home aquariums

What dreams are new, not yet having accumulated enough experience in the field of aquarium? The fact that they purchased the fish had an attractive appearance, so they do not pose a threat to the old inhabitants of the aquarium and let the purchase of new, not to have to spend a lot of time and money to prepare water of a special chemical composition, at last, to be able to without too much hassle to get from the offspring of fish and try to grow it.
One of the ornamental fish, fully meet these requirements, are dwarf gourami - Colisa lalia (Hamilton-Buchanan, 1822) from the family of the labyrinth. At home - in the north of India - these fish inhabit small, densely overgrown with grass waterways. Their permanent refuge are all sorts of channels, ponds, lakes, small streams and rivers with slow current. When the local plains squall of heavy monsoon rains, dwarf gourami is rapidly expanding its range, actively mastering formed numerous pools. These temporary shallow ponds filled with murky water quickly heated by the sun, are a kind of fish spawning.
The abundance of light, heat and rinse-off from the soil surface nutrients are converted into these waters ideal for the development of phytoplankton and zooplankton environment, so that hatched from eggs fry no shortage of feed, grow quickly and have time to go back to the place "permanent bases" even before how to dry up the rain puddles and channels connecting them. Warms up during the day and cool rapidly with water sunset sun taught dwarf gourami is tolerant of relatively large variations in temperature and inevitable under these conditions, the abundance of the dissolved organics and mechanical suspension determine the loyalty of fish in a relatively poor quality of water.
All this, of course, does not mean that the aquarium with dwarf gourami can be turned into a swamp uncontrolled temperature changes, but still care for these labyrinth requires scrupulous observance of the regime and it permits certain liberties that are inadvertently or unknowingly can make a novice.
Information about when aquarists held familiarity with these Asian beauties are different. According to some sources, this event dates from the second half of the XIX century, on the other - the beginning of XX. So, M. Tsirling in "great dwarf gourami and his relatives" (Aquarium, number 2/1993) writes that for the first time these fish came to Europe in 1869 thanks to Francis Dea, who, while India posted dwarf gourami party in London. In American literature, this event is often dated to 1874 and is associated with Paris and the name of one of the greatest popularizers of aquarium that time P. carbon. But Gunther Sterba, Rudolf Zuka and many other authorities in the field of fish farming decorated believe that the labyrinth made happy by their appearance European naturalists only in 1903. To some extent this brings discordance opinion N. Zolotnitsky ( "Aquarium amateur", Moscow, 1916): "Pretty fish that wearing French name of the rainbow (Arc-en-ciel), was imported to Europe more late Carboniferous and then disappeared, and in the course of more than 35 years did not appear. But in 1903, was again brought to Europe and is now multiplied everywhere in large numbers. "
In any case, dwarf gourami has every right to be considered a veteran of the ornamental fish farming, and its continued popularity only emphasizes this status. Bright colors (especially during the spawning season), peaceful nature, small size (males length does not exceed 6.0 - 6.5 cm), graceful manner of movement, simplicity, omnivorous provide this labyrinth continuing interest on the part of breeders. Okay newcomers: arising from their desire to tinker with striped Franta is understandable and explainable. But then, no masters, no and yes to condescend to decorate your room pond dwarf gourami. It would seem that the fish have long been adapted, divorced, no wisdom, no secrets, no room for the inquiring mind of the true nature lover, and yet ...
An additional impetus to maintain interest in the dwarf gourami was the appearance in 1979 of color mutations, received the commercial name of "red dwarf gourami". The roots of the family tree of the unusually colored fish are drawn to Singapore hatchery. According to rumors, it is there as a result of many years of experiments, managed to secure a spontaneous color icing and print the form with stable breeding inherited coloristic properties. More - more: "SanSet", "Rainbow", "Sky Blue", "Red Neon" - this is not a complete list resulting from the selection of color forms dwarf gourami, many of which look fantastic attractive and quite radically different coloring from its prototype . This modern aquarist can fill your body of water almost all the colors of the rainbow, using only dwarf gourami various forms.
As already mentioned, the content of these fish are not a problem.
