As part of the family Belontiida, the stunning colours and peaceful temperament of the dwarf gourami make them a fan favourite among aquarists. Originally bred at fish farms in Southeast Asia, the good news is that you can breed them right at your home like an expert.
In fact, dwarf gourami breeding can be a fun and rewarding experience, but it demands careful preparation and proper freshwater tank conditions to reap results. In this guide, we’ll tell you everything you need to know about breeding dwarf gouramis successfully.
Understanding Dwarf Gourami Breeding Behaviour
Male dwarf gouramis have a metallic turquoise-blue face and body, with bright orange-red vertical stripes. The female has a more plump, small body, a pale blue complexion, and a round belly. Another way to identify them is to look at their dorsal fin; males have a slightly longer fin compared to the rounder tip on the female.
Make sure that the fish you select for a pair are healthy with intact fins and without ulcers on their bodies. Both sexes should be ideally 8-12 months old, though not less than 6 months, to ensure they are sexually mature. The females can amazingly lay eggs even with no males around, so you can house multiple females with one male if necessary.
In case you find it difficult to source gouramis locally, you can go for alternatives such as pumpkin or green gourds or similarly spawning fish like Swordtails, Platies, or Mollies.
While dwarf gouramis are among the easiest to breed, not all species behave the same way. Our guide on Types of Gouramis can give you insights into different types of dwarf gouramis and how traits vary across species.
Tank Set-up For Dwarf Gouramis
A key requirement for dwarf gourami breeding is to get two fish aquariums. One for keeping the adult parent fish until they are fit for breeding, and a smaller one to aid spawning activities.
Dwarf gouramis can settle well in community tanks, preferably medium-sized planted aquariums, filled with other small, equally peaceful fish.
An ideal tank for breeding blue dwarf gouramis should have plenty of hiding places to help females avoid male aggression, as well as floating plants that help keep bubble nests in place. You should also install a Sponge filter to filter out excess waste and debris for a cleaner environment.
With plenty of hiding places and floating plants, you should aim to keep parameters stable and clean. For a deeper dive into maintaining water quality and tank health, see how to maintain a saltwater fish tank.
Common Dwarf Gourami Breeding Challenges
Male Aggression Toward Female or Fry
One common obstacle to dwarf gourami breeding is a tendency for male gouramis to turn hostile towards females or fry when stressed.
To counter this, provide ample places for females to stay out of sight or otherwise remove themselves immediately after spawning.
Unfertilized Eggs
Using a malnourished or stressed pair can hinder the fertilisation process. This usually happens in the case of First-time male fish that may release milt (sperm) too early or too late, or an imbalance in the water parameters.
Feed both parents a varied, high-protein diet (like live or frozen foods) for several weeks before spawning to ensure peak health.
Fungus or disease due to poor water quality
If any unfertilized eggs remain in the tank, they are likely to rot. This can cause fungus to affect healthy, viable eggs. Moreover, uneaten food, fish waste, and low oxygen levels can promote fungal and bacterial growth.
If you spot a white, fuzzy patch, it’s a fungus. A pipette or turkey baster can help remove the infected eggs to stop the spread. You can even use a small dose of methylene blue or commercial anti-fungal treatments (e.g., concentrated aquarium salt) to prevent infection.
How to Breed Male and Female Gouramis?
Introduce the female gorami first, so she can acclimate to the surroundings and locate her hiding spots. You can introduce the male after 7 to 10 days, but watch out for any aggressive behaviour. The male should start building a bubble nest with his saliva that’s anchored on any overhanging plants on the water surface.
This sets the stage for courting, wherein he flaunts his fins and tries to attract the female’s attention. Avoid feeding pellets to the fish at this critical phase of breeding. If she is ready, she embraces the male, resulting in a fusion of male sperm and eggs. This embracing behaviour continues until all her eggs are released and she eventually starts to swell.
Once spawning is done, you can move the female back to the community tank, as she might try to eat the eggs. Be careful about disturbing the nest and eggs in the process.
From this point on, the male becomes the guardian of the nest, which is likely to hatch in the next 24 hours. At this stage, little invisible fry begin to develop that can be seen swimming freely by day three. When this happens, the male gourami, too, should be taken out of the tank to let them thrive without feeling threatened.
Maximising Quality: Selective Thinning and Grow-Out
When it comes to breeding dwarf gouramis, the highest quality results are closely related to the density of young fish in your tank. By the time the fry reach four weeks old, the total number of young fish should be cut down significantly. Ideally speaking, a single grow-out tank should feature no more than 30 to 40 individuals.
Dwarf gourami breeding in a community tank works similarly to natural selection, which allows only the fittest to survive to adulthood. Providing the remaining fish with ample space, pristine water quality, and sufficient food. Having a tank filled with stunted fish is of no use. You should focus on developing the best specimens that add colour and vitality to your tank.
Dwarf gouramis can settle well in community tanks with peaceful species. For reef-safe options and compatibility tips, check out our 10 best reef-safe fish for your reef tank.
Conclusion
You are likely to find breeding dwarf gouramis a rewarding hobby as long as you are willing to invest in the right setup. You just need to be patient and pay proper attention to water conditions. And it won’t be long before you’ll have vibrant and healthy dwarf gouramis swimming gracefully in your aquarium.
If you’re interested in expanding your tank setup, explore our guides on the 20 best saltwater aquarium fish for beginner reef hobbyists or a detailed guide on freshwater plants and reef aquarium tanks.