Planning On Starting A Sparkling Gourami Tank

[Mikaila31]

OK it's a 20 gal. planted tank, but it's not quiet planted yet. Once i get it fully planted i would like to make it a species tank for sparkling gouramis (and ottos for alge contol).
My questions:
what is the best ratio (male:female) to keep these fish in?

everything i've read on these fish says it nearly impossible to determin their sex. How do u get the right amount of males and female from the LFS?

Is there anything special that they like in there tanks?

Any special foods that they like?

and any other information on this fish that u think will help me, i would greatly appriciate .

 

[Labyrinth]

Hi Mikaila31

Trichopsis pumilus - Sparkling (pygmy) Gourami

What is the best ratio (male:female) to keep these fish in?
The usual ratio of 1 male to at leased 2 females.

How do u get the right amount of males and female from the LFS?
Tell them how many you want of each, the males should have more pointed fins, and the females should be duller. Also the males normally have a red line at the anal fin as well.

Is there anything special that they like in there tanks?
The tank must be 25oC or slightly higher, as they require the higher temp. Also they prefer soft, acidic water.

Any special foods that they like?
Most foods they will eat, normal flake food will suffice, bloodworm they like but dont over feed them with it.

Any Other Information
Only keep these with small fish, as they are small (40mm). Build Bubble nests. Croak when breeding.

I would advise buying a group of Ottos, at leased 3, as they like company of there own kind.

Hope this helps!

Lab

 

[sylvia]

Most of your questions were answered though be aware that males can fight with each other if they feel they are being threatened and don't have clear-cut territories. For the sexing issue - search the this section of the forums. There have been countless threads posted on this subject. I'll try to locate a good one for you in a minute. About feeding - don't give them only flake foods or simialr commercial foods. if you want them to be ehalthy and brightly oclored (and possibly even spawn), you'll need to offer them live or frozen foods regularly - bloodworm, blackworm, brine shrimp and daphnia are all good. Daphnia is also good occasionaly to decrease the liklihood of any of the fish getting bloated - not just for the sparklers.

edit:
http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=93218&hl=
http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showto...+gourami+sexing
There are plenty of others that mention sexing sparklers. To be honest, I didn't read through them - I just read the title or the first post and went from that - so I don't know quite how helpful they'll be. But, if you search gouramies & anabantoids for 'sparkling gourami sexing', a huge number of relevant posts come up.