See discussions, stats, and author profiles for this publication at: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/331717622 Recent Trends in Breeding and Trade of Ornamental Gourami in India Article in World Aquaculture · March 2019 CITATIONS READS 3 3,032 2 authors: Alok Kumar Jena Pradyut Biswas Central Institute of Fisheries Education Central Agricultural University 29 PUBLICATIONS 37 CITATIONS 62 PUBLICATIONS 132 CITATIONS SEE PROFILE SEE PROFILE Some of the authors of this publication are also working on these related projects: Effects of temperature on the Caudal fin regeneration of Flying Barb Esomus danricus (Hamilton, 1822) (Cyprinidae) View project Grow-out rearing of Indian butter catfish, Ompok bimaculatus (Bloch), at different stocking densities in outdoor concrete tanks View project All content following this page was uploaded by Alok Kumar Jena on 13 March 2019. The user has requested enhancement of the downloaded file. Recent Trends in Breeding and Trade of Ornamental Gourami in India Alok Kumar Jena, Pradyut Biswas and Sandeep Shankar Pattanaik FIGURE 2. Blue gourami Trichogaster trichopterus (Left) and pearl gourami Trichogaster leeri (Right). FIGURE 1. Banded gourami Colisa fasciatus juvenile. TABLE 1. List of gouramis indigenous to India. Common Name Scientific Name Rainbow gourami/banded gourami Colisa fasciatus Dwarf gourami/lily gourami Colisa lalia Honey gourami Colisa chuna FIGURE 3. Preparation of bubble nest by a male gourami. The ornamental fish TABLE 2. List of gouramis exotic to India. farms located in the country industry is considered to be a and are in high demand in sleeping giant in India because Common Name Scientific Name domestic markets. the country is blessed with a Blue gourami Trichogaster trichopterus The fishes of this family rich biodiversity of freshwater Pearl gourami Trichogaster leeri grow to around 15 cm and ornamental fish and has a Thick-lipped gourami Colisa labiosa have the remarkable ability to large availability of freshwater Snakeskin gourami Trichogaster pectoralis breath in two ways, through resources and suitabile agro- Kissing gourami Helostoma temmicki gills and by a cavity in the climatic conditions for captive Chocolate gourami Sphaerichthys osphronemoides head called a labyrinth. This breeding of many native Moonlight gourami Trichogaster microlepis lung-like labyrinth organ ornamental fishes throughout Giant gourami Osphronemus goramy allows gouramis to gulp air the year. In India, the number and use atmospheric oxygen. of people keeping an aquarium This organ plays a vital role in either at home or work place has allowing gouramis to inhabit grown manifold during last two decades (Jain et al. 2016). shallow, oxygen-poor water. Many gouramis have an elongated Gouramis are a diverse group of freshwater perciform fishes feeler-like ray at the front of each of their pelvic fins. Many species in the family Osphronemidae. Currently, about 133 species are show parental care; the male prepares a bubble nest (Fig. 3) to hold recognized, placed in four subfamilies and about 15 genera. They eggs laid by a female and then provides further larval care. are widely distributed in tropical and sub-tropical areas, mainly in Gouramis are omnivorous, feeding on plants and animals Asia and Africa. They are found in the ponds, tanks, streams and such as some aquatic plants, weeds, algae, earthworms, insects rivers of tropical areas. In India, most gouramis are found in the and sometimes dead animals, detritus and debris. They prefer to rivers, tanks and streams of north-east states and the Western Ghats. feed on a wide variety of natural live food including brine shrimp, Many indigenous varieties are available in India (Table 1) and the mosquito larvae and worms such as blood worm (Chironomids), species has high export potential. They are colorful and flamboyant sludge worm (Tubifex) and glass worm (Fig. 4). The nutritional (Figs. 1 and 2) and are attractive to hobbyists of all ages. There are requirements of gouramis varies with size, growth stage and many colorful exotic varieties (Table 2) that are available in different (CONTINUED ON PAGE 62) WWW.WAS.ORG • WORLD AQUACULTURE • MARCH 2019 61 environmental conditions longer fins than the female. (Table 3). In general, gouramis During the breeding season, require 30-45 percent protein, mature males develop a dark 4-9 percent lipids and 30-40 coloration and pointed fins, percent carbohydrates in their while females show bulging diets (Table 4). In addition, the abdomens. When choosing diet should contain carotenoids a breeding pair, care must such as astaxanthin, zeaxanthin be taken to select a mature or lutein for attractive female that is ready to spawn. coloration, and binding agents Otherwise the aggression of and preservatives to improve males can result in death of the quality and shelf life of the the female if she is not ready