Photo thanks to theonetruepath

Name:
Scientific name: Trichogaster fasciata
Common name: Banded gourami
AKA: Colisa fasciata/ Giant Dwarf Gourami/ Giant Gourami/ Indian Giant Gourami/ Polyacanthus fasciatus/ Rainbow Gourami/ Striped Gourami

Country of origin: Asia – Pakistan, India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Myanmar

pH: 6.0 – 7.5
Temperature: 21 - 28c
Hardness: 5- 15 dGH
Water flow: low - standard
Oxygenation: standard

Maximum size: Males 10 cm+

Diet: They eat live, frozen & sinking pellet foods – they are micropredators. They will benefit from regular live or frozen food.

They have been known to eat hydra, eradicating an infestation.

Breeding:
Males: larger, more colourful, pointed fins
Females: smaller, duller colours, rounded fins

The male builds a bubble nest. As they spawn they display the typical gourami “wrestling”. Both parents should be removed after spawning – they will predate on the eggs & fry. The female should be removed immediately spawning, the male shortly after the fry have hatched.

Lifespan:

Tank companions:
They are NOT good tank companions with shrimp.

They should only have 1 male to a tank, unless it’s a very large (6ft+) tank, with a lot of visual breaks, in which case, you may get away with 2 males. They can be kept with a group of females, or in groups of 6+ to spread the aggression.

They are a shy gourami species, which is peaceful with other species and can be kept with other peaceful species (including other peaceful gouramis) which do not look like them.

They should not be kept with Trichogaster labiosa (Thick-lipped gourami), as they can interbreed with them.

They live in the middle to top of the tank.

As with any fish they will eat any fish small enough to fit in their mouths, and equally can be eaten by any fish large enough to eat them. This should be taken into account when choosing tankmates.

Stocking plans can be checked with aqadvisor.com

Tank:
Minimum tanks size is 2.5 ft for a pair.

They could be kept in a heavily planted tank with floating plants, open areas for swimming, and tannins from driftwood and Indian Almond Leaves.

It needs tightly fitted lids, both to create humid air to breathe, and to prevent jumping from the tank.

Confused with:
Other gouramis, particularly Trichogaster labiosa (Thick-lipped gourami). Both of these fish are allowable imports to Australia, but not seen as frequently as other gourami species of a similar size. They are one of the more rarely seen allowable gouramis in the trade.

It is the largest gourami in its genus (hence some of the common names – Giant gourami, Giant Dwarf Gourami, Indian giant gourami).

There are 4 fish in the genus:
Trichogaster chuna - Honey gourami
Trichogaster fasciata - Banded gourami
Trichogaster labiosa - Thick lipped gourami
Trichogaster lalius - Dwarf gourami

There are other species which are much larger (tankbusters), and also known as Giant gourami. They are much plainer in colour, generally being a solid colour on the body.

The colours and pattern can vary from one individual to another, particularly depending on region, making it harder to identify.

Many have health issues, including iridovirus, which is invariably fatal, so they (in particular) should be quarantined before being added to the tank.

It has a labyrinth organ, so can breathe air to an extent.

They have been used as a food fish for people in their native countries.

There are feral populations that have been introduced in other parts of the world, but not in Australia to date.

Colisa fasciata (synonym) are legal imports to Australia as of 4/11/2013 (list last updated 16/10/13):
http://www.environment.gov.au/system...mport-list.pdf

The IUCN Red List reports Trichogaster fasciata as a species which is of least concern, with an unknown population trend at 04/11/2013:
http://www.iucnredlist.org/search
http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/166485/0

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.

They are good fish for beginners.

Relevant threads:
Tankmates & pics of planted tank:
http://www.aquariumlife.com.au/showt...r+trichopterus
With a mixed group of gouramis – Bolsy’s 4ft:
http://www.aquariumlife.com.au/showt...hlight=gourami
Mixed group of gouramis & tankmates – stiny:
http://www.aquariumlife.com.au/showt...hlight=gourami
Tankmates with Samurai gourami:
http://www.aquariumlife.com.au/showt...hlight=gourami
Tankmates with Dwarf gourami - Jazzy:
http://www.aquariumlife.com.au/showt...hlight=gourami
Species of gourami to shoal:
http://www.aquariumlife.com.au/showt...hlight=gourami

Gourami with shrimp:
http://www.aquariumlife.com.au/showt...hlight=gourami

Pearl gourami eating snails:
http://www.aquariumlife.com.au/showt...hlight=gourami

Breeding gouramis:
http://www.aquariumlife.com.au/showt...ighlight=honey
http://www.aquariumlife.com.au/showt...hlight=gourami
Breeding pearl gouramis:
http://www.aquariumlife.com.au/showt...hlight=gourami
Courting vs aggressive behaviour descriptions, with link to video:
http://www.aquariumlife.com.au/showt...hlight=gourami
Sexing gouramis – particularly chocolates – unissuh:
http://www.aquariumlife.com.au/showt...hlight=gourami

1 male per tank & iridovirus:
http://www.aquariumlife.com.au/showt...ighlight=honey
http://www.aquariumlife.com.au/showt...ighlight=honey

Feeding chocolate gourami:
http://www.aquariumlife.com.au/showt...hlight=gourami

Pink giant gourami info:
http://www.aquariumlife.com.au/showt...hlight=gourami
http://www.aquariumlife.com.au/showt...hlight=gourami
Giant gourami – diet & tank size:
http://www.aquariumlife.com.au/showt...hlight=gourami
http://www.aquariumlife.com.au/showt...hlight=gourami

Various types of Trichogaster trichopterus - three spot/gold/blue/opaline gourami:
http://www.aquariumlife.com.au/showt...hlight=gourami

Liquorice gouramis:
http://www.aquariumlife.com.au/showt...hlight=gourami

Gouramis for small tank:
http://www.aquariumlife.com.au/showt...hlight=gourami

References:
Fishbase:
http://www.fishbase.org/summary/4770

Seriously fish:
http://www.seriouslyfish.com/species...ster-fasciata/

Wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trichogaster

MonsterFishKeepers – tips on breeding:
http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/fo...a-fasciata-fry

Pics & threads with pics:

DE
3/11/2013