Breeding Opaline Gouramis: A Step-By-Step Guide

Opaline gouramis are a beautiful, colourful, and graceful species of fish, known for their unique personalities and behaviours. They are a great choice for beginners as they are easy to care for and breed, but it's important to be aware of some key considerations to ensure the health and happiness of your fish.

Opaline gouramis are a captive-bred variation of the three-spot gourami, also known as the blue gourami, and are not found in the wild. They are a peaceful species, but male opaline gouramis can become territorial, particularly when kept in close quarters without enough space. Therefore, it is recommended to provide a large tank with plenty of open swimming space to avoid any aggression.

When it comes to breeding, opaline gouramis are bubble nest builders, and males will exhibit protective behaviour over the eggs, which is uncommon in the fish kingdom. To initiate spawning, the water temperature should be maintained at around 80 degrees Fahrenheit, and the male will build a bubble nest. Once the nest is complete, the male will display to the female, and spawning will occur beneath the nest. The female will then need to be removed from the tank, as male gouramis have been known to kill the female after spawning. The male will guard the eggs until they hatch, and once the fry are free-swimming, he should also be removed, as he may eat them.

Preparing the breeding tank

Tank Size and Water Parameters:

Firstly, you will need a separate breeding tank with a capacity of around 10 to 20 gallons. It is important to maintain the water temperature in the breeding tank at around 80 degrees Fahrenheit (26.6 degrees Celsius) to encourage spawning. The pH level of the water should be slightly acidic, in the range of 6.0 to 7.5.

Tank Decor and Filtration:

The breeding tank should be decorated with ample hiding spots for the fish. Add rocks, plants, and other decorations to provide shelter. It is recommended to use long-stemmed aquatic plants that grow towards the surface to help keep the bubble nest in place. Floating plants are also beneficial as they diffuse bright lighting. However, ensure that the plants do not obstruct the fish's access to the surface for breathing. In terms of filtration, a peat or sponge filter is ideal for keeping the water clean while minimising disruption to the tank.

Water Level and Current:

Maintain the water level in the breeding tank at a depth of around five to six inches. Keep the current in the tank to a minimum to avoid disturbing the fish.

Water Quality and Maintenance:

It is crucial to maintain excellent water quality in the breeding tank. Regularly test and adjust the water parameters, including ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, and water hardness, to ensure they are within the ideal range. Perform frequent partial water changes, replacing around 25% of the water each week, to maintain optimal water quality.

Preparing the Adult Fish:

Before introducing the adult fish to the breeding tank, it is essential to condition them with a nutritious diet. Feed the male and female Opaline Gouramis a varied and protein-rich diet, including live and frozen foods such as bloodworms and brine shrimp, for a few weeks. This will ensure they are in prime breeding condition and enhance their colours.

By following these instructions and providing the ideal environment, you will maximise the chances of successful breeding and give your Opaline Gouramis the best possible start.

Conditioning the fish

Before breeding, the male and female gouramis should be conditioned with rich foods for one to two weeks. Opaline gouramis are omnivores, so a varied diet of live, frozen, and commercial foods is recommended. You can also offer fresh vegetables such as blanched lettuce or spinach. Feed the fish once or twice a day, providing enough food to last for a minute or two.

Females will begin to fill out with eggs when spawning is imminent. At this point, you can introduce them to the breeding tank.

To encourage spawning, the water temperature should be maintained at around 80°F (27°C). The water pH should be in the range of 6.0 to 8.8, with a hardness of between 5 and 35 dGH.

During the conditioning period, the fish should be fed small portions of live and frozen food two to three times a day. High-protein foods such as bloodworms, brine shrimp, and white worms are ideal. This diet will help bring the female fish into spawning condition.

Once the female is gravid, she can be introduced to the breeding tank. It is important to wait until the female is full of eggs before introducing the male.

The male gourami will then busy himself with building a bubble nest. Once the nest is complete, he will display to the female by flaring his fins and raising his tail. This behaviour encourages the female to spawn beneath the nest.

