Need help with baby gouramis

[sheena12]

I have a 55 gallon community tank with four gouramis, and a freshwater flounder and one large high finned batfish and a couple of apple snails. Anyway last week my gourami strated to build a bubble nest, but I ignored as I have one paradise fish 1 croaking Gourami and a blue and gold gourami since I knew the only ones which could mate were the blue and yellow ones I thought I was safe since I thought I had two males. Anyway needless to say I have baby gouramis. They are about 4 or 5 days old and seem to be doing really well but I have had to turn my filter way down so they don't get battered by the current and my water is starting to get a little cloudy, so what I am wondering is if I can vacuum the gravel and do a water change or if this will be to stressfull for my babies. They are staying to one side of the tank and maintain in the top third of the tank. When I turn the lights out they float up into the remains of the bubbles and when the lights are on they swim around one half of the tank. Daddy fish is very busy chasing off the other fish and making sure no one makes a meal of his babies. One more thing I was wondering how long it takes them to grow enough that daddy fish won't have to protect them anymore.
Thanks in advance for your help! Sheena

[Abbeys_Mom]

You have more problems then just baby gouramis.
The fish you have are not compatible. The batfish is temperate (if this is the one you have)
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If it's not, there is another kind that gets 2 feet long and will outgrow your tank.
The other problem is that a freshwater flounder in NOT freshwater, it needs a brackish environment. You can not put salt in your current setup, because your other fish would not tolerate it and it would kill you sails.

[sheena12]

I was given the batfish by a friend who could no longer keep it as it outgrew his tank and I do know that they are a cold water fish but I don't know what to do with it he has only been in my tank a few days and I put him in my local buy and sell. I was hoping to find someone with a pond to keep him in. He is a gorgeous fish not much like the picture anymore as he is a couple of years old and his shape and colouration has changed. I don't plan on keeping him in my tank long term I am hoping to find him a home soon. I did not know about the flounder though he was sold to me as a freshwater fish. I actually have a 35 gallon brackish tank that houses only bumblebee gobies ao I can put him in there. He is very small so he shouldn't cause a problem in the tank. Thanks for the info.

[Abbeys_Mom]

Glad you are going to change your tank arrangements. As far as the baby gourami go, I have not had my gouramis breed yet, but I have been looking into it. If you are having trouble feeding them, there is a recipe for egg yolk food you can feed them.
See this thread about fry food.
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One of the most important thing for labyrinth fish is to have warm air above the water to help them develop there labyrinth organ.
Here's a link on Gourami fry
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I would vacuum the gravel, but only vacuum half the tank on the side away from the babies. It's ok to do water changes, just be careful and pour the water slowly when you add it back to the tank.

[sheena12]

Thanks for the egg yolk thing I am going to boil an egg right now. I bought freeze dried brine shrimp which i crush into a fine powder and have been feeding them that. I also grew some infusoria in a jar with tank water and a small amount of egg white powder but it takes a long time to grow so i will definately use the egg white thing. Thanks a bunch

[Abbeys_Mom]

You use the yolk, not the white. Just in case you are confused.