Croaking gourami

The croaking gourami (Trichopsis vittata) is a species of small freshwater labyrinth fish of the
gourami family. They are native to still waters in Southeast Asia and are distributed worldwide
via the aquarium trade. Croaking gouramis are capable of producing a "croaking" noise using
their pectoral fins.
 Croaking gourami

Conservation status

Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)[1]

Scientific classification

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

Class: Actinopterygii

Order: Anabantiformes

Family: Osphronemidae

Genus: Trichopsis

Species: T. vittata

Binomial name

Trichopsis vittata
(G. Cuvier, 1831)

Synonyms[2]

Osphromenus vittatus G. Cuvier, 1831

Ctenops vittatus (G. Cuvier, 1831)

Trichopus striatus Bleeker, 1850

General

Croaking gouramis can reach an average size of about 5 centimeters, though some individuals
can grow as large as 6 or 7 centimeters. Coloration is highly variable, ranging from pale brown
and green to dark purple with black or red spots on the fins. 2-4 brown or black stripes or rows of
spots are present on their sides. Median fins have a thin iridescent blue coloration on their
edges. The iris of the eye is bright blue or purple. Females tend to be paler than males, have a
slightly rounded dorsal fin and a shorter anal fin.[3] Most croaking gouramis live for about 2 years
but with proper care can live as long as 5 in an aquarium setting. They are native to stillwater
habitats including ponds, canals and paddy fields in Java, Borneo, Sumatra, Malaya, Thailand,
Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam.[4] A breeding population is known to exist in a series of drainage
ditches in Palm Beach County, Florida, USA, almost certainly introduced there through the
aquarium industry.[5]

As their name suggests, croaking gouramis are capable of producing an audible grunting or
chirping noise, accomplished through the use of specialized adaptations of their pectoral fins.[6]
These noises are produced by both sexes during breeding displays and during the establishment
of dominance hierarchies among males. A typical showdown between males consists of each
fish circling the other, flaring fins, aggressively darting (though rarely making contact), and
producing croaking noises. Well matched individuals may continue this behaviour for several
hours at a time.

In aquaria

Croaking gouramis are fairly shy, peaceful fish that do well in most community aquaria and do
not cause problems with other tankmates. Males can be fairly territorial and aggressive with
each other during breeding periods, but will not cause harm given a large enough aquarium, and
usually males comfortably coexist. They require a tank no smaller than 40 litres (10 US gallons),
preferably larger, and each pair of males will need about 20 inches of space to feel comfortable
with one another. Croaking gouramis will prowl about all areas of the aquarium, preferring to lurk
among reeds and under large leaves close to the water surface. At night, they might be found
"sleeping" at the bottom, even resting on the substrate (which is not normally a cause for
concern), or hovering motionless at the water surface.
Like all members of the suborder Anabantoidei, the croaking gourami can breathe atmospheric
oxygen from above the water surface using a specialized labyrinth organ if necessary.[a] It is
important, therefore, that the surface of the water be exposed to fresh air, usually accomplished
by keeping them in an open-top tank or using a hood that allows air ventilation. If the tank has
good air pumps, this is not always needed, since the air pumps will refresh the air above the
water. Very cold air temperatures at the water surface may lead to infections of the labyrinth
organ.

The aquarium should be heavily planted and have at least part of the surface shaded by broad
leaves or floating plants. Croaking gouramis will become severely stressed in bare tanks without
various hiding places. A darker substrate will make them feel comfortable and help show off
their subtle colors. Like most gouramis, these fish are susceptible to diseases and infections, so
regular water changes are a must. They are tolerant of fairly high temperatures. This can be
used to eliminate fish diseases such as ich from the aquarium. Temperatures of 84 °F (29 °C)
are easily tolerated though 26 °C seems to be close to optimal. A pH of 6.8 is about right and
peat filtration is often recommended.

