My fish are prettier then your fish

Inga

No guesses on the gimpy fin or the bent spine? I thought likely injury due to over crowding or not the best water quality during their early growth state? Total guess though.

thekoimaiden

Gorgeous fish! They do beat out *some* of my fish (mainly the loaches). Is that a Honey Gourami in the background of your Blue Gourami pic? I'm trying to decide on a species of gourami, and if that is a Honey Gourami then I'm practically sold on them!

I've heard that bent spines can come from poor early nutrition. But I think gimpy fin might just be a genetic problem.

Inga

That is a flame Dwarf Gourami Tropical Fish for Freshwater Aquariums: Flame Dwarf Gourami Mine is a male which is more colorful. They can be real red with grey/blue or real orange and from what I have seen, the orange are the most striking. I will have to try to get a decent picture of mine, he is bright orange/red with Blue

thekoimaiden

Ohhh! Even knowing the problems Dwarf Gourami come with they are almost too tempting to pass up! Gosh you're making this hard for me.

JImi

Blue!

I had a Blue Gourami...pakistani gourami I think they are and my gf called him Blue. Had to get rid of him recently though as he was getting stressed by my Barbs.

Lovely looking fish :)

Jimi

Inga

Fill me in on those problems, I have not had any yet. He is well over a year old so...

I couldn't possibly get rid of Blue. Blue is my favorite fish and has been since day one. Blue was so tiny when I got her and the others picked on her. She was so sweet. She still is and all the stuff you hear about Gourami attacking other fish and what not, is not true for her. She lives calmly and peacefully in all situations. At one point I had an outbreak of Guppy fry in the tank so I moved her over there thinking she would eat them and take care of the issue. Not her, she played nanny to the little ones and they buzzed around her like a swarm of mosquitoes yet she didn't eat any. ha ha It made me love her all the more. Such a peaceful, darling girl. ha ha

Geomancer

They are highly prone to disease, and it even has the name "Dwarf Gourami Disease" or DGD for short.

It's an untreatable viral disease that is pretty contagious.

AbbeysDad

"Don't hate me because I'm beautiful."

Inga

Eek! Well, I will just have to keep him healthy. I have not had any issues with him, he is quite a lovely, social and healthy fish at this point. I am not adding any other fish to the aquarium so he is not going to be exposed to anything. The water is changed every 4-5 days and that is a 75% change so... he has good conditions to live in and a heavily planted tank which I think helps too. I love him.
Ha Ha Ha Right?

Jakiebabie

I once had a Blue too for many years. I can't remember the mix in the tank but he never bothered a soul. Surprises me to hear stories of them now.
I do have an Odd looking Pearl Gourami now in my 75. I woke one day to find her entire tail missing... Eeeek! She seemed to be ok otherwise and has grown her tail back but at an odd angle. And she is the skinniest scrawniest rack of bones looking Gourami. But she has been like that for a couple of years and cruises the tank as she pleases. No one bothers her. Eats everyday. (Trying to find some video of it)
Love the Nanny story!! There is more to fish than meets the eye... or our plate.