If you are starting your adventure with aquaristics and you care about effective fish, mosaic gurami will be an excellent choice. They do not have high expectations and are quite gentle by nature. They will do best in tanks with a lot of vegetation and not too much light. What conditions should these fish live in? What to feed them? We advise!
Gourami aquarium fish – where do they come from?
Mosaic guramis are fish that come from Asia. They found their way to Europe only in the 1930s. In natural conditions, they can be found in the following waters:
- Sumatry;
- Borneo;
- Malaysia;
- India;
- Thailand.
Where do gouramis get to our aquariums? Fish are born mainly in farms in Eastern Europe.
What does a mosaic gourami look like?
The mosaic gourami takes its name from the distinctive mosaic pattern found on its sides and fins. A very clearly visible black streak stretches from head to tail. Mosaic gourami comes in shades from pink to intense orange.
The male gourami is more intensely colored than the female. It also has longer and more pointed fins.
These fish can be up to 12 centimeters long, but the specimens seen in home aquariums are usually smaller. Their body is slightly flattened on both sides.
Gurami – fish with a shy character
The mosaic gourami is a very gentle fish that does not show aggression towards other aquarium inhabitants. Both males and females have a slightly skittish personality.
It manifests itself especially when the aquarium is too bright or there are no plants in it that could shelter the fish. They will feel much better in shaded reservoirs with a large amount of vegetation. Terrified gouramis may even try to jump out of the aquarium!
Mosaic gurami – requirements
In which aquarium should the mosaic gourami live? One hundred liters of net water per pair of fish is considered to be the minimum. The tank should be spacious and moderately lit.
Fish of this species feel best when they have a lot of space to swim, and at the same time a place to hide. To provide them with them, you should plant quite dense vegetation in various places in the aquarium.
Under natural conditions, the mosaic gurami lives in fairly shallow reservoirs with relatively little oxygen. Due to their anatomical structure (the presence of a special labyrinth apparatus), they are able to breathe atmospheric air. However, this does not mean that gourami water does not need filtration. You also need to take care of its regular replacement.
Mosaic gourami – water parameters
Water for mosaic gourami should be well filtered. Strong currents should be avoided because they can damage the nests built by these fish. Remember to keep the following water parameters:
- 24–30 degrees Celsius;
- 2–30 degrees of hardness dGH;
- 5,5–8 pH.
Mosaic gourami is quite tolerant fish, which forgives many beginner aquarists mistakes. However, it is necessary to ensure that it has good living conditions. Then you will be able to enjoy her company for up to 8 years.
Gurami – with what fish to keep them in the aquarium?
Mosaic guramis are sociable goldfish that are very gentle with their tank companions. They can live in both social and species aquariums. It is recommended to keep at least two fish of this species, with at least two females per male. Otherwise, insistent courtship may prove too much to bear for one fish.
The cast of the aquarium with mosaic gourami is not difficult to complete. You just have to remember not to choose large and aggressive fish for it. However, they will be great for:
- cuirass;
- neonki;
- wonderful loaches;
- mowers;
- chickens.
Mosaic gourami – what to feed it with?
Feeding mosaic gourami is not a particularly difficult task. These are fish that eagerly eat good-quality dried food – for example in the form of flakes or granules. It is also worth diversifying it with live food, for example:
- mosquito larvae;
- daphnia;
- bloodworm;
- with a pipe.
All the insect larvae mentioned above can also be given to fish in a frozen form.
Mosaic gurami – the price of fish
Gurami are fish that are not expensive. You can buy single specimens for about PLN 10, they are available in most pet stores.
Gurami – reproduction
Mosaic gouramis are oviparous fish. If a pair of fish live in good conditions, they will most likely reproduce on their own without your help. If you are planning to breed fish of this species, it is a good idea to slightly raise the temperature in the aquarium. It is also necessary to feed the fish abundantly.
You can also prepare a spawning aquarium. It should be shallow – let the water height not exceed 20 centimeters. You can expect spawning in the evening. It is worth taking a good look at it because it is quite a spectacle! The male gourami takes on mating colors which make it look much more magnificent.
Even before spawning, the male builds a nest from his saliva and places it among aquarium plants. When his advances are successful, he bends into a U, hugs the female, and fertilizes the eggs she sheds. The disposable roe of the mosaic gourami is very numerous. As many as 300 fry can hatch at a time. The complex roe is looked after by the male. The female is recommended to be fished out of the breeding aquarium.
Mosaic gourami – summary
Mosaic gurami is one of the best fish for inexperienced aquarists. It does not have very high requirements, and properly cared for can bring a lot of satisfaction. This species is considered to be one of the calmest and gentlest of all gouramis. Its representatives are also distinguished by extraordinary beauty, which can be admired in all its glory in the male at the time of spawning.