Breeding Dwarf Gouramis

[hali_fish]

I took my two dwarf gouramis out of my larger 25 gal tank and put them into a smaller 10 gal one about a week ago. Yesterday when I woke up, the male had already started to build his bubble nest, quite elaborate I might add! By the evening the two had started to spawn. I have read everywhere to remove the female after they have finished. Well, I took her out when they were done, and through the night he has let his bubble nest go, even though there were tonnes of eggs. So I put her back in this morning and he has once again started rebuilding his nest. Do I HAVE to take her out, or can you leave her in there with him? Also, what would the chances be of getting baby gouramis if I leave them both in the tank. I do have another to put them in if necessary. I really want some baby fish!

[Kaz]

I honestly have no idea, but if the male isn't attacking the female you might be able to keep her in.

[Gayle]

Ok well
1.) If there is too much water flow the nest will get ruined. You can add a syrofoam bowl or cup to help him with that. The eggs are sticky, so make sure there are plants etc for them to stick to.
2.) The female will try to eat the eggs. And she will eat any she can get. He will attack her and yes it can get very very nasty.
3.) The eggs hatch in about 24 hours and she will try to eat the babies. Same as above he will attack her. My male did a real number on my female before I knew any of this.

If you had them in a larger tank it would be ok, that way she could get away, but in a 10g you really need to take her out. The male might need to come out after the eggs hatch, just watch him, usually he takes care of the babies, but sometimes he eats them.

The female being in there has nothing to do with if him taking acre of the nest. He will continue to care for the eggs. Are you sure there were eggs before?

[hali_fish]

There were tonnes of eggs!! lol I watched them for a few hours and took some pics and videos...it was really neat to watch! I had no more or less water flow than before he built the bubble nest. He built it inside of a log that floats on the surface, but I have it secured so that it does not move...I was curious about the styrofoam cup thing...I wasn't sure about whether or not I could put that in the water. Well, I guess I will try again, although I wasn't trying to begin with!! I am new to this and have only had the gouramis for a couple months...thanks for the input! thumbs2:

[hali_fish]

And the good news is, he has begun rebuilding his nest this morning!! I am not going near the tank and the kids are banned as well!!!

[dawguy]

The bubble nest should tell you all that's going on in your tank.He's getting ready to spawn and he has his mate ready.

Dawguy
thumbs2:

[Gayle]

Great!! They will not "dance" if you are watching usually!! I will keep my fingers crossed for ya!

[Taurus]

Great pictures of the dwarf gourami and nest, Michelle! thumbs2:

[hali_fish]

I have baby gouramis!!!:19: I hope they wil grow...any advice?? lol They are so small...I have liquid fry food and also some baby brine shrimp to feed them. I didn't do anything special to the tank in order to get them to spawn...they just took it upon themselves to get going!! lol So now that I have indeed got some little babies in there, I'd like to keep them!!:help:

[Mith]

Great!! They will not "dance" if you are watching usually!! I will keep my fingers crossed for ya!


"Mommy, what does the lady mean by dance.... "



LOL

[Gayle]

Congrats!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

My advice would be to set up a fry tank so they can grow out in there. Right now you can catch as many as you can and put them in a breeder box. They will be fine there while you get a fry tank set up. They do grow pretty slow, and can be food for anyone in the tank for a long while.
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Thats at about 2 weeks
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That is about a month old
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That is about a month and a half

After a few weeks I feed Hakari First Bites Fry Food. They love it and they grow really well on it!!

How are yours doing??? Have any pics???