For a pair of enough containers with a capacity of 20 - 30 liters. True, it is better to to one male had 2 - 3 female, but this solution is less aesthetically pleasing because females outfit even in the mating season is much more modest. Crucial has a surface area of ​​the aquarium - the larger it is, the better. This is due to the fact that almost all his life dwarf gourami is carried out directly at the water surface. Here they are looking for food, fill his body labyrinth atmospheric air, build their unique foam nests, while caring for the offspring.
Theoretically the ground for them does not matter. In principle, it can be even abandon, but a mirror reflection of light from the bottom of the indoor pond fish disorients, introduces an element of nervousness in their behavior. Therefore it is better still cover the bottom of at least a thin layer of coarse sand or fine gravel dark shades.
Biologically dwarf gourami tied only to the floating plants with leaves melkorassechёnnymi. In their bush they love to relax and fragments used as the backbone in the construction of the nest. But limit your selection to only those representatives of the aquatic flora is not quite justified, because in this case the lower horizons even nevysokgo aquarium will look empty. In addition, the dense thickets of eel, Elodie, peristolistnika, Thai fern can provide an invaluable service to the female, tired of the claims are too annoying partner.
The background is preferred dark. contrasting look and feel safer on a "substrate" fish. By the way, despite the fact that in the wild dwarf gourami usually live in a fully open waters sunlight, strong light, they do not like, trying to hide from him under the curtains of floating plants, which play the role of a filter and svetorassekatelya. For raznooobraziya can be used as decorations branched koryazhki. Various designs of stones in an aquarium with these fishes are not needed.
As already mentioned, the water chemistry is not critical to dwarf gourami. They are equally feel comfortable in soft and comparatively rigid (up to 15 - 20 dGH), slightly sour or neutral water. When the content of these fish in the aquarium temperature may be between 22 - 28 degrees C, but rather that it did not fall below dvadtsatishestigradusnoy mark.
As for the neighbors, it may be any such peaceful fishes with similar requirements to the medium if necessary. It is desirable that the area of ​​their habitat were middle and lower horizons of the aquarium. Firstly, they revive these layers, secondly, will not interfere in the measured near-surface life dwarf gourami, thirdly, will be less to encroach on the integrity of the built males nests and, finally, the fourth, will increase the chances of offspring survival dwarf gourami, if you happen to spawn in the community tank. I recommend avoiding nimble active rybёshek like barbs and rasbora that ever before volyazhnyh labyrinth have time to get to the feeders and grab yourself the best tidbits, if not leave their slow-moving competitors without their due share of provisions.
Trophic preferences dwarf gourami varied. Appetite for these fish is not bad, but without the addiction to overeating. In nature, the basis of their diet are flying insects that fall onto the water surface. Dwarf gourami reared in the aquarium environment is not difficult, because they are equal to hunt pounce on any feed suitable size. The main thing is to feed the objects as long as possible did not drop to the bottom, where fish go with great reluctance. Daphnia, Cyclops, koretra, the fruit fly Drosophila and their larvae - all dwarf gourami is eaten with great pleasure. Do not give up and they are from a small moth, but when you use it you need to get a floating-trough motylnitsey. The feed dwarf gourami base can be supplemented with qualitative and artificial feed; the most suitable balanced mineral and biochemical composition of the flakes. It will not hurt dwarf gourami and periodic replenishment of products of plant origin like Wolffia or dry food based on spirulliny.
They reach sexual maturity fish somewhere to six months. Since that time, the most developed male partner dedicated to building nests. Are outlined and some changes in the relationship between the representatives of the strong half lyaliusinogo population - at first absolutely loyal to each other males begin to show symptoms of territoriality. The spacious aquarium fish pretty quickly solve their local problems and once again returned to civilian life. In a container with a small surface area, the abundance of males and females deficit procedure showdown may take a long time.
There is a subtlety that is often not taken into account by inexperienced aquarists. The fact that the mat structure floating plants kurtinok mutual arrangement, various windows and seals, crown, etc. They serve to dwarf gourami sort of beacons that help them navigate the space and define the boundaries of their possessions. If the carpet is static - is good, but if it is in constant motion, shifting beacons, mutate and trigger a new redistribution of the male territory.
