How to breed gouramis?

[tamara]

We've got a 10 gallon tank that we are currently using as a quarantine tank. However, soon we will have all the fish we're going to get so I thought it would be fun to breed some small gouramis, in part as a little biology experiment for our son.

He has picked out sparkling gouramis (at least so far). We want something small, pretty, and relatively easy.

Can anyone point me to a good resource on how to do it, or share any pearls of wisdom?

I have been looking around the internet, and from what I've seen so far, I'm not sure we'll be able to pull it off. Most everyone recommends lowering water level to 6" or 8", which would dramatically reduce the gallons of water in our 10. Then to top it off, some recommend no filtration or air pump at all. Yikes!! I don't know what kind of bio load we could support with conditions like that.

Is it possible that it could be sufficient to reduce the water movement through stuffing it chock full of plants or something?

I did raise one batch of paradise fish years ago, although I didn't really do anything very special for them, tank-wise, other than give them a tank loaded with floating plants. I take it they are easier to raise than some of these others.

From that experience, I already know about vinegar eels, but aside from that it would be new for me.

[Carl]

Although I have bred many fish, this is not my area of expertise (I have also bred Paradise Fish).

I can say that I have had much better "luck" with tanks larger than a 10 gallon.

As well I do have friends in the business with large breeding operations and one aspect that I have found with these operations as well as my own basic forays into breeding (both intentional and often unintentional) is that these tanks DO HAVE some basic bio filtration AND areas of very calm water. So I would have to disagree as to those recommending "no filtration"

Generally an air driven Sponge Filter is a must, and often a bare bottom tank is also used.
Anchored floating material might help too with Gouramis

I personally have not found a lot of useful information about breeding Gouramis, but then I have not looked much of late either, so maybe if time allows I will look too. Please post any links to good information you might find as well.

I do have a blurb on Gouramis in this article:
Sexing Fish; Aquarium Answers

Carl

[tamara]

I agree a 20 gallon would be better. I just don't have any place to put another 20. From what I've read it can also work in a 10 so we'll see what happens.

I'm glad that filtration is normal in these tanks. It's hard to imagine going without it. I was actually wanting to have some UV in the tank (although of course it would be turned off while the fry is eating green water/infusoria/paramecia). I thought it would help keep everything healthy. However, it might be tricky to pull it off without generating too much current. I'll probably at least give it a try though.

The best article I've found on breeding the sparkling gourami is here (although of course I can't say if any of it is true):
www.aquaticcommunity.com/gourami/sparkling.php

And here are a bunch of anecdotal reports that are interesting. It seems some of these folks have sexed them by looking for a row of spots above the lateral stripe, which would indicate a male. Again, I have no idea if that actually works:
www.aquahobby.com/gallery/e_sparkling.php

[tamara]

One more thing I've read in many places, for gouramis generally, is that the fry's third week (or third-fifth weeks) is when the labyrinth organ is developing and they are especially vulnerable at this time. Various articles say things like this is a time to be extra careful with water changes or to keep the aquarium covered to prevent drafts. As far as I can tell, no one really knows what exactly happens that sometimes kills off the fry at this stage, but this guy has some interesting theories.
www.skepticalaquarist.com/anabantoids

[tamara]

Here's someone who has compared keeping the tank closed and open on anabantoid fry tanks, and hasn't noticed a difference in survival rate. So that idea may be a superstition. (Note that I don't have a horse in this race, just trying to figure it out.)
www.aquarticles.com/articles/breeding/Thurston_Anabantoid_Fry.html

[Carl]

Thanks for the references, especially the last two.

I have never agreed with the draft theory, as I have never seen credible evidence and frankly it belies common sense as the air temperature above the water in the fraction of a millimeter a Gourami is going to "take a breath" is going to be virtually the same as the water.

I also question the bare bottom tank issue with ammonia, as I have visited and maintained many a bare bottom tank with a properly maintained Sponge Filter and not seen a spike in ammonia.
This said, many do not care for fry rearing tank properly and thus ammonia may be an issue, but it is a maintenance issue, not filtration.

I do think the fluke problem carries credibility.

The use of a flow through system is something many I know who professionally breed aquariums utilize.
These persons go a step forward by have pre-adjusted (buffers, added minerals, etc.) water that drips back in at the same rate (usually in a a tank above the rearing or breeder tank for gravity feed).
I note this in the Cleaning Article:
Aquarium cleaning; Methods including Flow Through

I would put forth one more thought, since I have seen this be a problem with bettas, and that is sudden pH changes with large water changes as well as inadequate mineral electrolytes as many breeders either utilize incorrectly mineralized RO water.

Carl