Breeding Golden Gouramis

[fishnterrapins]

Hi all,

Right having just got over some horrible sort of crustacean parastie terrorising my gouramis and having my tank all settled I'm now thinking of trying to breed my gouramis.

I have 3 golden gouramis currently, 2 females and a male (and 1 kissing gourami of unknown sex)
In the tank along with these I have:

- 3 algae shrimps
- 2 6 / 7 " sailfin plecs
- 10 x-ray tetras
- 9 mollies
- 3 bronze corys
- 8 cardinal tetras
- 2 congo tetras
- 2 golden sucking loaches

It's a 140 litre (uk) tank with an external filter on it, the temperature is set at around 27 celcius. It is planted and has rocks etc for things to hide in.

So really the question is if all the above is ok for breeding them, how do I promote them to do it and what should I have in there for them to spawn onto / into?

Thanks

Dan

 

[sylvia]

Now I know this isn't what you want to hear and perhaps you've heard it before but I have to say it again anyway just in case. Your tank is overstocked. 140 litres is about 35 gallons which is a decent size - but not for what you have in it.

A good rule of thumb for working out stocking levels is to aim for one gallon per inch of adult fish length. So, for example, a three-spot gourami (golden is one color morph of this species) grows to a maximum of about 5-6" so it needs at least 5 gallons in terms of bioload.

Having said that, a 5 gallon tank is NOT large enough for one of these fish - I'd say a 20 is a minnimum. The point I'm making here is that the guideline really is just that - a guideline - it doesn't take into acount a LOT of important things (such as territoriality).

Now looking at your list of fish:

- 3 algae shrimps - Absolutely fine
- 2 6 / 7 " sailfin plecs - These grow to a foot long, often more. They are also MASSIVE waste producers and are territorial. These fish, kept singly, need at least a 90 gallon - 2 is out of the question for a 35.
- 10 x-ray tetras - Approx. 1.5" each so about 15 gallons for these 10.
- 9 mollies - Can get to 4", I'll go for a conservative estimate of 2" - so 18 gallons.
- 3 bronze corys - Around 5 gallons for these total.
- 8 cardinal tetras - About 8 gallons (or a tad more) for these.
- 2 congo tetras - Around 5 gallons.
- 2 golden sucking loaches - These grow to 10" and become increasingly aggressive as they mature. If there is one thing you are willing to change, I'd hope it would be this. These are not good community fish. They are infamous for their habit of sucking on other fish' slime coats and eyes and they will stop eating algae and become especialy territorial as they mature. They are also perfectly capeable of eating small fish.
- kissing gourami - Another fish not suited to a small tank. Kissers cannot be sexed visualy unless breeding and can grow to 12" (though 9-10" is more common). They are also territorial and I'd feel you were pushing things even in a 45 gallon - let alone a 35.
- golden three-spot gouramies - One of the most aggressive gouramies, especialy when breeding. I'd suggest a minnimum of 30 gallons for 3 so, in that respect, you are alright.

Over-all, you are obviously overstocked and have some compatibility issues as well. What I'd suggest would be to find your plecs, gold loaches, kisser and at least half of the mollies a new home.

Once that's done, you might consider the golden breeding idea again. However, you can't do it in a community due to aggression issues (plus it's difficult to feed the fry and they can get eaten). The first thing to do is to set up an appropriate breeding tank. I'll go find some recent posts on gourami breeding so I don't have to type everything up again - you can always search the forum as well

edit: http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=176437 Here's one about three-spots

 

[helterskelter]

Ditto, over stocked but at least you have an external filter to help reduce with the problem.

How ever if u want to breed them you never breed them in that tank with other fish....
You should think of getting a breeding tank of at least 3' to breed these fish.

Use a simple sponge filter, and to do have any moving water as they have to build a bubble nest which is destroyed very easily.

If you want to no more the ask away, but you need a breeding tank matures befior anything, and you'll need to whick of how you would feed the fry as well...

Helter

 

[fishnterrapins]

Thanks a lot for the advice guys,

I agree it snot what you want to hear (about being overstocked i mean) but to be honest thats why i asked on here reather than at my lsf as i knew people would be honest on here.

As a result am now trying to source another 4 x 2 x 1 ft tank to transfer some more fish into (of course all of this relies on the fact that i got the initial calculations right )

Again thanks

Dan

 

[fishnterrapins]

OK, just checked a couple of the online volume claculators and its acutally my maths thats at fault. It's actually 240 litres not 140

Oops

 

[fishnterrapins]

ARGHHHH! It's all going horribly wrong now another site syays my original thought was right.

Someone help please

 

[helterskelter]

My main point is that you would not breed them in the community tank and would have to invest in breeding tank to breed them in the first place.

 

[fishnterrapins]

Sorry yeah got a bit stressed with that this afternoon. I do appreciate the advice and am investing in a breeding tank. Also one of the plecs is being moved tomorrow along with some of the other fish.

 

[sylvia]

It's great that you are changing things Many people ignore advice and it really does take a lot to do something about your stocking when you are told like this.

My main concern right now would be the gold loaches and kissing gourami (as well as at least one plec). The rest would be ok short term until you sort something larger out.

What are your tank's dimensions in cm? I can work out the volume for you.

BTW, even if it's 240 litres, that's 60 gallons - still not big enough for the two plecs and the gold loaches would still have to go for compatibility reasons.

 

[fishnterrapins]

Thanks for the offer,

Have now moved into trying to find a new tank (much to the annoyance of other half ) and will be moving one of the plecs, the kisser and the golden loaches at least once its set up and cycled.

The tank is 122 cm long x 30 wide x 42 deep (i really do appreciate this thankyou)

I was thinking about changing things anyway as the 2 plecs who have grown up together now hate each other so I'm glad I now have an excuse to do things even quicker

Cheers

 

[fishnterrapins]

Thanks for the offer,

Have now moved into trying to find a new tank (much to the annoyance of other half ) and will be moving one of the plecs, the kisser and the golden loaches at least once its set up and cycled.

Hooray someone upstairs (if you believe in that sort of thing) likes me.

Just went to Lfs to pick up some live food and lo and behold they had a John Allen AAA tank (dunno if that is any good or not) thats 48" x 18" x 15" and the best thing is it was only £50

So am now trawling about for some second hand stuff to filter / light / heat it

Yay

 

[sylvia]

That's great!

One thing to note though si that the new tank won't be cycled (read the links in my signature if you don't know about that). To get round this, run your new filter on your existing tank for a week before transferring it and some fish to the new tank. Also, you can move some mature filter media from your existing tank and gravel, as well, over to the new one if you don't want to have to wait the week. Make sure you fill it up with dechlorinated water before you do this though.

My calculations suggest your tank is around 38 gallons (give or take a few due to thickness of glass and equipment). That means your original estimate of about 140 gallons is the correct one It's definitely not 240 litres.

 

[fishnterrapins]

Thansk for the reminder about cycling but i can assure you i've worked in enough Lfs's and seen enough dead fish come back because people didn't take that advice to forget that

Will let you know when the tank is set up and cycling