Gourami

Breeding Blue Gourami: Easy. Bubble nest builder.  Condition the pair for a couple of weeks with live or frozen brine shrimp and earthworms. Separate the sexes for a few days before transferring them to the spawning tank that is about 2/3 full that has plenty of floating plants. Establish breeding tank about a week before breeding to establish food cultures for fry. Raise the temperature to 82°F and the tank should be well covered, as with all surface fish. 

    Feed young fry infusoria for first few days and then microworms and newly hatched brine shrimp nauplii

Breeding Dwarf Gourami: Bubble nest builder more difficult than Blue Gourami, but requiring less space.  A 10 gal. aquarium is sufficient to spawn and raise the fry.

    Feed young fry infusoria for first few days and then microworms and newly hatched brine shrimp nauplii

Breeding Giant Gourami: Difficult due to size restrictions, but not impossible. The eggs are laid on a nest made from plants. Condition the pair for a couple of weeks with live or frozen brine shrimp and earthworms. Separate the sexes for a few days before transferring them to the spawning tank that is about 2/3 full that has plenty of floating plants. Establish breeding tank about a week before breeding to establish food cultures for fry. Raise the temperature to 82°F and the tank should be well covered, as with all surface fish.  Let parents raise fry.

Breeding Honey Gourami: Easy. Bubble nest builder.  Condition the pair for a couple of weeks with live or frozen brine shrimp and earthworms. Separate the sexes for a few days before transferring them to the spawning tank that is about 2/3 full that has plenty of floating plants. Establish breeding tank about a week before breeding to establish food cultures for fry. Raise the temperature to 82°F and the tank should be well covered, as with all surface fish. 

    Feed young fry infusoria for first few days and then microworms and newly hatched brine shrimp nauplii

Breeding Kissing Gourami: Very difficult due to size requirements. Condition the pair for a couple of weeks with live or frozen brine shrimp and earthworms. Separate the sexes for a few days before transferring them to the spawning tank that is about 2/3 full that has plenty of floating plants. Establish breeding tank about a week before breeding to establish food cultures for fry. Raise the temperature to 82°F and the tank should be well covered, as with all surface fish. 

    Feed young fry microworms and newly hatched brine shrimp nauplii

Breeding Pearl Gourami: Breeding the Pearl Gourami is easy, with several hundred fry at each spawning. Condition the pair for a couple of weeks with live or frozen brine shrimp and earthworms. Separate the sexes for a few days before transferring them to the spawning tank that is about 2/3 full that has plenty of floating plants. Establish breeding tank about a week before breeding to establish food cultures for fry. Raise the temperature to 82°F and the tank should be well covered, as with all surface fish.   Fish are well conditioned and ready to spawn when the male's breast turns red and iridescent blue spots will shine on the body. After the male courts the female, he builds a bubble nest at the surface.

    The actual courtship and spawning are not at all violent or rough compared to some of other bubble nest builders like bettas. The spawning is similar to bettas in that that the male wraps the female and fertilizes the eggs as they are squeezed from her body. The male then delivers the eggs to the nest.   After the spawning act is completed, the male guards the nest, and the female takes refuge from the male. At this time remove the female from the breeding tank. The male continues to guard the nest and hatching begins after 24 hours.  Very similar to bettas.

    Feed young fry infusoria for first few days and then microworms and newly hatched brine shrimp nauplii