Chocolate Gouramis

[GouramiGal]

Does anyone in the forum keep chocolate gouramis? (I think I read an old post a while back....)

I've heard they are very delicate and difficult to keep. I'm not looking to get some for myself, I'm just interested in knowing more about them.

They are very unique looking!

[Red]

They are really hard to keep...... i think symphdello (spl??) have/had one but he has been real busy right now and sends me a pm every so often..

[GouramiGal]

Yeah... that was it! He was on a lot when I first joined. Thanks. Maybe someone else will contribute....I'm interested to know if chocolates are as high maintenance as they say...

[Red]

yeah he has been really busy and i play pm tag with him haa
they are really hard to keep everything has to be exact with them but arent they cool looking:)

[GouramiGal]

totally cool looking. I'm wondering if their personalities are like dwarf or regular sized gouramis?

[Fishalicious]

They are not the easiest to keep compared to other fish but if you really reseach their needs they can be kept just as much as any other fish. They need to be acclimatized very slowly to your tank...even small changes in parameters can throw them off so a stable tank is also a must. Very clean water so preferably 2 water changes a week and a good diet and they should thrive :19: I have kept them in the past...they are very shy fish and like lot's of plants to hide in.

I have a slight preference for their cousins the Sphaerichthys vaillanti <drooooooools> just beautiful little gourami's!!!!

[GouramiGal]

Oh my gosh they are gorgeous. :18:

I looked them up on google:

[Only Registered Users Can See Links.]

Also called samuri gourami. Can you share more about them?

[Fishalicious]

They are very closely related to the Chocolate's so keeping them is about the same..only other thing is that they really really <--trying to stress the really LOL need a lower PH. Most fish do great in a stable PH even if it is higher than what they should be in.... these guys do however need the low PH to survive and show their colors.

They are soooo beautiful!!! Your going to cost me some money with this thread Gouramigal :hmm3grin2orange:

[GouramiGal]

Hee hee. Sorry Jess! But you've introduced me to a new gourami. You are in the UK, no? I'm not sure if I've ever seen these here in the US Northeast.

Well, let's face it, Petco isn't going to have these guys!!

Are they red in color? Do they have the feelers? Are they dwarf size or bigger?

Wow, what a treat, thanks! :19:

[Fishalicious]

I'm in Holland :11:

They don't have feelers and are also quite unique in that they are mouthbrooders so they carry the eggs and babies in their mouth. They max out in size at 3 inches. If fed correctly they are bright red with a green sheen to them and both male and female are equally stunning. They like higher temps in the tank...in the wild they are caught in water with 84F & a PH of 5.3.

Imports are rising for this fishy so it might come your way yet...they are quite hard to get onto fry foods though.

Here's a neat little video on youtube... I have seen them a lot redder than these but it is always nice to see a moving picture of a fish :18:
VxDx09r1ZAM

[GouramiGal]

Ah sorry about that. I've been to Amsterdam 2 or 3 times and LOVE it. People there are so nice!

And this fish is just so stunning. Are they territotial like other gouramis? I imagine they like to hide quite a bit.

Bummer, the video didn't work. I'll try again.

Thanks again! :thumb: :thumb: