Q&A for How to Breed Gouramis

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  • Question
    How much time does it take to breed gouramis?
    Community Answer
    Within a day or two you can have eggs if they are mature enough. After 24 to 48 hours eggs will hatch.
  • Question
    How do I know if a female has laid eggs?
    Community Answer
    You will notice the eggs either on the floor of the tank, in the substrate, or on plants and in bubble nests.
  • Question
    How are the eggs fertilized? I believe my male gourami has died and the female is pregnant.
    Community Answer
    Normally the male creates the nest, not the female. Your fish might be a male who has overeaten. Limit your fish's food for few days, but don't remove the bubble nest. If the fish is female, let her be. After she lays eggs, remove her.
  • Question
    How do I know if they are female or male?
    Community Answer
    It depends on the species, in dwarf and honey gourami species, the males tend to be larger and more colorful than the females. Males also tend to be more territorial and aggressive than their female counterparts (this is a natural instinct to ensure that the males will be good protectors). In a pet shop, the easiest way to figure it out is to look at the dorsal and anal fins (the top and the bottom fin farthest to the back of the fish). In males these are generally pointed and are rounder in females. If you're still unsure, research the particular species you want to breed and talk to experts at your local fish store.
  • Question
    Can I breed gouramis when they already have seen each other?
    Community Answer
    Yes, even gouramis raised together will breed. They'll start spawning once you introduce them to a separate breeding tank.
  • Question
    How do I know that the female has laid eggs?
    Community Answer
    You will probably notice the change in the size of her stomach and she'll be sort of weak.
  • Question
    How do I know when my Gouramis are mature enough to breed?
    Community Answer
    The male will be about 4cm long and female about 6cm long -- in other words, they'll be adults.
  • Question
    When can fry safely go together with the adults?
    Community Answer
    Fry will take quite a long time to grow, but they can be placed in a community tank with smaller fish after they are about 4 weeks old.
  • Question
    Can I feed powdered flake food to the fry?
    Community Answer
    Yes, but you might need to break it up into smaller pieces for the fry.
  • Question
    My fish is not eating but its stomach is quite big and it is not moving its fins or its body. What can I do?
    Terry Shelton
    Community Answer
    If it is laying on the bottom she may not be able to have the babies. Believe it or not I have performed a "C" section on two different fish before. If you decide this is the problem, catch her in a net, put her in a bowl with tank water, take a sharp razor and make a small cut where the babies come out. Good luck, it worked for me.
  • Question
    After removing the female, what happens to the bubble nest?
    debanshu biswas
    Community Answer
    The male betta will bring the eggs to the bubble nest and take care of the eggs. After three days, the eggs will hatch. The male will bring the fallen babies to the bubble nest.
  • Question
    I have a pearl gourami. Will she mate with another species of gourami?
    Community Answer
    Yes, she will. It can be a little challenging, but you can have a hybrid gourami.
  • Question
    How do I determine sex of gouramis?
    Community Answer
    The male gourami has a pointed upper fin while the female has a rounded tip.
  • Question
    Can I leave just-hatched fry in a tank with other fish species?
    Community Answer
    It is not recommended, as the fry may be eaten.
  • Question
    Is it normal if my Gourami's eggs are surrounded with mold or a fuzzy substance?
    Community Answer
    No, it is not normal.
  • Question
    Can I feed live food to fry?
    Community Answer
    Yes, brine shrimp is usually a good starter option for most fry. However, brine shrimp are too small for some bigger species. Know your type and their specific requirements.
  • Question
    My gouramis have been kissing a lot lately, should I be concerned?
    Community Answer
    You have a type of gourami called kissing gourami. This is completely normal behavior.
  • Question
    What do gourami fry eat?
    Community Answer
    Any small organisms, including rotifers, tubifex worms, blood worms and brine shrimp. Crushed flakes and hard-boiled egg yolk serve as substitutes.
  • Question
    Can two different color gouramis breed?
    Community Answer
    Yes, though it's often a lot harder breeding hybrids.
  • Question
    Why is my gourami eating the other one's fins?
    Community Answer
    The males get aggressive when they are not in a tank of 15 or more gallons, and they need plenty of hiding spots too, such as caves and decor. Plants will do too, but they really seem to prefer caves.
  • Question
    I noticed some insects growing inside of thee eggs, how should I get rid of them?
    Community Answer
    Throw away the infected eggs and move the other non-infected eggs into another tank.
  • Question
    How long does it take for a gourami to become an adult?
    Community Answer
    If the fry are fed well with brine shrimp and other fry food, they will grow very fast and can be added with other gourami after 6 months. But they are only ready to breed after they are 1 year old.
  • Question
    How many days gap do I need to give after a successful breeding for the same pair of gouramis?
    Community Answer
    Gouramis can lay eggs twice a month. That is they can lay eggs after every 14-15 days.
  • Question
    What is the color of gourami eggs?
    Community Answer
    When the eggs are laid, they are usually transparent. But as the egg matures, they turn a little translucent/white and tiny 2 black dots are visible, which later on become their eyes.
  • Question
    How do I determine whether the fry is juvenile?
    Community Answer
    Immature fry may have difficulty in swimming. If it's juvenile, it will swim in circles.
  • Question
    When is the right time to feed the gourami fry for the first time?
    Community Answer
    When the fry are free-swimming. Start off with small infusoria and a lettuce leaf in some tank water for a few days, then move on as they grow. As they get bigger, increase the amount and size of the food -- brine shrimp are a good option.
  • Question
    What are all tank mates for gourami fish? Can we combine angel, mollies and guppies with them?
    Community Answer
    Yes! A few might pick at angel fish fins but this is great community setup otherwise. I would recommend getting some snails for algae too, like nerite snails. Gouramis are peaceful and can live as a centerpiece with most fish in community aquariums.
  • Question
    What do I do when my male Gouramis isn't making bubbles in the tank even after I have added floating things to the tank?
    Community Answer
    Give the pair time to breed and then they may start having building the bubble nest and maybe having fry. If not, they may not be a suitable pair for each other.
  • Question
    How long does it take a female to lay eggs after the bubble nest has been laid?
    Community Answer
    Generally, it takes 24-48 hours for the female to lay eggs after the bubble nest has been created or after her stomach/abdomen has swelled.
  • Question
    How do I know my gouramis gender?
    Laila Potter
    Community Answer
    It depends on the species, in dwarf and honey gourami species, the males tend to be larger and more colorful than the females. Males also tend to be more territorial and aggressive than their female counterparts (this is a natural instinct to ensure that the males will be good protectors). In a pet shop, the easiest way to figure it out is to look at the dorsal and anal fins (the top and the bottom fin farthest to the back of the fish). In males, these are generally pointed and are rounder in females. If you're still unsure, research the particular species you want to breed and talk to experts at your local fish store.
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