A very lovely fish, but one that is sensitive to water quality. I had a group of six, three each of the two very similar species Sphaerichthys osphromenoides [this is the most common "Chocolate"] and Sphaerichthys selatanensis. The latter has a distinct horizontal cream-coloured band that is lacking in the other species. My S. osphromenoides spawned several times, and without any intervention from me I had several fry survive. Sadly I lost the whole tankful within a week due to a skin pathogen.
A very heavily-planted tank is needed. These fish are not active swimmers at all, remaining among thick vegetation all day, slowly cruising among the plants and branches, picking off tidbits of microscopic food. There interaction is fascinating, so it is good you have 4. Males have a light (creamy white) edge to the dorsal and anal fins, and females have a dark spot on the caudal fin. They are mouthbrooders.
Mine were in a tank thick with Wisteria (Hygrophila difformis), rooted in the substrate and allowed to reach the surface. Some continued to grow on the surface, but I prefer to trim it regularly to keep it at surface length so the lower leaves are less likely to fall off; Water Sprite (Ceratopteris cornuta) makes an ideal floating plant. The thick planting is undoubtedly why so many fry managed to survive; they not only found shelter at the surface but sufficient natural food.
Tankmates from the medium rasbora such as the species in Trigonostigma are ideal. These fish too are not "swimmers" and the thick plants suit them admirably. I also had a group of Trichopsis pumila (pygmy or sparkling gourami) in this tank (a 70g) and they also spawned regularly and some fry survived.
I kept the tank at 80F, and did weekly 50% water changes. Minimal water movement, just enough to circulate the tank gently. Very soft (near zero GH), pH below 6. I fed a variety of flake and micro-pellet foods. Things were fine for over a year until the pathogen did its thing.
Byron.
Read more: http://www.tropicalfishkeeping.com/profiles/chocolate-gourami/#ixzz2DoRy4xK1
--- In AquaticLife@yahoogroups.com, harry perry <harryfisherman@...> wrote:
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> I just picked up 4 of these. Have them intheir own tank. Anything special I should know about these fish? Anything any one can share would be appreciated.
>
> Harry
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
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