The document summarizes information about the breeding of giant gourami fish, including:
1. It describes the distribution, reproductive biology, breeding season, and sexual dimorphism of giant gourami.
2. Male giant gourami build nests to spawn with females, guarding the fertilized eggs for around two weeks.
3. Breeding can be induced in ponds by adding nest frames and materials, with males building nests that can then be harvested for eggs.
2. Taxonamy
Kingdom : Animalia
Phylum : Chordata
Class : Actinopterygii
Order : Perciformes
Family : Osphronemidae
Genus : Osphronemus
Species : O. goramy
3. The giant gourami (Osphronemus goramy) is a species
of gourami believed to be originally native to Southeast
Asia, with its occurrence in other locations due to
introductions.
This species is commercially important as a food fish
and is also farmed.
It can also be found in the aquarium trade
INTRODUCTION
4. The species has also been used for weed control, as it
can be a voracious herbivore.
It lives in fresh or brackish water, particularly slow-
moving areas such as swamps, lakes, and large rivers.
It is capable of breathing moist air, so can survive out of
water for long periods.
5. They are also found in the Lower Mekong Basin:
Malayan peninsula, Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam
as well as waters of China, Singapore, and eastern India.
In several countries, including Australia, they are
commercially raised as a food fish.
DISTRIBUTION
6. Age at maturity
Attains sexual maturity during the second or the third year.
Fecundity
The female lays in the nest about 500 to 3,000 eggs which are
then fertilised by the male.
REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY
7. Mostly in dry season (April-May)
In confined water , throughout the year.
Spawning season
8. Males have longer and
more pointed dorsal fin.
Mature males will also
develop a large “nuchal
hump”- a swollen lump or
knob on the forehead.
In females dorsal and anal
fins are rounded.
They may have thicker lips
than males.
Sexual dimorphism
MALE FEMALE
11. Nest-building pond spawner.
The male will build a ball-shaped nest out of bits of plants
just below the surface of the water.
They vary in size.
The nests are mostly constructed in April and May, though
spawning takes place throughout the year.
The male will take 8 to 10 days to construct his nest,
anchoring it to reed stems.
BREEDING
12.
13. Spawning at vicinity of nest
Floating eggs
Eggs gathered by male and placed in nest
14. Eggs hatch in about 40 hours
Male guards offspring for about 14 days
15. IN AQUARIUM
Massive tanks are required
Surface vegetation should be provided
Females should be removed once eggs are transferred to
the nest
Males can be removed when the young are free swimming
INDUCED PROPOGATION
16. Propagation induced by introducing nest frames and
nest materials into the pond
Spawning ponds 300-500m² and 1m deep
Brood fish stocked at a rate of one per 7-10m² of pond
area
Sex ratio 2 females:1 male
IN POND
17. Nest frames are funnel shaped made of split bamboo
or sticks
18. Nest frames stuck into earth by stem on side of pond
with mouth opening to Centre of pond
Lies horizontal 15-20 cm below water surface
Or can be tied in horizontal position to two sticks
stuck in bottom of pond
19. Fibrous nest material kept inside frame and scattered
around in water
Ten such nests frames in each pond
When brood stock is introduced they rearrange nest
material to build round nests inside cavity of frame
Nest frames regularly inspected for fertilized eggs
As soon as spawning is over nest detached from frame and
eggs are removed
20. Buoyant eggs at centre of nest the fibres of which are
removed layer by layer
Eggs are yellow in colour and almost transparent
2.5 mm diameter
Eggs in slowly bubbling stream of air
Eggs hatch within 48 hours in a water temperature of
28ºC
21. Newly hatched larvae- upside down with yolk sac pointing
upwards
Normal fish like position in 5th day
Fed with infusoria, paramecium cultured in hatchery
LARVAL REARING
22. Small zooplankton from 10th day of commencement
of feeding
Nursery pond- 200 advanced fry per square meter
6-8 cm in 4-6 weeks
