Giant

The ( goramy) is a species of large gourami native to freshwater habitats in , with its Giant gourami occurrence in other locations due to introductions. This species is commercially important as a food and is also farmed.[2] It can also be found in the aquarium trade.[3] The species has been used for weed control, also on highly invasive aquatic plants like , as the giant gourami can be a voracious herbivore.[4][5]

It is capable of breathing moist air, so can survive out of water for long periods. It is much larger than most (only the other Osphronemus species reach a similar size), growing to a maximum standard length of 70 cm (28 in), though most are only around Adult [3] 45 cm (18 in). In colour, it is a pale to golden yellow, with silvery, Conservation status pale blue stripes running vertically along its body. Females can be identified by their thicker lips. Giant gouramis build nests using weeds and twigs.

Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)[1] Contents Scientific classification Distribution and habitat Kingdom: Animalia In aquaria Phylum: Chordata Tank specifications Class: Diet Breeding Order: As food Family: Osphronemidae References : Osphronemus Species: O. goramy Distribution and habitat Binomial name Osphronemus goramy The giant gourami is native to rivers, streams, marshes, swamps and Lacépède, 1801 lakes in Southeast Asia, where reported from the lower of and , and Chao Phraya and Mae Klong of , as well as river basins in the Thai-Malay Peninsula, of , and Java, and of .[1][3] However, the exact limits of the natural range are often labelled with uncertainty due to confusion with the other Osphronemus species (which only were scientifically described in 1992 and 1994) and the widespread release of giant gouramis Native range in green (widely outside their native range.[6][7] For example, both the giant gourami and have been reported from the middle introduced elsewhere, not shown) Mekong, and both the giant gourami and Osphronemus Synonyms septemfasciatus have been reported from in the and river basins in Sarawak. However, middle Mekong Trichopus goramy (Lacépède, records of the giant gourami are likely misidentifications of elephant 1801) ear gouramis (the only place in the Mekong basin where the giant gourami likely occurs naturally are in the southernmost part, like mentum [8] tributaries originating in the northern Cardamom Mountains). The Lacépède, 1801 presence of giant gouramis in Borneo is possibly the result of introductions.[7] The final species in the genus, the giant red tail Trichopode mentonnier gourami, is restricted to where the others do not occur. This Lacépède, 1801 suggests that the different Osphronemus species originally had allo- Trichopus satyrus G. Shaw, or parapatric distributions.[6][7] 1803

Whether deliberate or by accident, giant gouramis have been Osphromenus satyrus (G. introduced widely as food fish. In Asia, this has expanded their range to include an area from southern China to and Sri Shaw, 1803) Lanka, and in other continents they are now found in Australia, Osphromenus olfax G. Cuvier, , Réunion, Madagascar and elsewhere.[9] Translocations 1831 within Southeast Asia likely started in ancient times. Even Europeans recognized its value as a food fish several hundred years Osphromenus notatus G. ago. For example, Georges Cuvier (1769–1832) suggested that it Cuvier, 1831 should be introduced to the French colonies.[9]

In aquaria

Tank specifications

The giant gourami is also popular in aquaria. Preferably, the tank should have a dark bottom, and densely planted edges, with room left in the center of the tank for them to swim. They prefer the company of other fish of similar sizes and temperament. They are easy to keep at three months old at around 7.5 cm or 3 in long. At this age, they have a pronounced beak. They can grow rapidly given sufficient food Albino giant gourami and space to move. Even under less than ideal conditions, gourami can grow from 7.5 cm to 50 cm in four years. At this age, in addition to the rounded face, a mature giant gourami will have begun to develop the hump just above its eyes. Taiwanese and Malaysians admired fish with protruding heads, known as 'kaloi' or 'warships', found in the western part of the nation. The slightly protruding forehead and long tail of these fish were prized in Taiwanese society as bringing luck in geomancy.

