Pearl Gourami

Description
The Pearl Gourami is not only one of the most attractive, but also one of the hardiest and easiest to keep of the gouramis. Like others of it's family the body shape is elongated and laterally compressed. The ventral fins are long and thin, having the appearance of feelers. The mouth is small and upturned. Pearl and brown flecks covering the body give it a mother of pearl appearance, from which is derives it's name. A horizontal black line runs from the mouth to the tail, where it ends in a spot.

Habitat/Care
Accustomed to heavy vegetation in their natural habitat, they will thrive if given similar conditions in the aquarium. Floating plants, subdued lighting, and a dark substrate are ideal. Although they prefer soft acidic water, they are adaptable to a range of water conditions. This adaptability and their peaceful nature make them well suited to community tanks. However keeping them with overly aggressive tankmates should be avoided.

Diet
Pearl Gouramis will accept many foods, and are generally quite easy to feed. Flake, freeze dried, and frozen foods are all readily taken. For optimum health fresh vegetables such as lettuce, cooked peas, and spinach, may also be offered as part of a varied diet . Live foods such as black worms, brine shrimp, and glass worms are a good treat and conditioning food for breeding.

Breeding
Breeding is relatively simple. Adult males are easy to distinguish from the females by their deep red-orange coloration on the throat and breast. Another clue is the dorsal fin which is longer and more pointed on the male than the female. When ready to spawn the female will have a much plumper body than the male.

Prior to breeding the pair should be conditioned by feeding them live or frozen brine shrimp and worms. Water in the breeding tank should be reduced to a level of about six inches. Provide plenty of floating plants and raise the water temperature to approximately 80 degrees. The male will build a bubble nest, after which spawning will take place beneath it. When spawning the male wraps his body around the female who will release hundreds of eggs.

The eggs float to the surface where the male will tend them felicitously until they hatch. After the eggs have been laid the female may be removed, as her role is complete. After about four days the fry will be free swimming and the male should be removed. Feed the fry liquid food or infusoria culture several times a day. Freshly hatched (or frozen) brine shrimp may be offered at about two weeks of age. Fine flake foods may be offered once they are approximately one month old. Water changes should be performed every two to three days. As the fry grown larger they should be distributed between several tanks to reduce lethal build up of wastes. Poor growth or sudden loss of fry is often due to excessive waste.