Chocolate gourami
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[Photo] Sphaerichthys osphromenoides - The chocolate gourami, a delicate yet highly prized freshwater fish for the home aquarium. Date 25-Aug-2006. Author en:User:Tsunamicarlos http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:Tsunamicarlos

The chocolate gourami, Sphaerichthys osphromenoides, is a small species of gourami. These fish originate from the Malay Peninsula, Sumatra and Borneo.

Appearance and anatomy
Chocolate gouramis reach a length of 6 centimetres (2 in). These fish have a chocolate colour with golden bands running down its body.

Ecology
These fish 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. The female incubates the eggs in her mouth. These fish are omnivorous, but feed primarily on insects.

In the aquarium
They are popular aquarium fishes but they are a challenging species to keep in an aquarium. Without optimum water conditions, these fish are susceptible to bacterial infections and skin parasites.

Chocolate Gouramis are best kept on their own in well planted species aquaria with gentle filtration. They require soft, acidic water; most of all, they prefer a higher temperature than most fish. 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.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chocolate_gourami

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