A gourami in a community tank will snap and charge any other fish which are small enough for it to bully. Like most aquarium dwellers, giant gourami can be quickly raised with larger, more passive fish. However, if other fish are added to a tank, either large or small, they might be killed within a short period.

Diet

Gourami tend towards herbivory, preferring algae-based foods, but will eat meaty foods. An algae-based flake food, along with freeze-dried bloodworms, , and , provides these fish with the proper nutrition while young. Once of significant size, they can be fed legumes, partially or fully cooked fibrous or starchy vegetables, or fruits. Breeding

The giant gourami is an egg layer, and the male will build a before spawning. The male and female are distinguished by the dorsal fins and body color. The dorsal fin on the male ends in a point, and the body is darker changing to nearly black during spawning. When breeding, the water in the tank should be decreased to about 20 cm (8 in) deep and the temperature should be 28 °C (82 °F). After spawning, the female should be removed to a separate tank as the male will jealously guard the eggs, in a captive environment, sometimes becoming aggressive towards the female. The eggs hatch in 24 hours. They must be kept in a dark aquarium.

As food

Partly in consequence of its size, the giant gourami is a significant food fish, and in its native regions it has been harvested as a customary food source.[10] In Asian cuisine, gourami is highly valued as food due to its thick flesh, pleasant texture as well as its tasty flavour. Unlike and , gouramis do not have fine bones within their flesh, which render them easy to consume, thus elevate its economic value. In Southeast Asian market, gourami is one of the most highly-valued freshwater food fish. Gourami flesh is rich in protein and minerals.[11]

It is a popular food fish in Indonesian, Malaysian and Thai cuisines. Gouramis are particularly popular in Sundanese cuisine of Indonesia,[12] where they often being fried as , grilled as or cook with spice inside a banana leaf wrap as . In some parts of Southeast Asia, they are salted to preserve and prolong shelf life.

Gurame bakar Live fresh gourami (grilled gourami) for sale in a supermarket in Jakarta

References

1. Low, B.W. (2019). "Osphronemus goramy" (https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/180720/898051 40). IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2019: e.T180720A89805140. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-2.RLTS.T180720A89805140.en (https://doi.org/10.2305%2FIUCN. UK.2019-2.RLTS.T180720A89805140.en). 2. "Gourami" (http://www.finedictionary.com/Gourami.html). 3. Froese, Rainer and Pauly, Daniel, eds. (2014). "Osphronemus goramy" (http://www.fishbase.or g/summary/SpeciesSummary.php?genusname=Osphronemus&speciesname=goramy) in FishBase. February 2014 version. 4. FAO - Weed control (http://www.fao.org/DOCREP/003/T0401E/T0401E04.htm) 5. Dinalankara, Senura; Tharaka Sahan Chandrasiri; Dakshitha Dias; Kokila Hettiarachchi (2018). Vision Based Automated Biomass Estimation of Fronds of Salvinia molesta. University of Moratuwa. 6. Roberts, T.R. (1992). Systematic revision of the Southeast Asian anabantoid fish genus Osphronemus, with descriptions of two new species. Ichthyol. Explor. Freshwat. 2(4): 351–360 7. Roberts, T.R. (1994). Osphronemus exodon, a new species of giant gourami with extraordinary dentition from the Mekong. Natural History Bulletin of the Siam Society 42(1): 67–77 8. Rainboth, W.J. (1996). of the Cambodian Mekong, p. 218. FAO, United Nations. ISBN 92-5-103743-4. 9. Roberts, T.R. (1989). The freshwater fishes of Western Borneo (Kalimantan Barat, Indonesia). Memoirs of the California Academy of Sciences. 14: 1–210. 10. Cultured Gourami in Bogor, Indonesia (http://cinta-gurami.blogspot.com/) 11. "Kandungan Protein Ikan Gurame" (http://www.neraca.co.id/article/35660/kandungan-protein-ik an-gurame). Neraca (in Indonesian). 7 December 2013. 12. "Resep Ikan Gurame" (http://kuliner.ilmci.com/resep/tag/ikan-gurame).

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