Opaline Gourami

Trichopodus trichopterus

Note: Due
to variations within species, your item may not look identical to the image
provided

Care

Opaline Gouramis can be relatively peaceful if kept with
similar sized tankmates. They are not, however, suitable for housing with small
fish (e.g. Neon Tetras) as they are likely to end up on the gourami's menu.
Males can be quite aggressive towards one another, so it is important to keep a
group to spread the aggression. The aquarium should be over 36? in length, with
a good amount of aquatic planting to provide shelter and food. Other colour
strains of this species are available to the aquarist: the Gold Gourami and the
Three Spot Gourami.

Feeding

An omnivorous species which should be offered a varied diet
consisting of a good quality flake food, green flake food, and frozen foods
such as mosquito larvae, brineshrimp etc. This species should also be allowed
to graze on soft fine-leaved plants.

Breeding

This egg-laying species can be bred successfully in the
aquarium. Males build a bubble nest at the waters surface and initiate
spawning. As soon as the eggs have been fertilised, the male usually gathers
them up and places them in the nest. The female should be removed immediately
after spawning has ceased as the male will continually try and drive her away,
causing her much stress in the closed environment of an aquarium. The male will
tend to the eggs until they hatch and the fry are free-swimming.