If the aquarium is a filter that generates the output stream, makes drifting floating plants, it is necessary at this time to either disable or re-orient the direction of flow so that it is as little as possible affected the upper layers of water. If, for whatever reasons, this is not possible, it is necessary to design different kinds of barriers (eg fishing line fastened with tape of the narrow bars of foam) that hold the carpet in place.
If you do not want or are not able to identify spawning dwarf gourami, it is possible to trace their spawning in the general aquarium. However, not to speak of numerous posterity in such conditions. Despite the jealous male attitude to the nest and eggs resting in it, he is not able to provide them with reliable protection and had left his refuge and fry all become vulnerable to as the other inhabitants of the aquarium, as well as to their own parents.
In order to obtain numerous offspring (a dwarf gourami characterized by high fertility), manufacturers need to move further in a separate aquarium. Noticing a specific vanity male, interested in trying to gather a handful of plant particles take care of the preparation of the appropriate volume of spawning. In this capacity, it can even speak a little container - steamed enough trough capacity of 5 - 10 liters (preferably 20 - 25); and if the group provides spawning - the amount should be increased proportionally to the number of fish.
Overall spawning settling as well as general aquarium. The only difference is that it is desirable to raise the water temperature to 28 - 30 degrees C (the other parameters - within the standard for the species), and filtering is not used at all. Foam nest - is essentially the same castle in the air: a fragile structure that is very susceptible to any external influence, including the flow of water.
It is desirable to form a trough spawning had a height of 15 - 20 cm with the maximum possible surface area. The water layer - 10 - 15 cm. It is better that the bottom is made of a material opaque opaque, otherwise it should cover at least a thin layer of any soil. Necessarily the presence of floating plants, as well as a thick beam aquatic type peristolistnika (dropwise optional), in which the wilds could escape female.
If in the general aquarium has already formed a couple, manufacturers put in spawning simultaneously. In the case where the selection of fish for spawning carried aquarist, the first female to run better. Having her get used to the new premises 3 - 4 days, podselyayut male.
Spawning begins after the completion of the nest. The female lays a few eggs, which the male immediately build into in foam and covered with an extra layer of bubbles. After spawning, the female of the spawning removed: it prevents the male only monitor the integrity and safety of the nest of eggs. Participation aquarist is also reduced only to maintain a stable temperature in the spawning. Any interference in the process of incubation of eggs (for example, an attempt to help the male to get rid of dead eggs) can lead to the fact that caring parent and destroy eggs and nest.
As a rule, after 24 - 30 hours, the larvae appear. More about 2 - 3 days, sometimes longer, they rest in the nest. Their attempts to prematurely push the boundaries of the world instantly repressed male. As soon as the desire to leave their hearth and home births becomes widespread, the male is better to return to the general aquarium, giving free rein fry.
The fry are relatively small, but have a good appetite. Food should always be present in the spawning. The ideal food at this stage for them is a pure culture of ciliates shoes. Slightly worse are rotifers. Despite the voracity, in the early days of the development of the fry comes at a snail's pace. Only the second week, with the transition to more solid food by size (screening Cyclops nauplii, newly hatched Artemia nauplii and so forth.) Growth rates are more or less visible.
Grow fry is not difficult. The most important thing - to observe a reasonable parity between the abundance given by feed and clean water. Two or three weeks fry (even more waste them by this time usually remains a few hundred) to be translated from spawning more spacious nursery aquarium with air lift mask with combined filter-sponge. Fry grow unevenly, with large juveniles do not hesitate to enrich the menu smaller cousins, so do not do without weekly separation. To months of age in young dwarf gourami labyrinth ends with the development of the body. To ensure their warm ambient air, rearing aquarium supply tight lid.
It is worth mention that comply with these details is only required if you want to save a maximum of young fish lives. Private is a fan of these tasks before a usually does not put so can let things almost to chance - even the most modest concern on his part at least a dozen teenagers but will live up to the stage when their body length is 1.5 - 2 cm, and their It can be safely released in a common tank.


Serov, Moscow Aquarium № 1, 2002