FAAS Publication Awards Form

pdf FAAS Publication Awards Form Author Helene Schoubye Society (NO Abbreviations) Tampa Bay Aquarium Society Category 11 Age (Junior Only) Date of Publication December 2013 Title of Publication (NO Abbreviations) The Filter Title of Article LICORICE GOURAMIS -- A little labyrinth fish Replace this text with your reprint policy. Requests to reprint should be directed to the TBAS Editor. Please Enter your official provide proper credit to the author and to TBAS when reprinting Reprint Policy reprint policy for your articles. publication. Enter email address where we should Address per your Reprint Policy above: [email protected] Address Information Award certificates should all go to the same address. OK to type in your Signature William P. Little (WPL) signature & initials. By submitting this entry, I attest that the publication pages have not been materially altered from my society’s originally published document. Form Directions 1) Fill out the form above. 2) Convert or “print” to PDF 3) Combine form with the PDF version of the article being submitted. 4) Name file as follows e.g. Greater Colorado Corydoras Association Category 13 Entry #2 013-002-gcca.pdf For Junior Entries, e.g Junior Level 1: J1-013-002.pdf pdf -4- TBAS December 2013 .................... LICORICE GOURAMIS A little labyrinth fish Article: Helene Schoubye Photos: Helene Schoubye, Oliver Perrin and Johnny Jensen, AkvarieFoto.dk The text and images in this article are copyrighted and are reprinted with specific authorization of the authors The European’s refer to this little fish as licorice gurami – prachtgurami (german) in North America we refer to these fish as Licorice Gouramis or in short form as “Paros”.The Latin name is Parosphromenus – a small anabantoid derived from blackwater biotopes / peat swamps and forest areas in Borneo, Malaysia and Indonesia. Some of these areas are unfortunately now quite environ- mentally threatened. The Licorice Gourami belongs to the family Ospronemidae and the genus Par- osphromenus. They are just about 5 cm in length (less than 2”). For most species, there is a differ- ence between males and females. Females are usually black and white in stripes , while the male, which normally also has the same coloration but stronger colors – bands of colors – in all fins and has a more intense black color. There are 20 described species and many variations, far more than have been discovered or described we suspect. The variations may be very small differences in colors, markings that almost seem insignificant – and it can’t be said for sure if it’s variations of the same species, or two different species. Some species are clearly different and easy to recognize. We also do not know yet whether the different species cross with each other, thereby creating these Small differences, - this can actually only be determined through examining the fish genes through genetic DNA testing. To Table of Contents pdf -5- Parosphromenus parvulus photo: Helene Schoubye Parosphromenus parvulus pair photo: Helene Schoubye The Licorice Gourami was first described in 1859 by Bleeker, as a provisional assignment based on a single specimen (a female). This species was designated P. deissneri. It was only in the 1950’s and forward, that there arose a particular interest in these tiny fishes, and it was discovered that there was not only one species, but many species in this genus. Through the IGL and among private collectors and hobbyists a huge amount of discovery has been accomplished, both in terms of descriptions of species and understanding of the needs of these species in general. In Nature and in the Aquarium Habitat The Licorice gourami is found in areas of the island of Borneo and throughout Malaysia and Indonesia. They live in small creeks and larger areas of slow flowing waters in a nature dominated by large areas of rainforest and peat swamps. The water is very acidic, down to pH 3.5 and very very soft. There is a high content of humin substances through fallen leaves. These water values has been created over thousands of years, which again means that the small organism which inhabit these waters have adapted and specialized over many thousand years as well . they have adapted to these surroundings and depend on this environment. Other fish that live in these waters are small boraras species, Chocolate Gouramis and Betta coccina e.g. the small red bettas, Betta brownorum etc. The Licorice Gourami mostly live at the edges of the water bodies, about a meter down, it is not a schooling fish, but will be found in larger “‘schools” in certain areas. In recent years the natural habitats in these areas has undergone massive change To Table of Contents pdf -6- TBAS December 2013 .................... - partly because of population growth – partly because of an expanding exploitation of the land for