Care
This peaceful species is one of the most attractive members of the Gourami family and is suitable for adequately sized community aquariums. Although they will adapt to a wide range of water conditions, they will be at their best in softer, slightly acidic water. Pearl Gouramis appreciate plenty of live plants in the aquarium, including floating species to help diffuse some of the lighting. Although much more sedate than most of their relatives, it's still wise to keep this fish in groups where males are outnumbered by females - when half grown they can be sexed by comparing the dorsal fins of young fish, female specimens have shorter, rounded dorsals whereas those of males are longer and more pointed. May also be seen on sale as Lace Gourami. It's probably a testament to their natural beauty that domesticated forms are rare - a gold/blonde form is occasionally seen, as is a balloon form.
Feeding
Flake, green flake, frozen foods such as mosquito larvae, brineshrimp, Mysis shrimp etc.
Breeding
A shallow softwater breeding tank should be set up at approximately 28 °C, with a good amount of floating plants. Once the pair have settled in to the aquarium and are ready to spawn, the male will construct a bubblenest at the waters surface. The male and female will gather together underneath the nest, and the spawning will occur as the male wraps his body around the female, who releases hundreds of eggs as he simultaneously fertilises them. The eggs float to the surface and are herded into the bubblenest by the male, who commences his "guard duty". The female should be removed and acclimatised back to the main aquarium at this point. After approximately 4 days, the fry become free-swimming and the male should be removed. The young may be fed on small amounts of liquid egg-layer first foods or infusoria several times per day, moving on to slightly larger food (such as baby brineshrimp) after a fortnight. It is important to carry out small daily water changes on the fry aquarium in order to prevent losses due to the build up of excessive waste levels, to which they are particularly sensitive. It is crucial that a warm layer of air is maintained between the surface of the water and the coverslides at all times whilst the fry are developing their labyrinth organ, critical during the first few weeks of their life. Therefore, much care must be taken when carrying out the necessary small daily water changes.
