
Photo thanks to theonetruepath

Photo thanks to DiscusEden
Name:
Scientific name: Sphaerichthys osphromenoides
Common name: Chocolate Gourami
AKA:
Country of origin: Southeast Asia
pH: 4.0 - 6.5 (wild caught). Tank bred may be more adaptable. Mine are currently living in 7.0.
Temperature: 23 - 30c
Hardness: 0 - 54 ppm wild caught. Upt to 10dGH if tank bred.
Water flow: very low
Oxygenation: standard
Maximum size: 5cm
Diet: It is primarily a carnivore. Despite its deceptive size, it has a comparatively tiny mouth, and can only feed on tiny food, such as daphnia. It may only accept live food initially, but can be taught to accept frozen and dry food. Mine enjoy Aquagreen's fish food.
Breeding: The female lays eggs, the male fertilises them, then the female picks them up from the substrate & holds them in her mouth for approximately 14 days. She des not eat during this time. She then releases the fry, who are able to take the same live food that the adults feed on.
Tank companions: They hunt shrimplets, which supplements their diet, but due to the tiny size of their mouths, they cannot hunt past the first few days.
Other microfish are suitable tankmates. I have kept them with bororas; danios; chocolate, liquorice & sparkling gouramis; green neon & ember tetras; male endlers and royal whiptails. Although it does hunt shrimp, it is a reasonably peaceful (in the sense of not troublemaking) tankmate. It has not been observed to nip fins.
They are a peaceful tank companion with other microfish. Despite their comparative large size to other microfish, they still have a tiny mouth, display no bullying behaviour, and if they are provided with shady spots to shelter & hide in as they wish, they will come out and wander around the front of the tank.

Photo thanks to DiscusEden
They are labarynth fish, but spend little time at the top of the tank, generally being mid-level or bottom level swimmers.
They do not fight for territory, and will actually do better in groups, 6 or more is recommended.
In a species only tank, it would do well with Indian almond leaves, both for tannins & to lower the pH, and wood to provide places to hide and shadows. It would also appreciate low light & plants.
Sphaerichthys osphromenoides are legal imports to Australia as of 20/10/2013:
http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiv...mport-list.pdf
The IUCN Red List reports Sphaerichthys osphromenoides as a species which has not yet been assessed at 20/10/2013:
http://www.iucnredlist.org/search
It is very important not to release any aquarium specimens into our waterways. Any that are not sold or re-homed/ given away, can often be re-sold to aquarium stores. If they are homed in ponds, care should be taken that they cannot escape in run-off into our waterways. Even if fish are native & local they should not be moved from one waterway to another, as this can transfer disease. If they are not local fish, they can both spread disease and either out-compete or eat local fish, shrimp & plants, causing their demise.
It is a good fish for people with some experience.
DE
26/05/2013

Photo thanks to Estimative Index

Photo thanks to unissuh