Family: Osphronemidae
Distribution: Colisa lalia, better known as Dwarf Gourami, is a popular freshwater species with its origins in Pakistan, Bangladesh and India. This species likes to reside in vegetation-heavy lakes and slow streams.
PH: 6.0 – 8.0
Temperature: 25°C – 28°C (77 – 82F)
Hardness: 4 – 10 dH
Description: Colisa lalia can reach a maximum length of around 9 cm in nature, but will usually reach around 5 cm in an aquarium environment, hence its common name. Males are a bit bigger than females and have a distinctive red-orange body with blazing blue stripes that extend vertically into the fins. It has a thickened fold of skin around its mouth, which is more prominent in males. Males have a pointed dorsal fin while the female’s dorsal fin is generally rounder. Females don not display the bright colouration of males, instead remaining a silver blue-grey colour. Colisa lalia has a life expectancy of four years.
Diet: Colisa lalia will take the same diet as Colisa fasciata. They will accept a diet of fish flakes, pellets, frozen foods and vegetable tablets, but should also be given live food such as worms – particularly before you attempt to breed them.
Breeding: This species may require subtle water variations to spark the breeding process. You can lower the water level slightly and raise the temperature to 28 – 30°C to trigger spawning. Like Colisa fasciata, the male will guard the fertilised eggs – which he keeps in a bubble nest – until hatching. Remove the female from the tank as soon as the male begins to guard the eggs in his bubble nest. You should then remove the male from the tank after the eggs hatch. The fry can be fed micro-food immediately – infusoria or commercial fry food will do – and may be given hatched brine shrimp and finely ground dry foods after one week of life.
Comments: Colisa lalia is quite a hardy species that is capable of living in several different conditions, as long as the water isn’t too hard. They do require a well-sheltered, well-planted tank, however. A 40 cm long tank will allow this species plenty of swimming space. This fish is quite easy to maintain and is definitely suitable for beginners.
Article/Books:
Recommended Compatible Species: The Dwarf Gourami is very small and should not be housed with large, aggressive species. It does, however, have an excellent temperament, which makes it a great community species with other fish of a similar size and nature. They will live happily with most Tetra species (particularly the Neon Tetra and Black Tetra). They are also great tank mates with Discus, Apistogramma‘s like Apistogramma Cacatouides and Apistogramma Borelli, Corydoras Catfish (particularly Corydoras Sterbai and Corydoras aeneus) Angelfish, Clown loach, the common Guppy and Platy and most Gourami (such as the Blue Gourami and the Honey Gourami) Also can live happily with most Danio (particularly the Zebra Danio and Pearl Danio) and also many Killifish make great tank mates.
Originally posted 2010-01-05 20:45:40. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
