Thick-lipped gourami
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Anabantiformes
Family: Osphronemidae
Genus: Trichogaster
Species:
T. labiosa
Binomial name
Trichogaster labiosa
F. Day, 1877
Synonyms
  • Colisa labiosa (F. Day, 1877)
  • Colisa labiosus (F. Day, 1877)

The thick-lipped gourami (Trichogaster labiosa) is a species of gourami native to Southeast Asia,[2] and is a popular aquarium fish.[3]

Description

Thick-lipped gouramis can reach a length of 9 centimetres (3.5 in) TL. They are sexually dimorphic, with the female being silvery, but the male marked with oblique thin red and blue stripes along its flanks.[2] The male also has pointed tips in its dorsal fin.[4]

Distribution

This fish is a freshwater species native to south Myanmar. It has also been introduced into Colombia.[2]

Reproduction

Like most other gouramis, the thick-lipped gourami builds a bubble nest into which the eggs are placed. The male guards the eggs but ignores the fry.[5]

In the aquarium

The thick-lipped gourami has been widely transported around the world for the aquarium fish industry.[2] It is a generally peaceful fish for a tropical community aquarium.[4] Like other Trichogaster species, it tends to be a bit shy and hides under plant life when it feels threatened.[5] It is kept in water that ranges from 22°C to 28°C (72°F - 82°F) and that is soft (50 mg/L) and acidic (pH 6.0 - 6.5).[4] It eats a variety of foods including flake foods, bloodworms, and brine shrimp. Aquarists avoid keeping it with barbs or other fin-nippers who may damage their thread-like ventral fins.[5]

T. labiosa are known to breed well. The male builds bubble nests and is not as likely as other species to bully the female if the female is not yet ready to spawn.[5] It has been reported that the bubble nest continues to grow even after the eggs have been laid.[4] Aquarists advise that filtration in the tank be gentle so as not to damage the bubble-nest.[4]

The thick-lipped gourami has been deliberately crossbred with the banded gourami and the dwarf gourami to produce hybrids with new color patterns; these colors include gold, red, and green.[6]

References

  1. ↑ Vishwanath, W. (2010). "Trichogaster labiosa". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2010: e.T168580A6519153. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2010-4.RLTS.T168580A6519153.en. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.) (2014). "Trichogaster labiosa" in FishBase. February 2014 version.
  3. ↑ Baensch Aquarium Atlas #1 by Riehl & Baensch, 1997, Microcosm Ltd.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 Alderton, David (2019). Encyclopedia of Aquarium and Pond Fish. United Kingdom: Dorling Kindersley Limited. p. 110. ISBN 978-0-2413-6424-6.
  5. 1 2 3 4 Axelrod, Herbert R.; Emmens, C.; Burgess, W.; Pronek, N. (1996). Exotic Tropical Fishes. T.F.H. Publications. ISBN 0-87666-543-1.
  6. ↑ "Thick Lipped Gourami". Animal-World. Retrieved April 7, 2018.
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