Chocolate Gouramis

[penguin22]

I visited my local LFS today to find they had some chocolate gouramis! I have never seen any before and I am looking for something to finish off my tank. The tank in question is the one below (100 ltr). I am aware that the chocolate gouramis can be difficult to keep but my water quality is good, it is soft/medium hardness and slightly acidic. It is also well planted. If I buy them how many should I get?(I would like a pair). Also how do I sex them? Most importantly will they get on with my other fish who are very happy at the moment. Any replies greatly appreciated!!!

 

[helterskelter]

Your need plenty of live foods as they usualy dont take flake foods very well.

most if ur fish should be on but not to sure about the tetra's, and min number is a pair, think they like to live in groups though.

 

[penguin22]

Yes Ive heard about the live foods, neon tetras not in that tank but black phantom tetras are. Cant feed live foods all the time would frozen foods be a good suplement as I have lots of various frozen food. Thanks for reply any more would be a great help dont think they will be in LFS too long and I wont buy them till Im sure they will be suitable. Would 4 be a good number tank is fully stocked cant have any more than that, would prefer 2?

 

[ArauraDiscus]

The fish you have should be suitable companions. They won't bully the choclates.

 

[Maximumbob]

One thing I have found my choc gouramis like (almost need really) is good floating plants. I see your tank is well planted, which is great.

I have found my fish benefit from shorter lighting periods, slightly acidic water (i keep mine at 6.7-6.8) and whatever floating plants I have. I have Elodea cabomba and they have both done the job well. As regards pH - do your homework on what particular species you get. Find out what their wild habitat is and how they have been kept before they got to the fish shop.

I have also found chocs to be very sensitive to sudden brightening of lights at unexpected times. I once forgot to feed them when distracted by my sons in the bath! (they nearly flooded the place!) My lights are on a timer, and I went down 1-2 hours after lights out. When I put the light on the fish were very jumpy and looked a terrible colour, and didnt really take to food anyway. 24 hours later with additional plant cover and reduced lighting they looked better. This is something I wont do again.. they can always nibble on my plants if they are really hungry

Feeding wise I give mine a combination of frozen live food and flake. I found they like baby brine shrimp and daphnia. I think live food has been a real good thing for them, making them much stronger and improving their colour a lot.

As regards tank mates, tey seem ok, but I never trust tetras when it comes to not nipping. Chocs are very slow swimmers (they can zoom if startled, but this is the exception) and are stationary for prolonged periods. They are a very tempting sight. I would observe closely when introduced into the tank.

Also bear in mind, my experience comes from keeping Vaillants chocolate gourami, (Sphaerichthys vaillanti) which may be different from the type you are considering.

One final note, there is a reason why most LFS dont keep them. They cant keep them alive long enough to sell them.... they really are a most sensitive fish. Beautiful, but sensitive... good luck.

ps... i forgot to say. sexing depends on what species... for my particular choc, the female is more brightly coloured than the male, and is slightly larger (before anyone asks.. yes female is brighter) Some are nigh on impossible to sex

 

[Miss Wiggle]

lovely little fish, we've gto a pair in Ian's tank and they seem really happy together. we actually bought those two as we think they have paired off, they are never apart from each other

only had them less than a week so we'll have to see how we go with them, but the pH in that tank is around 6 which they seem to love, ours are taking prepared foods, flake, tetra prima and such like

 

[Daveyg1969]

lovely little fish, we've gto a pair in Ian's tank and they seem really happy together. we actually bought those two as we think they have paired off, they are never apart from each other

only had them less than a week so we'll have to see how we go with them, but the pH in that tank is around 6 which they seem to love, ours are taking prepared foods, flake, tetra prima and such like

I also have only had these fish for 1 week (group of 4), and only had my community aquarium set up for 4 weeks!!!!

They do seem to be doing ok in a matured tank of PH 6.5 and I've been chuffed to see them feed for the 1st time today on frozen brine shrimp which they have battered.

I'm also pretty chuffed with my tank and myself also, as these fish, I have found out since, are apparently pretty hard to keep, something I wasn't told when buying.

I have been monitoring water conditions daily, especially nitrite, and removing water where necessary (around 10-20%).

I think a lot of it was buying these fish at the right time also, I wouldn't recommenend unless your nintrite levels have peacked and come down, and ur PH is relatively settled.

I don't pretend to be an expert on aquariums, but do welcome any questions/feedback, as with the help of these little fishes, I'm getting a real buzz out of fishkeeping this time around.

All the best,

Dave.