diet. Gouramis also accept a to breed. Gouramis breed wide range of supplementary throughout the year, but there manufactured pelleted and is a seasonal peak during the granular feeds, including FIGURE 4. Chopped tubifex (sludge worms) as feed for larval gouramis. monsoon season from April freeze-dried foods available to August/September on the in the domestic ornamental Indian sub-continent. market trade (Fig. 5). An aquarium or small plastic tank of 50-80 L Breeding capacity, with a water level Gouramis become of up to 25 cm can be used sexually mature in six months for breeding. Because they and so young fish can be are bubble nest builders, the used for breeding purposes. tanks must be provided with Usually, males are brilliantly one or two pieces of surface colored with a pointed dorsal vegetation, such as water fin, while females are dull hyacinth or banana leaves. with a rounded or curved This helps in providing dorsal fin. The male has much FIGURE 5. Freeze-dried live feeds. stability to the bubble nest. TABLE 3. Size of live feed organisms and stages of preferences. Name of the live food Size Stage of uses Important features Infusoria 0.05-0.3 mm Larvae (newly hatched) Tiny and unicellular; ideal for larvae starter food Zooplankton 0.2-3.0 mm Larvae/Fry Rich protein (60-65%) sources for early stage Artemia nauplii 0.4-0.5 mm Larvae/Fry Filter-feeders, can be enriched with PUFA, vitamin C etc. and provided to larvae and fry Beer Worms Up to 1.2 mm Fry/Fingerlings Highly digestibility and very good food after infusoria and rotifer feeding Chironomid larvae 10-20 mm Fry/Fingerlings/Adult Rich in iron and pigments (Blood Worms) (contains haemoglobin) Tubifex Up to 20 mm long Fry/Fingerlings Rich in iron and pigments (Sludge worm) (contains haemoglobin) Earthworms Size varies according to species Adult/Brood stock Rich protein (60-65%) and fats (9-10%) sources 62 MARCH 2019 • WORLD AQUACULTURE • WWW.WAS.ORG After tank preparation, one week of rearing, larvae a mature male is stocked into are fed Artemia nauplii, the tank first. Soon after the blood worms, sludge worms male makes a bubble nest, a or mixed zooplankton until mature gravid female is stocked they reach stocking size. into the tank, which should The 10-15 d old larvae may be covered with a hard board be stocked into other tanks to create humid conditions in to enable them to attain the tank. Soon after stocking marketable size within the female, both the male 3-4 months. Periphyton and female begin courtship can also be developed in behavior (e.g. chasing each the larval rearing tank other). During this period, through introduction of FIGURE 6. Larval rearing in circular fiberglass tanks. the male bends around the various types of artificial abdomen of the female near substrates such as plastic the bubble nest, stimulating strips and aquatic plants the deposition of about 500- that serve as feed for young 3,000 eggs in the bubble nest larvae. In case live feed is by the female, which are then not available, freeze-dried fertilized by the male. The or refrigerated live food male also collects eggs and organisms can also be used. deposits them in the bubble Feeding should be done 3-4 nest. Soon after release of times per day for optimal eggs, the female should be growth and survival. Green removed from the breeding water is also very useful for tank. Inasmuch as this species larval rearing of gourami. is found in tropical regions, egg In this type of production hatching requires no more than system, specific varieties three days (24-36 hr). Within of phytoplankton (e.g. 3-5 days of hatching, hatchlings FIGURE 7. Larval rearing in plastic tubs. Spirulina, Chlorella) are develop into free-swimming cultured in a nutrient-rich fry. Males guard eggs and larvae for 2-3 weeks in the wild, but media and used to feed larvae. larvae can be removed once they are free swimming. Best management practices for breeding include: • Avoid aeration in breeding tanks because it will disturb Larval Rearing nest formation. Free-swimming larvae or fry are stocked into a rectangular • Keep mature males separate in small containers because aquaria or plastic tanks that are provided with diffused aeration males are aggressive in the presence of a female. and filtration of suitable size (Figs. 6 and 7). Larvae are fed with • Select healthy males for breeding because they will make live food immediately after yolk-sac absorption. They are provided larger bubble nests. with sufficient quantity of infusoria or rotifers for one week, • The size of the bubble nest is managed by placing small ensuring that minimum effort is required to search for food. After (CONTINUED ON PAGE 64) TABLE 4. Nutrient requirements of ornamental gouramis at different life stages. Nutrients Young stage Brood stock Sources Protein 40-45 30-40 Fish meal, Squid meal, shrimp meal, soyabean meal, mustard meal, groundnut meal, wheat/ maize meal etc.