Gourami Schaller

Schaller’s gourami, scientific name Trichopsis Schaller, belongs to the Osphronemidae family. The fish is named after the tropical fish exporter Dietrich Schaller, who first brought this species to the European market. This bright beautiful fish is notable for its not simple disposition during the spawning period and the unique ability to make sounds with which it communicates with relatives.

Habitat

It comes from Southeast Asia from the lower Mekong basin, covering vast areas in Laos, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam. It is found everywhere mainly in sluggish or stagnant waters: swamps, backwaters of rivers, canals and even rice fields.

Brief information:

• The volume of the aquarium – from 50 liters.
• Temperature – 22-28°C
• Value pH — 5.0–7.5
• Water hardness – 2–12 dGH
• Substrate type – any
• Lighting – subdued
• Brackish water – no
• Water movement – little or no
• The size of the fish is 4–5 cm.
• Food – live or frozen food
• Temperament – peaceful
• Content – in a group of relatives or with other small species

Description

Adults reach a length of 4–5 cm. A close relative of the Dwarf Gourami, it has common features with it in the shape and pattern of the body. Depending on the region of origin, the main color can vary from blue to yellow. Males look larger and develop elongated extreme rays of fins, painted in red. Females, in turn, are not so colorful.

Food

An omnivorous species, in a home aquarium it will accept most popular foods in dry, frozen and live form. The latter are the most preferred and are considered the best choice if breeding is planned.

Maintenance and care, arrangement of the aquarium

The optimal size of an aquarium for a couple or a small group of fish starts from 50-60 liters. In the design, it is desirable to provide for a lot of shaded places, using tall stem plants and clusters of floating vegetation. Shade-loving varieties, mosses, ferns are planted on the lower tier. For ease of maintenance, you can use artificial plants. Driftwood and other decorative elements of decor will serve as additional shelters.

Many breeders use the dried leaves of some trees, placing them on the bottom on top of the ground, after soaking them so that they do not float up. The leaves not only become part of the design, giving it more naturalness, but are also a source of tannins. Their presence brings the chemical composition of water closer to that in which fish live in nature. Read more in the article “Which tree leaves can be used in an aquarium.”

Maintaining high water quality (low levels of pollution) within an acceptable range of temperatures and hydrochemical parameters is of key importance for the long-term maintenance of Schaller Gourami. To do this, the aquarium is equipped with the necessary equipment, primarily a filtration and heating system, and regular maintenance procedures are carried out: weekly, part of the water is replaced with fresh water, organic waste is removed in a timely manner, etc.

Behavior and Compatibility

Peaceful calm fish, except for spawning periods, when males become intolerant of rivals. They can be kept both in pairs and in groups together with other non-aggressive species of comparable size.

Breeding / breeding

The stimulus for reproduction is a high-protein diet from live food and external conditions – soft, slightly acidic water with a temperature near the upper acceptable limit of 27–28°C. With the onset of the breeding season, the male proceeds to build a nest of sticky air bubbles under the surface of floating plants, a large leaf, or in cavities on the bottom, for example, in shelters like caves. In a small aquarium, small skirmishes between males for the most advantageous sites are possible. When construction is completed, courtship begins. During mating dances, the fish make “purring” sounds. The ability to “talk” with high and low sounds is characteristic of species of the genus Trichopsis due to the special structure of the pectoral fins.

During spawning, a clutch is formed, consisting of more than a hundred eggs. Both parents remain nearby to protect future offspring, and the male is very active, driving away anyone he considers potentially dangerous. The incubation period lasts about 48 hours, for another 3-4 days the fry that have appeared remain in the nest and only then begin to swim freely. From this point on, the parents lose interest in their offspring and the fry can be moved to a separate tank.

Fish diseases

A well-established biological system, a balanced diet and the absence of stressful situations (for example, being chased by aggressive fish) are the best guarantee of maintaining health. When the first signs of an illness appear, first of all, attention should be paid to these three factors, perhaps there was a deviation in one of them. As a rule, solving the problem leads to self-healing. However, if the immune system fails, you will have to resort to medical treatment. Read more about symptoms and treatments in the Aquarium Fish Diseases section.