Chocolate gourami

Chocolate gourami
File:Sphaerichthys osphromenoides.jpg
Conservation status
Not evaluated (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Actinopterygii
Order:	Perciformes
Family:	Osphronemidae
Genus:	Sphaerichthys
Species:	S. osphromenoides
Binomial name
Sphaerichthys osphromenoides Canestrini, 1860
Synonyms
Sphaerichthys osphromenoides osphromenoides Canestrini, 1860

The chocolate gourami (Sphaerichthys osphromenoides) is a species of gourami native to the Malay Peninsula, Sumatra, and Borneo. Chocolate gouramis reach a length of 6 cm (2.4 in). These fish have a chocolate colour with golden bands running down their bodies.

Ecology

They are restricted to peat habitats. Unlike many other labyrinth fish, which breed by incubating their eggs in a bubble nest, this species is a mouthbrooder. Even more unusually, this species is a maternal mouthbrooder, with the female incubating the eggs in her mouth; all other anabantoid mouthbrooders (with the exception of its close relative Sphaerichthys selatanensis) are paternal mouthbrooders, with the male carrying the eggs and young larvae. They are omnivorous, but feed primarily on insects.

In the aquarium

They are popular aquarium fish, but are challenging to keep. Without optimum water conditions, they are susceptible to bacterial infections and skin parasites. Chocolate gouramis are best kept on their own in well-planted aquaria with gentle filtration. They require soft, acidic water; most of all, they prefer a higher temperature than most fish. Tank temperature should be maintained at 25–27°C (77–81°F). They are generally fussy eaters, preferring to eat live foods or freeze-dried, frozen equivalents over flake food.