Transferring Gourami's Bubble Nest

Gouramis are known for their bubble nests, which are foamy, floating structures made of air bubbles, saliva, mucus, and sometimes aquatic plants. Male gouramis build these nests to attract mates and shelter their eggs and young. The nests are usually built in the corners of tanks, among floating plants, or other floating objects like styrofoam.

Breeding gouramis require specific conditions, such as shallow water, warm temperatures, and minimal water movement. It is also important to provide hiding spots for females and ample food for both parents.

Why transfer gourami bubble nests?

Gouramis are a beautiful species of fish that are a great addition to any aquarium. However, when it comes to breeding, there are many things that can go wrong. One of the most important things to understand is your role in the process.

Gouramis build bubble nests to protect and incubate their eggs and young offspring. These nests are made from air bubbles, saliva, mucus, and sometimes aquatic plants. They are normally made by fish living in low-oxygen environments to protect their eggs near the water's surface, where oxygen levels are higher.

If your pair of Gouramis have spawned fertilized eggs in a community tank, it is unlikely that the young will reach maturity. Moving a bubble nest to another tank is not a good idea as the nest and eggs are quite fragile and could be destroyed in the process. Therefore, it is recommended to move a bonded pair to a designated breeding tank of at least 20 gallons where they can continue their courtship in peace and privacy.

The breeding phase for this type of fish is delicate, and it is important to dedicate time to ensure that nothing goes wrong. Here are some tips to help your Gouramis breed successfully:

• Make your water shallow, as Gouramis prefer to reproduce in shallow water, likely due to a survival instinct that tells them that shallow water is less likely to harbour predators.
• Raise the water temperature, as shallow waters will naturally be of a higher temperature than deeper waters.
• Flood the tank with a monsoonal downpour to mimic the rainy season, which is when some parent fish begin their courtship rituals.
• Treat your Gouramis to their favourite foods, such as brine shrimp, bloodworms, and daphnia, to make them feel well-nourished and ready to spend energy on breeding.
• Provide your Gouramis with floating plants, as both adult fish and baby Gouramis enjoy swimming among plants, and floating plants are often integral to a Gourami bubble nest.
• Use sponge filters for your breeding tank to prevent the baby fish from being sucked up.
• Provide a darkened environment to help parent fish feel supremely relaxed before they are ready to reproduce.
• Let the female settle into the breeding tank before introducing the male, so she has time to adjust to her new surroundings and locate hiding places.

By following these steps, you can create the perfect environment for your Gouramis to breed and witness this incredible process.

How to set up a breeding tank

Setting up a breeding tank for gouramis requires careful preparation to ensure the best chance of success. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to set up a breeding tank:

• Tank Size and Water Level: The breeding tank should be at least 20 gallons in size. For most gourami species, the water level should be set to a depth of 6 inches. Larger gourami species may require a slightly deeper water level, ranging from 8 to 10 inches.
• Substrate and Decorations: Cover the bottom of the tank with a thin layer of gravel. Add some plants, such as floating plants, to provide shelter for the fry and to support the bubble nest. Floating plants are particularly important for gouramis as they use them to anchor their bubble nests. You can also use styrofoam as a floating platform.
• Water Temperature and Lighting: Gradually increase the water temperature to 82-85 degrees Fahrenheit over several days before spawning. The lighting should be subdued to create a relaxed environment.
• Water Movement and Filtration: Minimize water movement to avoid disturbing the bubble nest. Use a sponge filter to prevent the baby fish from being sucked up.
• Water Chemistry: Maintain a neutral to slightly acidic water pH with low hardness.
• Fish Selection and Conditioning: Choose a healthy pair of gouramis, with the female carrying eggs. Before transferring them to the breeding tank, condition both the male and female with a rich and varied diet for a week or two. Offer fresh vegetables and live foods to ensure optimal nutrition.
• Transferring the Fish: Move the female to the breeding tank first and allow her to acclimate and locate hiding spots. After a day or two, introduce the male to the tank. Ensure the female has places to hide during the egg-laying process.
• Spawning and Egg Care: The male gourami will build a bubble nest, usually anchored to a corner of the tank or a floating plant. When the nest is built and the female is ready, the male will wrap his body around hers, and they will spawn. The female should be removed shortly after laying her eggs, as she may start eating them. The male will fertilize and care for the eggs until they hatch.

