background
tv schedule store
logo nav barDiscovery ChannelThe Learning Channel (TLC)Animal PlanetTravel ChannelDiscovery Health Channel
.com address
bottom
search top
site index
search
February 13, 2012
Freshwater Fish
send to a friend
printer friendly version

Honey Dwarf Gourami
More Fish
Ready for the next gourami? Check out the Kissing Gourami.

Back to Gouramis — Overview.

Open the Main Menu.

Honey Dwarf Gourami
Veterinary & Aquatic Services Department, Drs. Foster & Smith, Inc.

The Honey Dwarf Gourami is sometimes known as the Honey, Sunburst, or Dwarf Gourami, and is closely related to the Colisa lalia Dwarf Gourami. Both the male and female are pale yellow-brown, except during spawning. When spawning, the male becomes honey to ochre with a blue throat and black on the front of the anal fin. The Honey Dwarf Gourami is a labyrinth fish, meaning it has gills and a special organ which allows it to also breathe directly from the air. As a result, it prefers to have access to the surface of the water in the aquarium.

The Honey Dwarf Gourami requires a tank of at least 15 gallons that is heavily planted and has a good cover of floating plants. The ideal tank mates should be smaller, peaceful, and gentle. The Honey Dwarf Gourami becomes territorial during spawning.

A pair of Honey Dwarf Gouramis will defend their territory during spawning. The male will build a bubblenest, but the pair may spawn before the nest is built. After spawning, the female should be moved to a different tank. The larvae hatch in 24-36 hours and are free-swimming after approximately one day. The male will tend to the eggs and fry, and when the fry are 2-3 days old, the male should also be removed. When first hatched, the fry should be fed infusoria, and later, brine shrimp and finely ground flakes. Freeze-dried tablets may also be fed to older fry.

The Honey Dwarf Gourami is an omnivore and prefers both algae-based foods as well as meaty foods. An algae-based flake food, along with freeze-dried bloodworms, tubifex, and brine shrimp will provide this fish with proper nutrition.

Ideal tank mates include: Mollies, Swordtails, Guppies, Platies, Tetras, Danios, Rasboras, Rainbowfish, Barbs, Loaches, Plecos and Scavenger Catfish.

Fish Facts
Name: Honey Dwarf Gourami (Colisa chuna)
Family: Belontiidae
Range: North Eastern India, Assam, Bangladesh
Size: Up to 2 inches
Diet: Omnivore
Tank Set-up: Freshwater: Plants
Tank Conditions: 72-82°F; pH 6.0-7.5; dH 15
Minimum Tank Capacity: 15 gallons
Light: Medium
Temperament: Peaceful
Swimming Level: Top to middle
Care Level: Difficult
Reproduction: Bubblenest Builder
advertisement

Picture(s): Courtesy of Drs. Foster and Smith |
Information provided courtesy of PetEducation.com

SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTERS

Discovery Channel | TLC | Animal Planet | Discovery Health | Science Channel | Planet Green
Discovery Kids | Military Channel | Discovery News | Investigation Discovery | HD Theater | Turbo | FitTV

HowStuffWorks | TreeHugger | Petfinder | PetVideo | Discovery Education

Visit the Discovery Store: Toys & Games | Telescopes | DVD Sets | Planet Earth DVD | Gift Ideas

By visiting this site, you agree to the terms and conditions
of our Visitor Agreement. Please read. Privacy Policy.
ATTENTION! We recently updated our privacy policy. The changes are effective as of September 10, 2008.
To see the new policy, click here. Questions? See the policy for the contact information.

Copyright © 2012 Discovery Communications, LLC.

The leading global real-world media and entertainment company.