Three-stripe Croaking Gourami Breeding Guide

How to breed Trichopsis schalleri, an Indochinese croaking gourami that is a bubble-nester; the male builds and guards a surface or cavity nest.

Overview

Trichopsis schalleri is a small Indochinese croaking gourami reaching about 40-50 mm according to Seriously Fish. It is a bubble-nester; the male constructs a nest at the water surface, typically within vegetation or in a cavity. A base of about 60 x 30 cm suits a pair or small group.

Sexing

Seriously Fish notes that males are noticeably larger with extended fin rays in the pelvic, dorsal, anal and caudal fins. Females can be identified by backlighting, which reveals the ovaries below the swim bladder.

Conditioning

Adults are conditioned on small live and frozen foods. According to Seriously Fish, soft water with a slightly raised temperature is said to induce reproductive behaviour.

Breeding Setup

Seriously Fish lists general conditions of 22-28 C, pH 5.0-7.5 and hardness 18-215 ppm. Floating plants and cavities give the male a sheltered place to build his nest.

Spawning Behavior & Trigger

Courtship involves the characteristic croaking: the female approaches in a vertical, head-up position, emitting a series of purring sounds. Spawning occurs beneath the nest in an embrace, with Seriously Fish reporting roughly 1-200 eggs deposited.

Egg & Fry Care

The eggs normally hatch within 48 hours, and the fry remain in the nest for a further 3-4 days until the yolk sac is fully absorbed; the male guards the eggs and fry until they are free-swimming. Seriously Fish recommends an infusoria-grade food for the first few days, after which the fry accept motile foods such as microworm and Artemia nauplii.

Common Challenges

The fry are very small at first and require fine first foods and stable warm water. A tightly fitting cover helps maintain the layer of humid air the developing labyrinth organ requires.