Fishes Catalogue - Labyrinth Fishes
(Families: Anabantidae, Belontiidae,
Helostomatidae, Osphronemidae)
Contents
Anabantidae [An-a-ban-ti-dee], or Labyrinth fishes, are a very interesting
group in so much as they require atmospheric air to supplement their
gills to survive. This has probably come about through an evolutionary
process, due to them living in waters where there was much decaying
matter and water low in oxygen, which led them to developing an accessory
breathing organ known as a labyrinth. Some species can even leave the
water and propel themselves across land to other bodies of water.
Not all fish requiring air are Anabantoids (Corydoras
catfish, for instance), and what separates Anabantoids from others is
the labyrinth chamber, hence their name. This structure is situated
on both sides of the gills, and consists of thin plates, rather like
the fins of a car radiator, and is provided with many small blood vessels
close to the surface, which facilitates the gaseous exchange with the
air. Fish can be seen from time to time visiting the waters surface
to gulp fresh supplies of air, to refill the labyrinth. The labyrinth
is not present in newly born fish, and takes a few weeks to develop;
however as the fish matures the labyrinth becomes indispensable, and
without it the fish would drown.
The suborder of Labyrinth fishes is comprised of four
families:
- Anabantidae...containing such species as the Climbing Perch,
Anabas, and Ctenopoma species.
- Belontiidae...which the Bettas and Paradise Fish belong.
- Helostomatidae...which only contains one species, the kissing
Gourami.
- Osphronemidae...which also only contains one species, the "true"
Gourami.
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Key to abbreviations
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| F: |
Female |
| M: |
Male |
| C: |
Carnivorous (flesh-eater).
|
| H: |
Herbivorous (vegetarian,
plant eater). |
| L: |
Limnivore (Mud-eater,
bottom feeding on vegetation, algae, worms, etc. any micro-organisms
they may find in the detritus on the bottom). |
| O: |
Omnivorous (varied diet,
live or recently killed meaty type food and plant material).
|
| FD: |
Freeze Dried. Min. Aquarium
size (minimum). |
| dH: |
degrees of hardness
(on the German scale). |
| KH: |
Carbonate Hardness (a
measure of temporary hardness see
Water
Quality). |
| Temp: |
Temperament. |
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| Common Name |
Three-Spot
or Blue Gourami
View Picture |
| Scientific Name |
Trichogaster trichopterus
|
| FAMILY |
Belontiidae |
| Origin |
Tropical Far East, South-East
Asia |
| pH |
6.5 - 7.5 |
| Hardness |
5º - 12ºdH |
| Temperature |
75º - 82ºF (24º-28ºC)
|
| Size |
4ins (10cm) |
| Min. Aquarium |
12 Gal (55 ltr) e.g.
24 x 12 x 12in (60 x 30 x 30cm) |
| Feeding |
O; Flake & Live Food
|
| Reproduction |
Egg Layers |
| Aquarium Lighting
|
Medium Light |
| Behaviour/Temp |
Peaceful Fish. Keep
with other peaceful fishes |
| Aquarium Set-Up |
Well planted |
| Swimming Habits |
Top Swimming |
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| Common Name |
Moonlight Gourami
View Picture |
| Scientific Name |
Trichogaster microlepis
|
| FAMILY |
Belontiidae |
| Origin |
Thailand |
| pH |
6.0 - 7.0 |
| Hardness |
2º - 12ºdH |
| Temperature |
77º - 84ºF (25º - 29ºC)
|
| Size |
6ins (15cm) |
| Min. Aquarium |
19 Gal(88 ltr) e.g.
30 x 12 x 15in (76 x 30 x 38cm) |
| Feeding |
O; Flake & Live Food
|
| Reproduction |
Egg Layers |
| Aquarium Lighting
|
Medium Light |
| Behaviour/Temp |
Peaceful Timid Fish.
Keep with other peaceful fishes |
| Aquarium Set-Up |
Well planted |
| Swimming Habits |
Top Swimming |
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| Common Name |
Pearl Gourami
View Picture |
| Scientific Name |
Trichogaster leeri
|
| FAMILY |
Belontiidae |
| Origin |
Malaysia; Borneo; Sumatra
|
| pH |
6.5 - 7.5 |
| Hardness |
6º - 12ºdH |
| Temperature |
75º - 82ºF (24º-28ºC)
|
| Size |
4ins (10cm) |
| Min. Aquarium |
23 Gal (106 ltr) e.g.
24 x 15 x 18in (60 x 38 x 46cm) |
| Feeding |
O; Flake & Live Food
|
| Reproduction |
Egg Layers |
| Aquarium Lighting
|
Medium Light |
| Behaviour/Temp |
Peaceful Fish, Two males
may fight… House with peaceful fishes |
| Aquarium Set-Up |
Well planted |
| Swimming Habits |
Top Swimming |
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| Common Name |
Chocolate Gourami
View Picture |
| Scientific Name |
S pH aerichthys os
pH romenoides |
| FAMILY |
Belontiidae |
| Origin |
Malaysia; Borneo; Sumatra
|
| pH |
6.0 - 7.0 |
| Hardness |
2º - 4ºdH |
| Temperature |
75º - 82ºF (24º - 28ºC)
|
| Size |
2ins (5cm) |
| Min. Aquarium |
12 Gal (55 ltr) e.g.
24 x 12 x 12in (60 x 30 x 30cm) |
| Feeding |
O; Flake & Live worms
|
| Reproduction |
Egg Layers |
| Aquarium Lighting
|
Medium Light |
| Behaviour/Temp |
Peaceful Timid Fish,
Best in Pairs… House with peaceful fishes, Delicate fish, water
quality important |
| Aquarium Set-Up |
Well planted |
| Swimming Habits |
Middle Swimming |
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| Common Name |
Giant Gourami
View Picture |
| Scientific Name |
Colisa fasciata
|
| FAMILY |
Anabantidae |
| Origin |
Bengal, Burma, Thailand
and the Malay Peninsula |
| pH |
7.0 |
| Hardness |
8ºdH |
| Temperature |
79ºF (26ºC) |
| Size |
5ins (13cm) |
| Min. Aquarium |
23 Gal (106 ltr) e.g.
24 x 15 x 18in (60 x 38 x 46cm) |
| Feeding |
O; Flakes, plant tablets/wafers,
veg |
| Reproduction |
Egg Layers |
| Aquarium Lighting
|
Medium Light |
| Behaviour/Temp |
Peaceful Fish, Best
in Pairs… House with peaceful fishes |
| Aquarium Set-Up |
Well planted, bogwood,
some rockwork |
| Swimming Habits |
Top Swimming |
Don’t be fooled by this Gouramis name, it is by no
means the largest of the family. It grows to about 5 inches (13cm) and
is widely distributed, being found throughout Bengal, Burma, Thailand
and the Malay Peninsula. Colour is varied, depending on locality, but
in general they would be green-brown, with a red eye. The male has more
red colour than the female, and also has a longer dorsal fin.
Characteristic of the Gouramis, are the pelvic fins,
which are the two long feelers that can easily be recognised, and the
Giant Gourami instinctively uses these to probe around, even in clear
water. This is a species quite suitable for a community aquarium.
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