Giant Gourami And Plants

[Giant Gourami]

Hi, I'm new to this forum and joined specifically to chat to those members who own a Giant Gourami. I have a temperamental 4 year white giant gourami named Gus, full of personality. I will post some pictures soon.

I was wondering if anyone could comment (from personal experience) on what plants they have managed to keep with their giant gouramis. Up until now I have kept him in a 6 foot tanks with volcanic rock and driftwood. But I've read that giant gourami prefer a heavily planted aquarium.

I realize they are omnivores and love eating vegetable matter (my guy loves his banana and peas), but my reading tells me Java fern and anubias aren't eaten by giant gouramis, due to their bitter taste. Anyway, I bought some Java fern and no sooner had I put it in Gus swam over to check it out bit off a whole leaf. Now, I thought he might spit it out, but NO he chewed it (as if to savor it flavors and swallowed it), he then went back for seconds. By morning he had eaten his way through half of it.

So my question, is Gus just a pig of a fish or has anyone else had a giant gourami that eats Java fern. Secondly can anyone recommend some plants (from personal experience) that can be kept with this interesting fish.

 

[jasonskillz]

hahahahaha
fake plant are the best


i also joined this forum just to talk about giant gouramis
as some of you people probably can tell
i only post on giant gourami threads

 

[Giant Gourami]

Have you tried any "real" plants?

 

[Giant Gourami]

Pictures of Gus. Anyone have an idea of what sex it is?

 

[jasonskillz]

ugh
im not very good at telling so yaaaa
how many gals is you tank?

 

[sylvia]

How big is it? It looks female to me

You're unlikely to find any plants a giant won't eat However, if you can get a very large amazon sword, it may last a while.

 

[Giant Gourami]

how many gals is you tank?

600 liters (159 gallons or 132 imperial gallons)

How big is it? It looks female to me

You're unlikely to find any plants a giant won't eat However, if you can get a very large amazon sword, it may last a while.

Gus is 47 cm (19 inches), and from these pictures I would also say "he" is a female, although "his" anal fin appears more p;ointed in real life.

As for the plants there is plenty of information on th net which says they wont eat Java Fern and large anubias type plants. But like I said Gus didn't seem to mind java fern, although he hasn't eaten it all yet.

So was hoping those of you that have giant gouramis could tell me what plants you have successfully kept with these fish.

 

[sylvia]

Just to clarify something - I didn't decide the sex of your fish based on its fins alone - you need to look at its body shape and color as well (eg: males tend to have thicker lips, females have a more 'compact' body etc). I actualy asked the size because almost all adult Osphronemus have pointed anal and dorsal fins - regardless of sex. Plus you need to consider that Osphronemus change very much during their development.