Preparing the male and female gouramis

Next, you should set up a breeding tank. The breeding tank should be at least 20 gallons in volume, with a water depth of 6-8 inches. The tank should also have a layer of gravel on the bottom and include some plants, which will provide shelter for the female gourami and, later, the fry. Floating plants are especially important as male gouramis will use these to anchor their bubble nests. The lighting in the tank should be subdued, and water movement should be kept to a minimum to avoid disturbing the bubble nest. A sponge filter is recommended to prevent the baby fish from being sucked up.

Once the breeding tank is set up, you can introduce the female gourami first, allowing her a few days to adjust to her new surroundings and locate hiding places. After this period of adjustment, you can then introduce the male gourami to the breeding tank. It is important to note that the female gourami should be gravid (full with eggs) before the male is introduced. To encourage this, you can feed her meaty foods like bloodworms.

Several days prior to spawning, you should steadily increase the water temperature to 82-85 degrees Fahrenheit. At this point, the male gourami will begin to chase the female and lead her to the bubble nest, where she will release her eggs for fertilisation.

Moving the gouramis into the breeding tank

Prepare the Breeding Tank

Before introducing the gouramis, it is crucial to set up the breeding tank optimally. The tank should be at least 20 gallons in capacity and have a layer of gravel at the bottom. Install a sponge filter in one corner to facilitate water movement and mechanical filtration. Gouramis prefer shallow water for breeding, so ensure the water depth is around 6-8 inches. The lighting should be subdued, and water movement should be minimal to avoid disturbing the bubble nest.

Condition the Gouramis

A week or two before the move, start conditioning both the male and female gouramis by feeding them a rich and varied diet. This includes live foods, frozen foods, and commercial pellets or flakes. You can also provide fresh vegetation, as some gourami species will graze on vegetables. Conditioning ensures the gouramis are in prime breeding shape.

Transfer the Female First

Once the breeding tank is ready and the gouramis are conditioned, it's time to transfer them. Start by placing the female gourami in the breeding tank and giving her a few days (around 2-3 days) to settle in and explore her new surroundings. This is crucial, as female gouramis need time to locate hiding spots and feel comfortable before the male is introduced.

Introduce the Male

After the female has had sufficient time to adjust, you can carefully add the male gourami to the breeding tank. Monitor their interactions closely, as male gouramis can sometimes harass the females. If the male's behaviour becomes too aggressive, you can diffuse the situation by adding another female to the tank to distract him.

Adjust Water Temperature

Several days prior to spawning, you should steadily increase the water temperature to 82-85 degrees Fahrenheit. This temperature range is ideal for stimulating breeding behaviour in gouramis.

Spawning Behaviour

When the gouramis are ready to spawn, you will notice distinct behaviours. The male gourami will start dancing with and courting the female. He may also cup her body with his, wiggling as he gets closer. The female will then release her eggs, which the male will fertilize.

Remove the Parents

After spawning, it is essential to turn off the filter in the tank and carefully remove both the male and female gouramis. The male may guard the eggs until they hatch, but it is best to separate them to avoid any potential issues. The eggs will typically hatch within 24 hours, and the fry will remain near the bubble nest for another 3-5 days before becoming free-swimming.

What to do after spawning

After spawning, the female gourami should be removed from the breeding tank as soon as possible, as she may start to eat the eggs. The male gourami should be left in the breeding tank to care for the nest and the fry until they are free-swimming.

Once the fry are free-swimming, the male can also be removed. For gourami species that do not form bubble nests, both parents should be removed immediately after spawning to prevent egg predation.

The eggs will hatch within 24 hours in most cases, and the fry will remain in or near the bubble nest for another 3 to 5 days before they become free-swimming and start to explore the tank.

While the fry are developing, it is important to keep the water quality in the tank very high. As you cannot use a filter that might hurt the fry, you will need to carefully siphon water out of the tank by hand and replace it with freshly dechlorinated water.

Feed the fry newly hatched brine shrimp or liquid fry food until they grow to about 1/2 inch in length. At this point, it is safe to add them to your community tank. Ensure that your community tank has plenty of plants and hiding places so your juvenile gouramis can find shelter if they need to hide from larger or more aggressive fish.

As long as you feed them a healthy, varied diet, they will grow quickly. You will almost certainly end up with more surviving fish than you can keep, so seek out people to buy or adopt them. After a few weeks, when they appear able to eat standard fish food, you can move the young gourami to their larger home.

Frequently asked questions