industrial purposes. The production of palm oil is one of the biggest industrial developments which are influencing the natural habitat of the licorice gourami. These regions are the same area which are inhabited by other threatened animal species, one of these, and possibly most know is the orangutan. But the species of Parosphromenus often lives closer to the sea, and closer to inhabited and lower lying areas, which may mean that they are even more threatened than animal living in very remote mountain areas. It is a fact that for some species the original biotope, in which they have been found, already has been so influenced and disturbed that some species could already have disappeared. Parosphromenus alfredi spawning pair Photo: Oliver Perrin. Parosphromenus species In January 2013, the two species most recently identified were described, so currently there are 20 described species. Today most of these species are found in private aquarists collections. However, here in the U.S. some of these species are beginning to appear in local aquarium shops and on internet stores as well as Aquabid. Some of the species continue to be very rare. Here is a small sampling of some of the more known species: Parosphromenus cf. linkei Parosphromenus cf. linkei Photo: AkvarieFoto.dk Parosphromenus linkei: One of the most commonly found species and is occasionally found in the trade or from domestic breeders. It comes from areas around Kalimantan on Borneo. The areas from which P. Linkei is derived from however are presently largely destroyed. The P. linkei male and female have the same markings; the male though, has a longer tail and dorsal fin and more striking colors. The markings are characterized by a pattern in all the fins of very fine flagrant, a turquoise seam surrounds all the fins and two blue spots on each side of the body. The tail fin has a spear shape. It is one of the most beautiful species and one of the most robust species; and could therefore To Table of Contents pdf -7- be seen as a species suitable for beginners in the field. Parosphromenus harveyi Parosphromenus harveyi Photo: Helene Schoubye Parosphromenus harveyi: this species, originally from Western Malaysia, is very threatened in the original habitat. This species has, for some time, been on IUCH’s Red List (endangered species). It is characterized by a highly brilliant blue turquoise ribbon in the tail, pectoral as well as the dorsal and ventral fins. In the tail fin the space between blue band and the rim of the fin is quite wide; this is different from some other species, such as P. bintan. However it can easily be confused with other species such as P. bintan and several others yet to be described species. This species is extremely rare in the trade, but is found in some private breeder collection mainly in Europe. P. nagyi Parosphromenus nagyi Photo: Helene Schoubye Parosphromenus nagyi: Is found in regions of West Malaysia, down along the coast. It differs from other species in that the male (dominant adult males) body color is brown (no stripes) with either white or blue ribbon in the tail or back and unpaired fins. While readily available in Europe, in late 2013 this species began to appear in the trade in North America in limited numbers. For further information on these species, as well as the other species, reference can be made to www.parosphromenus-project.org where you will find more detailed descriptions of all 20 species. Source of Information: Peter Finke, http://www.parosphromenus-project.org --- Parosphromenus species To Table of Contents pdf -8- TBAS December 2013 .................... Parosphromenus parvulus - male entering his cave -- Photo: Helene Schoubye The mating and courtship process is an exciting and fascinating event to observe if you are fortunate enough to have the opportunity to do so. However, if you have a harmonious pair in a small aquarium, this can be a relatively easy event to observe. The male “dances” in front the female while he is spreading his fins completely extended. He pushes her side to lure her into his chosen cave which can be a small tube, catfish cave, a photo- container or under a piece of wood, or under a leave. The female responds with displaying a darker brown / yellowish color, losing her stripes and often with “sexy eyes” – eyes change so that you can see a vertical dark “beam” down the eye, which exhibits a highly specific expression. This is seen both in males and females. Most Paro species per- form the ritual with the nose in the downward position, but a few species stand vertically with its tail downward. The Licorice Gourami is a labyrinth fish, and as such, has a fully developed labyrinth or- gan - but this air breathing ability is mainly used only during the construction of foam or bubble nests prior to the spawning ritual.

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