12 Anabantids
Description
This article is from the Aquaria: Good (and Bad) First Fish; Breeding FAQ, by Dean Hougen and Elaine Thompson
12 Anabantids
Anabantids are another group of fishes that are quite different from
those already discussed. Distantly related to Cichlids and Perch,
Anabantids are found in Africa and Asia. Members of the families
Anabantidae, Belontiidae, Helostomatidae, and Osphronemidae,
Anabantids are also referred to as the "labyrinth fishes". This is
due to a special breathing organ referred to as the labyrinth organ
which is essentially a maze of tunnels near the fish's gills.
Labyrinth fish gulp air at the surface of the water and absorb it
through the labyrinth organ, allowing them to live in water with too
little oxygen to support fish which only breath through their gills.
Some Anabantids can survive out of water for several hours breathing
only through their labyrinths, as long as they stay moist. Anabas
testudineus, known as the Climbing Perch, is said to be able to climb
trees and to live out of water for up to two days.
As well as giving aquarists some additional choices for community-tank
fish, Anabantids offer some unique options to fish keepers as well as
presenting a few problems. Because some Anabantids are able to
withstand cooler temperatures, and because of their ability to survive
in water with very low oxygen, these fishes can be kept in tanks or
bowls without heaters or filtration. On the other hand, some
Anabantids (particularly males of some species) are very territorial
and some grow quite large.
Breeding Anabantids can be quite rewarding. Some species build nests
out of bubbles into which they place their eggs while others, like
some Cichlids, are mouthbrooders.
The most commonly seen Anabantid is probably the Betta or Siamese
Fighting Fish (which is generally said to be Betta splendens but is
probably a crossbreed). Artificial color varieties with red, blue,
green, purple, and many other colors in various combinations are
widely available. Males are bred to have very large fins and both
sexes are seen with double tails. Siamese Fighting Fish generally make
poor choices for the community tank for two reasons. First, as their
name would imply, they are very territorial. The aggression is
greatest between two males, but can be directed towards any fish that
looks to the Betta too much like another Betta. Second, their long
fins make easy targets for many fish such as Barbs. Siamese Fighting
Fish can be kept alone in bowls (the larger the better) or tanks
without filtration as long as frequent partial water changes are done.
They do need warm temperatures, however, and are sensitive to
temperature changes, so a constant heat supply is needed if the room
is less than about 75F. Also, due to poor breeding, many Siamese
Fighting Fish are not very healthy. A 3" male would be a large adult;
females stay smaller.
A better choice for keeping alone in a bowl or small tank is the
Paradise Fish - Macropodus opercularis. These are much hardier fish
than the Fighters and can withstand temperatures down to 60F. They may
jump, however, so the tank should be covered to be safe. Also, like
Siamese Fighting Fish, male Paradise Fish can be extremely territorial
towards one another. Paradise Fish may get up to 4" long.
Another very commonly seen Anabantid is the Blue or Three-Spot Gourami
- Trichogaster trichopterus. Gold, Silver, and Cosby Gouramies are
also widely available and are simply artificial color varieties of the
Blue Gourami. Blue Gouramies can get up to 6" long. They are not as
aggressive as Fighters or Paradise Fish, but more than one in a small
tank may lead to constant (if not overly deadly) chasing. They will do
well in a tank with larger schooling fishes. Similar, though slightly
smaller species include the Banded or Giant Gourami - Colisa fasciata
(which is only a giant compared to the similarly colored Dwarf Gourami
described below), the Thick-lipped Gourami - Colisa labiosa and the
somewhat less aggressive Pearl Gourami - Trichogaster leeri and
Moonlight Gourami - T. microlepis. The Kissing Gourami - Helostoma
temmincki grows larger (up to 12") but makes a good fish for beginners
with larger tanks. It is peaceful, though males will contest with one
another by pressing their lips together and pushing - the so-called
"kissing" from which the common name derives. Most Kissing Gouramies
seen will be of the Pink variety.
Small Gouramies, only growing to 2" or so in length, are also
available. These include the Dwarf Gourami - Colisa lalia, the Honey
Gourami - C. chuna, and the Sunset Dwarf Gourami (probably a cross
between C. lalia and C. chuna). In theory, these would all be good
fish for the community aquarium. In practice, these fish are often the
victims of poor breeding practices in the Far East (like so many
others described before) and many are even treated with hormones
before they are shipped to make them appear brighter in the store
tanks. A good rule of thumb is, "If it looks too good to be true, it
probably is."
Although harder to find, Anabantids which have had less human
interference with their reproduction are generally better choices.
Look for the Mouthbrooding Betta - Betta pugnax, the Licorice Gourami
- Parosphromenus deissneri, the Spike-Tailed Paradise Fish -
Pseudosphromenus cupanus, the Croaking Gourami - Trichopsis vittatus,
and the Dwarf Croaking Gourami - T. pumilus, which range in size from
1" to 4". Do not buy Chocolate Gouramies - Sphaerichthys
osphromenoides which are quite delicate, or the true Giant Gouramies -
Osphronemus spp. which grow quickly to well over two feet long.
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