Croaking gouramis should not be kept with large, aggressive fish, but are compatible with other
small, peaceful fish as well as with fellow gouramis. They will be targeted by male Bettas so they
should not be kept with them. They are very sensitive to noise and the tank should be in a quiet
area.

a. The Siamese fighting fish, a popular aquarium fish, also possesses this ability as a member of
Anabantoidei.

Diet

In the wild, croaking gouramis are mostly insectivorous, feeding on insects and insect larvae,
however other food types, such as zooplankton, crustaceans, shrimp meat and occasionally
plant matter, are eaten as well. In aquaria, a varied diet is important to their long-term health;
standard flake foods along with regular supplements of freeze-dried bloodworms, tubifex
worms, brine shrimp, and some algae-based flakes will provide these fish with proper nutrition.
Occasional feedings of live brine shrimp offer the aquarist an opportunity to observe the natural
hunting behaviour of croaking gouramis.

Breeding
Sex can be most reliably determined by candling but the more common approach is to observe
the shape of the dorsal fin: the male's dorsal fin is pointed, while the female's is rounded. The
male croaking gourami is a bubblenest builder, creating a small nest from air bubbles and
mucous under a leaf. The water level should be reduced to 8 inches during spawning, circulation
kept minimal, and the temperature should be approximately 28 °C (82 °F). Spawning occurs
under the nest, with the female responding to the male's dance by rolling over, followed by the
typical gourami embrace. About 5 to 10 eggs are released in a quick burst. The male will grab
the eggs and spit them into the nest, often adding a few more bubbles for good measure. This
act may be repeated a dozen times or more, until about 100 eggs are laid. Some large females
may lay more than 200. After spawning the female should be moved to a different tank. The
male will keep the bubblenest maintained and tend to the eggs and fry, but 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, baby brine shrimp and finely ground flakes. Freeze-dried tablets may also be fed to
older fry. It is important that the breeding and grow-out tanks be covered and protected from
cool drafts, as low air temperatures above the water surface may cause damage to the
developing labyrinth organs of the young fish when they begin to take gulps of air.

Notes

1. Low, B.W. (2019). "Trichopsis vittata" (https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/187906/89805994) . IUCN

2. Eschmeyer, William N.; Fricke, Ron & van der Laan, Richard (eds.). "Species in the genus Trichopsis" (htt
p://researcharchive.calacademy.org/research/ichthyology/catalog/fishcatget.asp?tbl=species&genus=Tri
chopsis) . Catalog of Fishes. California Academy of Sciences. Retrieved 19 December 2019.

3. Sterba, G (1983)

4. Froese, Rainer and Pauly, Daniel, eds. (2019). "Trichopsis vittata" (http://www.fishbase.org/summary/Spe
ciesSummary.php?genusname=Trichopsis&speciesname=vittata) in FishBase. August 2019 version.

5. Leo Nico; Pam Fuller & Pam Schofield (2019). "Trichopsis vittata (Cuvier in Cuvier and Valenciennes,
1831)" (https://nas.er.usgs.gov/queries/FactSheet.aspx?speciesID=333) . Nonindigenous Aquatic
Species Database, Gainesville, FL. U.S. Geological Survey. Retrieved 19 December 2019.

6. Ladich, F., et al. (1992)

References
 "Trichopsis vittata" (https://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&sear
ch_value=553301) . Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 11 March 2006.

Froese, Rainer and Pauly, Daniel, eds. (2014). "Trichopsis vittata" (http://www.fishbase.org/sum
mary/SpeciesSummary.php?genusname=Trichopsis&speciesname=vittata) in FishBase.
February 2014 version.

Ladich, F., W. Brtittenger, and H. Kratochvil (1992). Significance Of Agonistic Vocalization In The
Croaking Gourami.

Shafland, P. L. (1996). "Exotic Fishes of Florida-1994". Reviews in Fisheries Science 4(2).

Sterba, G. (1983). The Aquarium Fish Encyclopedia. The MIT Press.

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