You can mix and match different types of gouramis too because they are a docile, friendly fish most of the time.
The gourami (Trichogaster), also known as a labyrinth is one
of the most colorful ornamental fish, and its distinctive behavioral habits
make this a favorite fish for aquarists, according to Aquarium USA.
Different species of gouramis like the dwarf
gourami, croaking gourami, chocolate gourami, blue gourami, pearl gourami and
kissing gourami can live in the same tank, so you can enjoy all the gourami’s unusual
habits.
Gouramis Touch
Everything
Gouramis touch everything in the aquarium, using their long,
thin, sensitive pelvic fins as feelers to find food, potential mates and maneuver
their way through cloudy, muddy water.
Although your fish tank has clean
water, gouramis continue this interesting habit, even touching all the other
fish in the tank. If you have gourami in your aquarium, avoid adding fish that
nip at long, threadlike fins. All species of gourami touch things,
especially the dwarf gourami.
Gulping Gouramis
You may notice that all gouramis reach out of the water for
gulps of air, as if breathing. All types
of gouramis gulp the air at the water’s surface, which passes through the mouth
into an extra respiratory organ that carries oxygen through a labyrinth into
the gourami’s bloodstream. This labyrinth system supplements their gills, allowing
gouramis to live in low-oxygen or polluted water. Gulping air is most
noticeable in snakeskin gouramis and kissing gouramis.
Gouramis Chirp and
Croak
Kissing gouramis make sounds during social interaction by
grinding their teeth together. The male croaking gourami chirps and croaks when
putting on a show for females. Two males also make the croaking sounds when
aggressively facing each other.
Kissing Gouramis Could
be Fighting
 |
Kissing Gourami
|
Although gouramis touch their mouths together in what looks
like a kiss, they are actually displaying aggressive behavior, sometimes known
as mouth fighting. Kissing can also occur
during mating or in aggressive situations but gouramis are usually friendly, passive
fish. This behavior is most noticeable in kissing gouramis because of their
large, protruding lips but all gouramis use their mouths for “kissing” rocks,
plants and gravel while searching for food.
Watch out for Spitting
Gouramis
Many new fish hobbyists are surprised when they walk up to
their aquarium and their gourami spits a jet of water in the air. Because of
the gourami’s ability to gulp air, they can take in water and blow it out above
the water line. Gouramis often spit water to knock insects out of the air,
snatching them up for food. All gouramis can also jump above the water to grab
insects.
If you decide to give gouramis a try, read up on what you'll need for supplies and food. Hope you have a great time watching your silly gouramis.Image Credits:
By Jörn (Flickr: küssender Gourami II) [CC-BY-SA-2.0
(http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
By Green Yoshi [CC BY-SA 3.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], from Wikimedia Commons
Resources:
2012 Annual Aquarium USA: A Great Group of Gouramis: Jeffrey
Howe
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