Gouramis are relatively easy to breed, but it is important to provide the right tank conditions. The breeding tank should be shallow, with a water depth of around five to six inches. The water current should be kept to a minimum, and filtration should be provided by peat or sponge filters.

In summary, successful conditioning of opaline gouramis involves providing a varied and nutritious diet, maintaining optimal water conditions, and allowing the male to build a bubble nest. These steps will help ensure that the fish are in prime breeding shape and ready to spawn.

Spawning

Opaline gouramis are bubble nest builders and are relatively easy to breed in a home aquarium. They are labyrinth fish, which means they have a respiratory organ that allows them to absorb oxygen from the air into their bloodstream. This is important to consider when setting up their breeding tank.

To breed opaline gouramis, you will need a separate, shallow breeding tank with a water depth of around 5-6 inches. Keep the water temperature around 80°F (26.7°C) and provide a minimal current. Use peat or sponge filtration to keep the water clean without causing too much disruption.

The breeding tank should be densely planted with long-stemmed plants that grow to the surface to help keep the bubble nest in place. Floating plants or floating debris can also help with this.

Introduce a healthy pair of adult fish to the breeding tank. Feed them small portions of live and frozen food two to three times a day to bring the female fish into spawning condition. The female will start to fill out with eggs when spawning is imminent.

The male fish will then build a bubble nest. Once the nest is complete, the male will display to the female by flaring his fins and raising his tail to encourage her to spawn beneath the nest. The eggs are lighter than water and will float up into the nest. There can be between 700 to 800 eggs in one spawn!

As soon as the eggs are laid, remove the female. Male gouramis guard their eggs fiercely and have been known to kill the female fish. Keep a close eye on the eggs and watch for the fry to hatch. As soon as the fry hatches, they will feed on the egg sacs for a day or so. Once the fry are free-swimming, the male should be removed from the tank as he may eat them.

Feed the fry a liquid fry food or infusoria until they are large enough to eat baby brine shrimp.

Removing the female

The process of removing the female gourami will depend on the type of gourami you are breeding. For bubble-nesting gouramis, such as opaline gouramis, the female will typically lay her eggs in a bubble nest constructed by the male. Once the eggs are in the nest, you can carefully remove the female from the tank.

If you are breeding a species that does not construct bubble nests, such as kissing gouramis, you will need to remove the female immediately after spawning. In this case, the female may scatter her eggs on vegetation, and it is important to act quickly to avoid her eating them.

It is important to note that the male gourami may also eat the eggs, especially if they are left unprotected. Therefore, it is crucial to carefully monitor the breeding process and remove the female at the appropriate time to ensure the survival of the eggs.

Additionally, it is recommended to have a separate tank prepared for the female gourami after she has laid her eggs. This will ensure that she has a safe and comfortable environment to recover from the breeding process.

Removing the male

After the male gourami has fertilised the eggs, it is important to remove him from the breeding tank. Male gouramis are known to guard their eggs fiercely and have even been known to kill the female fish. Therefore, it is recommended to keep a close eye on the tank and remove the male as soon as the eggs are laid.

The male gourami should also be removed from the tank once the fry are free-swimming, as there is a risk that he may eat them. It is important to provide hiding places for the fry, such as dense vegetation, to protect them from the male until they are big enough to be removed from the breeding tank.

Once the male is removed from the breeding tank, it is important to continue maintaining high-quality water conditions and providing the proper nutrition for the developing fry. This includes performing regular water changes, siphoning out water by hand, and feeding the fry a diet of brine shrimp or liquid fry food until they reach a suitable size to be introduced to the community tank.

It is also crucial to monitor the behaviour of the male gourami after being removed from the breeding tank. In some cases, male gouramis may exhibit aggressive behaviour towards other fish in the tank. If this occurs, it may be necessary to separate the male gourami from the community tank until the aggressive behaviour subsides.

Overall, removing the male gourami after breeding is an important step in ensuring the safety of the eggs and fry, as well as maintaining a peaceful community tank environment. By following these steps, you can help ensure the successful breeding and development of healthy opaline gourami fry.

Frequently asked questions