Bubblenester. The male builds his nest in floating plants, under an overhang or in a cavity. The pair need not be separated; the female is usually tolerated and may help guard the nest. Soft water and a slightly raised temperature are said to trigger spawning; keep the tank tightly covered.
Condition a group in a planted tank and let pairs form.
20 L tank with small caves, leaf-litter and floating plants, soft water and low flow.
Live food, slight warming and a water change.
Typically up to about 200 eggs; they hatch within 48 hours and the fry stay in the nest 3-4 more days.
Infusoria then brine shrimp nauplii; the male guards the nest.
One breeding tank for the three-striped croaking gourami, drawn to scale from the breeding guide.
Water: 22–28 °C · pH 5–7.5 · soft water
A plan from the breeding guide and an adult size of 5 cm. Tank shape is a standard 2 : 1 : 1.2 box, at least 6 adult lengths long. Check each step in the guide above.
A 120 cm rack for breeding the three-striped croaking gourami in numbers.
In total: 6 tanks, about 256 L of water. A litre of water weighs about 1 kg, so check that the floor and rack can take the weight.
Sizes are worked out from the breeding tank in the guide. Tanks fit a standard 120 cm rack when they can; bigger tanks go on their own stands.
Males are larger than females and have extended rays in the pelvic, dorsal, anal and tail fins. Shining a strong light behind an adult shows the ovaries of females below the swim bladder.
Typical for bubble-nest builders
Feed well, then let the female see the male through glass before putting them together.
The male wraps the female and places eggs in the nest. Remove the female after spawning.
Eggs hatch in 24–48 hours. The male catches falling fry and returns them to the nest.
Remove the male. Feed infusoria and keep the air above the water warm and humid.
Move on to baby brine shrimp and microworms. Change small amounts of water daily.
Males start fighting at about 8 weeks and need their own jars.
A general guide for this breeding type. Days change with temperature and species.
Feed well, then let the female see the male through glass before putting them together.
Set up a virtual breeding tank and see what would likely happen.
An educational estimate from the breeding rules, not a promise.