Marble gums – builder of a family nest and a pugnish jealous

One of the most interesting fish you can put in your aquarium are marble gums. These fish, which are distinguished by their vivid hues and intriguing habits, are not only attractive to look at but also quite the characters. They are especially well-known for their unusual views on family and their unexpectedly feisty personalities.

Marble gums construct their nests using a hands-on method. These tiny architects, in contrast to many fish species, are committed to building and caring for a comfortable home for their young. On the water’s surface, they build intricate bubble nests, showcasing their talent and commitment as they expertly weave and arrange bubbles.

However, don’t be fooled by their prowess at building nests; marble gums can be fiercely protective of their territory and offspring. Their tendency toward jealousy and aggression—particularly toward other fish—makes them somewhat difficult to keep in a communal tank. They are a fascinating addition to any aquarium because of their combative behavior, which is all part of their charm.

Marble Gudgeon Overview	Marble gudgeons are small, colorful fish known for their vibrant patterns and interesting behavior.
Family Nest Building	Marble gudgeons are meticulous nest builders. The male creates a nest using plant materials and gravel, often in a well-protected area.
Parental Care	The male guards the nest fiercely and takes care of the eggs until they hatch. Both parents help protect the fry once they are free-swimming.
Behavioral Traits	They can be quite pugnacious, especially during breeding. Males may become territorial and exhibit jealousy towards other fish.
Tank Mates	Choose tank mates carefully. Avoid fish that are overly aggressive or larger, as they may stress or harm the marble gudgeons.

Classification, habitat, biotope

The artificially bred marbled gourami is a variation of the spotted gourami (Trichopodus trichopterus).

Two subspecies of spotted gourams are frequently found in the wild:

There are two theories as to where the marble gourami originated:

1. Selection based on blue gourami, that is, marble gourami is a color morph of the Sumatran subspecies.
2. Crossing spotted and blue subspecies, and then marble gourami is a hybrid form based on two subspecies.

That being said, nobody contests the role played by the Sumatran blue gourami in the evolution of the marble gourami. Breeder Cosby from the United States created the marble gourami in the 1970s.

For marble fish, Trichopodus trichopterus sumatranus var. cosbi is the most widely used Latin name. Supporters of the second version of origin occasionally choose to pronounce Trichopodus trichopterus var. cosbi without the word sumatranus.

Habitat and biotope

Southeast Asia is home to the wild varieties of spotted gourami. The islands of Sumatra, Java, Kalimantan, the Indochina peninsulas, and Malacca are home to the largest populations.

The spotted gourami inhabit slow-moving rivers, streams, ditches, and irrigation canals that contain stagnant water. Sand or muddy bottoms with lots of vegetation are preferred by fish. Spotted gourami can be found in flooded rice fields during the rainy season.

Although spotted gourami are omnivores, they primarily eat animal products. Fish consume algae, zooplankton, insects, tiny crustaceans, and larvae.

The unusual ways that marble gums build their family nests and their intense, frequently violent jealousy of their territory make them fascinating fish to watch. We’ll look at how these fish build intricate nests to safeguard their young in this article, as well as how their territorial instincts affect how they interact with other fish and their surroundings. Comprehending these behaviors enables aquarium enthusiasts to give these fascinating creatures the best care possible and to establish a thriving habitat for them.

Appearance, dimorphism

Fish with marbled gourami are of a medium size. Growth typically reaches 10–12 cm. Some people have a 13–14 cm reach. The gourami’s body is oval in shape and has flattened edges. The form is akin to leaves from cherries or plums.

Marbled fish have a background that is white-blue or gray-blue with a silvery tint, and an abdomen that is purple in color. The head and body are covered in sporadic, fuzzy-edged dark blue spots. The sides and back have very noticeable marble patterns. Spots are scarce, hardly noticeable, or nonexistent on the abdomen.

The large, rounded, transparent fins of the marble gourami. Pectoral fins are colorless, while dorsal, anal, and caudal fins are gray-blue with light spots and a dark border around the edges. From the sternum to the beginning of the tail is where the long anal fin is located. The ventral fins have evolved into long, thin threads with a tactile purpose.

It is impossible to tell a person’s sex by appearance before puberty.

Male and female adult differences include:

• females are 2-3 cm smaller than males,
• the dorsal fin of males is pointed,
• the abdomen of the female is thickened on the side and rounded at the bottom.

Spotted gourami inhabit groups of up to ten people in the wild. Adolescence is the time when flocks form before sexual maturity.

