How to Breed & Raise Croaking Gouramis

By joining the ranks of croaking gourami owners, you will find yourself among the privileged individuals who actually can hear their fish talking to them from across the room. Croaking gouramis, also called talking gouramis, produce a variety of clicks and croaks when they are kept in a small group, which makes breeding and raising these fish one of the most unusual experiences for aquarium owners. Following the necessary procedure for raising and breeding croaking gouramis helps to ensure you have baby gouramis and plenty of talking fish in your future.

Things You'll Need

  • 2 aquarium tanks, each 15 to 20 gallons
  • 2 aquarium heaters
  • Plants
  • Aquarium decorations
  • Flake or pellet tropical fish food
  • Live or frozen tropical fish food
  • Floating plants
  • 4-inch fish net
  • Plastic bags
  • Fry food
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Instructions

    • 1
      Fill the tank with plants and decorations.

      Set up a group tank using an aquarium tank that holds 15 to 20 gallons of water. Keep the aquarium's heater within the range of 77 to 82 F, and avoid strong currents in the tank. The aquarium doesn't need oxygen pumps because gouramis breathe oxygen directly from the air, but provide plenty of hiding spaces for them using plants and other aquarium decorations.

    • 2

      Purchase about six croaking gouramis for the group tank. Because distinguishing male gouramis from female gouramis can be difficult, having a small group gives them mating options and increases the odds for successful breeding.

    • 3

      Feed your gouramis either flake or pellet tropical fish food. You may supplement their diet with live or frozen food to help condition them for breeding.

    • 4

      Set up a breeding tank using a second 15- to 20-gallon aquarium tank. The arrangement of your breeding tank should be similar to your group tank, with the addition of floating plants to provide an area for the male to build a bubble nest.

    • 5

      Transfer a croaking gourami male and female to the breeding tank when they are ready to breed. Gouramis indicate their readiness to breed by showing more intense color, and the male starts to build a bubble nest to prepare for eggs.

    • 6

      Move the female back to the group tank after spawning completes. If you leave the female in the breeding tank, the male will drive the female away from the nest to defend the eggs and newly hatched fish, or fry. The male will tend to the nest and babies.

    • 7

      Assume feeding duties for the fry when the male loses interest in tending to them after a few days. Move the male back to the group tank, and feed the babies fry food several times each day. After a few weeks, feed them crushed flake food.