How to Keep Blue Gourami Fish in the Aquarium
Having blue gourami in the aquarium certainly adds more beauty. Aside from being beautiful, the fish is also hardy, making it relatively easy to keep.
Blue gourami (Trichogaster trichopterus) is one of the many kinds of ornamental fishes that you can find and buy at the market. This stunning freshwater fish is also commonly known as three-spot gourami because it has three spots on the body. However, it turns out that there are only two spots; one at the beginning of the tail and one at the center of its body. So, where is the third spot? The blue gourami's eye is the third spot!
Besides being beautifully stunning, blue gourami are not picky eaters—making them easy to keep for those new in fish keeping. However, keeping blue gourami in the aquarium still requires research and planning like any other fishes. Before you head out and buy blue gourami, you may want to read this article on how to take care of it!
Tank Size and Conditions
Young blue gouramis commonly require a tank with a minimum of 20 gallons or 76 liters (rounded up). As they continue to grow, you will need to switch to a bigger tank. It is recommended for adult blue gouramis to be at least around 30 – 35 gallons or 114 – 132 liters. These tank sizes are considered to give more comfort and room for the active blue gouramis.
As a freshwater fish, blue gouramis also have their preferences. Even though they are hardy and can tolerate certain parameters, it does not mean that unsuitable water parameters will not affect their health. Here are the parameters:
• Water Hardness: 5 – 35dGH
• Water Temperature: 74 °F – 82 °F or 23 °C – 28 °C
As for decorations, blue gouramis like vegetated water. Avoid decorating the aquarium with floating plants because this type of fish likes to stay near the water surface rather than going to the bottom of the tank.
Another thing to note is that you need to keep a weak water flow in the fish tank because blue gourami does not like strong currents. To increase oxygen levels, adding air stones is very recommended. Although they do not produce much waste, you still need to have a strong filtration to prevent nitrate and ammonia buildups.
Tankmates
Blue gourami is quite easy-going, but they are territorial. The males tend to pick a fight with smaller fishes, including their own species. It is recommended to pick tankmates with similar or equal sizes. Scavenger catfish, barbs, danios, platies, tetras, molies and loaches are ideal tankmate options for blue gourami in the aquarium.
Breeding
If you plan to breed blue gourami, it is best to do it in a separate tank. Create a similar condition as you did in the main tank, but adjust the water to become softer and a little bit more acidic. When the conditions are met, the male will start to create a bubble nest and entice the female to perform a blue gourami mating ritual.
After the female lays her eggs, immediately remove her to avoid any male domestic violence. The male stays behind to take care of the eggs. Once they hatch in about three days, you can feed them infusoria or powdered dry food.
In conclusion, keeping blue gourami in the aquarium is recommended for those new to fishkeeping. As long as you follow the guidelines, these stunning freshwater fish can live up to five years. One other thing that's important to have is your commitment to keeping them!
Source:
https://www.liveaquaria.com/product/973/?pcatid=973
https://www.aquariumsource.com/blue-gourami/