yellow-orange breast, wich isa white or only bland yellow on females.

the one on top is the male

Post by **Silurus** » 09 Feb 2004, 10:31

Maybe he's keeping Trichogaster leeri, instead of Trichopsis?

Nope, sparkling gourami is the common name given to Trichopsis pumilus. Pete wouldn't suggest putting them in a 5-gallon tank otherwise.
I don't think you can put a pair (not to mention several) pearl gouramis in a 5-gallon tank otherwise.

plesner · Post by **plesner** » 09 Feb 2004, 11:41

Taratron wrote:Not too sure about breeding.....I can't even sex these guys!

There's only one reliable way of sexing Trichopsis:

Put them (if possible in a small transparent container) in front of a strong light source. You can see the outline of the internal organs through the fish. Females have a long darkish triangle behind the rest of the intestines and immediately below the swim bladder. This triangle is not present in males, as it is a part of the ovaries.

When you've seen the difference once, you'll always be able to sex Trichopsis in a matter of seconds. The same system can be used with Pseudosphromenus species btw.

coelacanth · Post by **coelacanth** » 09 Feb 2004, 14:50

Silurus wrote:Pete wouldn't suggest putting them in a 5-gallon tank otherwise.
I don't think you can put a pair (not to mention several) pearl gouramis in a 5-gallon tank otherwise.

I wouldn't put a pair of Trichogaster leeri in anything under 30 gallons personally, but in the case of Sparklers Trichopsis pumilus 5 gallons is quite acceptable for a small group. I had no problems with 5 in this size aquarium, and once sexed this was reduced to a male and two females.

sidguppy · Post by **sidguppy** » 09 Feb 2004, 16:20

UGH!
another case of me falling headlong into the worn-out pit of #$%#$%#$%#$%#$%#$%common names.....

Maybe it should be a strict rule to learn Latin before keeping fish?

Taratron · Post by **Taratron** » 09 Feb 2004, 18:06

Latin? Well, common names are ALSO the tool of the devil. ;D

Sparkling gouramis!

Sparkling gouramis!

Re: Sparkling gouramis!