It is not advised to put two sexually mature males in an aquarium together as this will almost certainly lead to fights and conflicts. To maintain a school of marble gourami in one aquarium, you will need to purchase and raise 3–4 cm fry. Sexually mature animals should be kept in pairs or in a harem, which consists of one male and two to four females.

A minimum volume of 50 liters is required for a pair of marble gourami. Twenty more liters are needed for each extra person after that. Marble gourami enjoy temperatures in the range of 7 to 9. 20% off of weekly water changes.

Suggested water parameters:

temperature 23-27 °C,acidity 6-8 pH,hardness 5-19 GH.

Equipment

Aeration is not necessary for marble gourami. The fish have evolved to survive in low-oxygen environments. Marble fish, with the aid of a unique organ called the labyrinth, have evolved an alternate method of breathing atmospheric oxygen. Every now and then, gourami surface and inhale air.

But since plants require oxygen, you cannot survive without an aerator or compressor. Furthermore, adding more plants to an aquarium that houses marble gourami is a good idea.

Moderate filtration is recommended. Strong currents should not be created.

A typical set of tools is needed:

Soil and plants

You can use gravel, pebbles, or sand as soil. It is best to go with a dark hue. Marble gourami stand out more vividly and strikingly against a dark background. Shelters from rocks and thorns at the bottom must be made.

In the wild, spotted gourami inhabit areas heavily covered in aquatic vegetation. Fish use plants as cover and extra food. The best places for plants in an aquarium with marble gourami are along the side and back walls.

The types listed below are suggested:

Adding floating plants to the aquarium is also advised:

Food

Dry specialized food (plates, granules, flakes) for small and medium-sized fish should be the foundation.

It is also essential to include natural fresh or frozen foods in the diet:

Reproduction and breeding

A pair of marble gourami requires a spawning aquarium that is at least 30 liters in size. Small-leaved, floating plants (duckweed, riccia) are essential.

Water hardness should not be higher than 10 GH, and the temperature should be kept between 28 and 29 °C. The breeders need to be fed live food after being moved to the spawning tank. It is recommended to change the water every day by 10–15% for extra stimulation.

The male constructs a nest before mating, where the eggs are incubated and the fry hatch.

The nest is situated on the underside of a floating plant’s leaf. The plant leaves and the mucous air bubbles that the male releases serve as the building blocks.

The male fertilizes the eggs by squeezing them out of the female during the mating dances. The duration of spawning is one to several hours. A single female typically produces one thousand eggs.

The female needs to be put back in the main aquarium after she has spawned. Leaving the male to watch over the nest is preferable. Given how hostile he is right now, it is not worth bringing him back to the main tank. Returning him three to four days after the fry hatch is preferable.

The incubation time is between one and two days.

The fry must begin feeding three days after hatching. At this point, infusoria, nauplii, and live dust make the best food. Around two to three weeks of age, you can gradually transition your fry to ready-made dry food.

Subspecies and varieties

There are no subspecies or variations of marble gourami.

Not only do marble gums add vivid beauty to an aquarium, but they also exhibit fascinating behaviors, particularly in regards to nest construction and family life management. It’s amazing how dedicated they are to creating intricate bubble nests. Their dedication to providing a secure environment for their eggs and fry is demonstrated by this behavior. Their strong parental instincts and the value they place on their offspring’s survival are evident in the meticulous way they build and tend to these nests.

The marble gums’ protective instincts, however, don’t end at their nest. Particularly when it comes to their space and partners, these fish are notorious for having jealous and territorial tendencies. They can occasionally engage in intense interactions with other fish due to their pugnacious side. Anyone thinking about keeping marble gums in a shared aquarium needs to understand this aspect of their behavior. Giving them plenty of room and places to hide will reduce conflict and promote harmony in the area.

All things considered, marble gums are more than just visually striking aquarium additions; they are sophisticated animals with unique behavioral characteristics. They are a rewarding and difficult species to care for because of their aptitude for building nests and territorial instincts. Marble gums are dynamic and captivating, and you can enjoy their presence in your aquatic setup with the right setup and a little perseverance.

Video on the topic

🐠 Marble gourami & 🐠 Ternetia GloFish & 🐠 Danio GloFish & 🐠 Siamese algae eater SAE

Marble gourami – fish that clean the aquarium buy

MARBLE GURAMI. CONTENTS AND BREEDING IN AQUARIUM

Marble gourami (Trichopodus trichopterus), overview for beginners

marble gourami

MARBLE GOURAMIS. MAINTENANCE AND BREEDING.

The male marble gourami builds a nest of air bubbles

Marble gourami #shorts aquarium fish