Funny Acting Dwarf Gourami's

[Guppylover]

I have 2 Dwarf Gourami's in my 10gal, one male and the other female. I've had them for 4 months now and things have been going brilliant with them
Around a month and a half ago I have notice some strange behaviour between these two fishies...
Well, it's kind of hard to explain but I'll try. They are like dancing You see female and male are side to side but not touching each other, the females face is right next to the males tail and exactly the same with the male. These two buggers are like nipping each others tail, anal fin and places near that ) While they are doing this they are swimming around in a circle slowing moving up.
I have noticed this funny dancing ceremony happen more often now... When they first started Romeo and Juliet (they're names) only dance around once a wekk but now it's like twice a day Is this even normal behaviour? ...or is something funny happening...

Another little thing that happen but not that often... is well... they kind of kiss Romeo and Juliet are facing each other and they start nipping/pecking/kissing each others cheek

I'm starting to freak out with this wierd behaviour of theirs... Does anyone know what's happening?

 

[Gourami Lover88]

It is a mating ritual,they both are ready to spawn and they are displaying to each other.

 

[Guppylover]

Really?
Wow... And I thought they just really liked each other How do I help them start spawing?

 

[jordan barnhart]

I can help you with that.

Just tell me...
... how many fish you have in there total
... if you have any empty fish tanks
... and if you have any freeze dried foods like bloodworms
... what kind of lighting you have
... and what sort of filtration

From there I can help you on what you'll need if you are seriously thinking about breeding these fish.

You need to think about what you'll do with the fry ahead of time, or you can let the parents eat them and keep a couple. I'd gladly take some of them off your hands.

Just tell me what you got and I can give you my methods.

 

[Guppylover]

Ok, I would really love to breed my Dwarf Gourami's

Ok answers to your questions...

... how many fish you have in there total
3 Peppered Cory Cat
2 Dwarf Gourami
1 Dwarf Otocinclus
2 Guppy
1 Poppendetta Furcarta
1 Large Swordtail Fry
1 Male Crowntail Betta (In a special floating container)
I will be moving the Betta into a tank of his own very soon...

... if you have any empty fish tanks
no... But I am getting another 10 gallon soon

... and if you have any freeze dried foods like bloodworms
Totally! I have plenty of frozen bloodworms!

... what kind of lighting you have
It's not a real light... but I have a small lamp above my 10gal. It's actually pretty good because all my plants are growing like there is no tomorrow.

... and what sort of filtration
I have a filter... I don't know what brand it is though but it's pretty good. It has a filter sponge and carbon inside. It also creates a little waterfall over my 0gal which places a lot of oxygen into my tank although it does disturb the water.

 

[tekknocolor]

I agree, it does sound like a mating dance... my three spot does something similar with a mirror... it's strange.

 

[jordan barnhart]

Well. You are heavily stocked in the 10 gallon you have. Breeding wouldn't be the best idea for now. Let them "court" and do their thing. Then once you get the other 10 gallon, cycle it, then move the gouramis in there. Keep the water level a bit low. Get a new breeder, and put it together. I have 2 of them and use the plants in there for the males to make a bubble nest in. Just throw them on top of the water and they float.

Filtration needs to be low. You do not want to much surface movement as it may disturb and break up the nest. Small internal filters work great or get one of those little fish bowl filters from walmart.

By the way, check your current tank and see if there is a bubble nest anywhere. Here are some pics if you do not know what one looks like. Just a big bunch of bubbles put together by the males. He will make several of these, break them down, and make new ones. He will also add a few bubbles every now and then,

If you have any of those that is a good sign. If I had my camera I'd show you my 10 gallon setups of dwarfs. I keep 1-2 males and 3 females. Once I see a pair the other get transfered to another 10 gallon.

I keep the floating plants on all tanks, have a small terrocotta pot, (Spelling?) the fake breeding grasses, and longer eel grass.

On the filter intake, I put womens panty hose/stockings around it. It prevents fry from being sucked in there,

Feed them bloodworms to help condition your pair.

 

[jordan barnhart]

Sorry for double post but in my tanks i keep it at about 7-9 inches of water, raise the temperature to about 79-80. This triggers spawning.

Once the nest had been built the male will begin courting the female, usually in the afternoon or evening. He signals his intentions by swimming around the female with flared fins, attempting to draw her to the nest where he will continue his courting display. If the female accepts the male she will begin swimming in circles with the male beneath the bubblenest. When she is ready to spawn she touches the male on either the back or the tail with her mouth.Upon this signal the male will embrace the female, turning her first on her side and finally on her back. At this point the female will release approximately five dozen clear eggs, which are immediately fertilized by the male. Most of the eggs will float up into the bubblenest. Eggs that stray are collected by the male and placed in the nest. Once all the eggs are secured in the nest, the pair will spawn again. If more than one female is present in the breeding tank, the male may spawn with all of them. The spawning sessions will continue for two to four hours, and produce between 300 and 800 eggs. Upon completion, the male will place a fine layer of bubbles beneath the eggs, assuring that they remain in the bubblenest. At this point the female(s) should be removed from the tank. The male will now take sole responsibility for the eggs, aggressively defending the nest and surrounding territory. In twelve to twenty-four hours the fry will hatch, and continue developing within the protection of the bubblenest. After three days they are sufficiently developed to be free swimming. The male should be removed from the tank once the fry have left the bubblenest or he may consume the young. Fry should be fed micro-food such as infusoria, rotifers, or commercial fry food for the first week. They can then be fed freshly hatched brine shrimp, and finely ground dry foods.

 

[Guppylover]

Thank you jordan barnhart
When I get my 10 gallon and finish cycling it, I'll try to mate these two lovebirds... or should I say lovefish!
I know my 10 gallon is a bit over stocked... I'm moving the betta to a tank of his own soon. So, I was planning that 10gal to be a Community Tank so...

Thank again

 

[Inchworm]

Hi jordan barnhart

Your post was very nicely cut and pasted from an article on this link:

http/freshaquarium.about.com/cs/anabanti...warfgourami.htm

Posting someone else's writing without giving them credit is called plagiarism. It is stealing, plain and simple, and is a nasty practice. Please do not do this again.

If those are not your own original photos, please credit the photographer as well.

 

[jordan barnhart]

Oh so sorry.

All credit to my pasted post goes to the respected owner/writer at

http/freshaquarium.about.com/cs/anabanti...warfgourami.htm

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Photos credit to their respected owners.