Breeding Pygmy Gourami: A Step-By-Step Guide (2024)

The pygmy gourami, also known as the sparkling gourami, is a freshwater fish native to Southeast Asia. It is one of the smallest members of the labyrinth fish family and can be identified by its iridescent body and eyes under the right lighting. These fish are peaceful and shy, and should be kept in small groups in a well-planted aquarium with plenty of hiding spaces.

Breeding pygmy gourami is a process that can be done at home. To start, you will need to identify a breeding pair by noticing changes in the size and colour of the fish, as well as their behaviour. The male will typically become more brightly coloured, while the female may swell or change colour on her underside as she produces eggs. Once you have identified your breeding pair, you will need to set up a breeding tank with the appropriate water temperature, pH, and nitrites. The ideal water temperature for breeding is around 77–82ºF (25–28ºC), and the pH should be between 6.6 and 7.5.

After setting up the breeding tank, introduce the female gourami first and give her time to acclimatize. Then, introduce the male and wait for the fish to mate. The male will typically create a bubble nest before mating occurs. Once the female lays her eggs, she should be removed from the tank to prevent her from eating the eggs. The male will then fertilize and collect the eggs, transporting them to the bubble nest. After spawning is complete, the male can be left to care for the eggs until they hatch and the fry become free-swimming. At this point, the male should also be removed, and the fry will need to be fed a specialized diet of liquid fish food, rotifers, infusoria, or hard-boiled egg yolk.

Prepare a breeding tank with floating plants and a sponge filter

To prepare a breeding tank for pygmy gouramis, you'll need a tank that can hold 10–20 gallons of water. Pygmy gouramis are typically found in waters with dense vegetation, so be sure to include plenty of floating plants in the tank, such as hornwort and water wisteria. In the wild, they live in slow-moving waters, so you won't need a lot of filtration; a simple sponge filter will do.

In addition to plants, you can include some rocks or driftwood in the tank to create hiding places for the fish. Pygmy gouramis are shy and will appreciate having places to retreat to when they feel threatened. Just be sure to leave enough room for them to swim.

When setting up the tank, it's important to avoid any strong currents, as pygmy gouramis prefer still waters. They also require some space between the top of the water and the tank cover, as they need to be able to gulp moist air from the surface. Keep the lighting subdued, and aim for a water temperature of 76°F (25°C) or above, and a pH of less than 7.

Identify a male and female gourami

Identifying the sex of a gourami can be challenging, especially in young fish. However, there are some physical and behavioural differences between male and female gouramis that can help you determine their gender. Here are some tips to help you identify a male and female gourami:

Body Shape and Size

Male gouramis tend to be slimmer and smaller than females, who have larger, rounder bellies. The female's dorsal (top) fin is also shorter and more rounded, while the male's dorsal fin is longer and comes to a point. These differences are more pronounced in adult fish, as the fins of young fish are not yet fully developed.

Colouration

Male gouramis typically display brighter, more vibrant colours than females, especially during mating season. Females are usually duller in colour, except during breeding season when they exhibit bright orange bellies.

Behaviour

Male gouramis tend to be more aggressive, especially towards each other. They may flare out their dorsal fins to appear larger when they see another male and sometimes engage in fighting. Female gouramis, on the other hand, are generally more docile and gentle. However, when they see another female, they may also flare their dorsal fins and their tails will turn bright red.

Genitals

The most obvious difference between male and female gouramis is the presence of genital organs. The male's genital organ is located at the base of the tail, just above the anal fin, while females do not have any visible organs in this area.

Breeding Behaviour

During breeding, the male gourami will prepare a bubble nest for the female, chasing her around until she submits and inspects the nest. The female in prime breeding condition will have a swollen belly, full of eggs, and may appear as if she has eaten a golf ball.

Other Considerations

It is important to note that colour and size differences may be harder to spot in certain varieties of gouramis. Additionally, the behaviour of the fish can vary depending on their comfort level and tank environment. Therefore, it is recommended to use a combination of these methods to compare fin shape, body shape, size, colour, and behaviour to determine the gender of your gouramis accurately.

Introduce the female to the breeding tank first, then the male

When breeding pygmy gourami, it is important to introduce the female to the breeding tank first, followed by the male. This is because the female needs time to locate hiding spots and acclimatize to the tank. The male should be introduced at least an hour later, but it could be up to a full day after the female has been added.

The female pygmy gourami should be given time to explore the tank and find places where she can hide if the male becomes aggressive. It is also important to ensure that the tank is set up correctly, with gravel, anchored plants, and floating plants or objects. The female will need time to adjust to these new surroundings, and to the water temperature and pH level, which should be gradually increased and adjusted before the male is introduced.

The male pygmy gourami is typically more brightly coloured and will chase the female as part of the mating ritual. It is important to ensure that the female has enough space and hiding places to escape the male if she needs to. If the male is chasing the female constantly, or she sustains serious injuries, it is recommended to add a second female to the tank to divide the male's attention.

The mating ritual can take several hours, and the male may create a nest of bubbles before mating occurs. The two fish will dance around each other, touching and wriggling against each other. The female will release her eggs, which the male will fertilize and move to the bubble nest. After spawning, the female should be moved back to the original tank, as she may eat the eggs. The male will guard the eggs and continue to care for the young until they become free-swimming, at which point he should also be removed.

Feed the fry specialised food, like liquid fish food or hard-boiled egg yolk

When it comes to feeding your pygmy gourami fry, there are a few specialised foods that are ideal for their nutritional needs and tiny size.

One option is to feed them liquid fish food, which can be purchased from a pet store or aquatic dealer. This can be fed to them as often as possible, ideally six times a day or more.

Another option is to feed them hard-boiled egg yolk. To prepare the egg, push it through a cheesecloth to ensure that the pieces are small enough for the fry to eat.

In addition to these specialised foods, you can also feed your pygmy gourami fry infusoria, which are minute freshwater creatures that occur naturally in established live planted tanks. You can also culture your own infusoria at home by keeping a small piece of lettuce or potato in a jar of water in a sunny area. After a few days, the water will turn cloudy and then clear, and you can feed this to your fry in small amounts.

It's important to note that the fry will need to be fed extremely tiny foods that they can manage to eat. After a few days, they will be able to manage bigger foods, but initially, it's best to keep the food powdered or liquid.

Once the fry are bigger, you can start feeding them baby brine shrimp, which will provide them with the protein they need for growth.

Move the fry to a larger tank after a few weeks

Once the fry are a few weeks old, they can be fed an ordinary diet, although a diet that includes a variety of animal and vegetable proteins is better for growth than fish flakes alone.

At this stage, you can move the fry to a larger tank. The ideal tank size for a small group of five or six sparkling gouramis is 10 to 15 gallons, but the larger the tank, the better. A larger tank is less likely to experience drastic changes in temperature or water parameters.

If you plan to keep a group of sparkling gouramis, an established planted aquarium with a water volume of 20 gallons or more is ideal.

The sparkling gourami is generally a hardy species, but they prefer clean and stable conditions. They are best added to an established tank with plenty of live plants and a low to moderate level of water flow.

The ideal tank parameters for sparkling gouramis are:

• Water temperature: 77-83°F
• General hardness: 5-19 dGH
• Carbonate hardness: 4-8 dKH

Perform water changes as needed to keep ammonia and nitrite levels as close to zero as possible.

Frequently asked questions