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Lunar Gurami belongs to the Osphronemus family. This fish has a magnificent and graceful appearance, even despite the fact that it does not have a bright color. However, the distinctive ability of the Lunar Gurami from other types of aquarium fish is that its scales can reflect even very weak and dim light. Due to this, around the Lunar Gurami, a luminous white-moon color effect is created.
Natural habitat
For the first time, the Lunar Gurami was found in the South-East part of Asia. To date, this species can be found outside its natural habitat. For example, very often, many wild populations of this fish can be found even in countries that are located in South America.
In the natural habitat, Lunar Gurami is usually found on the plains of swampy water bodies. Also, this species can be found in freshwater lakes, in the floodplains of the river called Mekong, as well as in swamps. Lunar Gurami, as a halo for its habitat, prefers ponds with shallow depth, as well as stagnant water and a heavily overgrown shore.
Staying in a natural habitat, Lunar Gurami prefers zooplankton as the main food. Also, this fish often hunts for small crustaceans or insects that live in a pond. One of the distinguishing features of this fish is that it is able to catch small insects that live above the surface of the water. While catching surface insects, the Lunar Gurami, due to a sharp reduction in the cavities located in the oral part, sharply throws out a small stream of water, which, when it enters an insect, knocks it into a pond.
general description
In addition, this species of fish has long filiform pectoral fins. The body color of this fish has a silver tint. However, with age, a shade of green begins to manifest itself distinctly in the area of the lunar spine of the Lunar Gurami. The color of the iris can be red or orange. It is worth noting that the fins in males also have a shade of either red or orange, while in females the fins usually have a light yellow color or even be colorless.
Nutrition
At home, Lunar Gurami does not neglect any food that is intended to feed aquarium fish. However, it should be noted that, if necessary, you can purchase special food intended for feeding. Such a special feed, which is developed for this aquarium fish, contains all the necessary trace elements and vitamin complexes that stimulate its growth and development.
In order to add variety to the diet of the Lunar Gurami, you can use animal feed. For example, in the daily diet of this aquarium fish you can include such insects as:
- pipe maker;
- Cyclops;
- bloodworm.
In addition, lunar gurami, as a variety, can also periodically be given plant-based feeds. For example, once every few days this fish can be fed with finely chopped salad or spinach.It should be noted that such finely chopped plants as spinach or salad can be added to animal feeds and combined to feed them aquarium fish several times a day, depending on the diet.
Conditions and rules of care in the aquarium
The correct maintenance of the Lunar Gurami involves the use of an aquarium with a volume of at least 150 liters for 1 pair of these fish. Also, the correct content of this species involves the use of a special filter to purify water in the aquarium. Such a filter should have a high level of performance and at the same time not create a strong movement in the water. This is due to the fact that the Lunar Gurami prefers to be in calm, stagnant water, and the appearance of a strong current in the aquarium can provoke a stressful situation. Despite the fact that this species of fish prefers ponds with a low oxygen content, still the aquarium in which they are kept must be equipped with an aeration system. Such an aeration system should saturate the water in the aquarium with oxygen around the clock.
In the event that the fish moves closer to the surface of the water and begins to actively swallow air, this indicates a low content of oxygen in the aquarium. Water oxygen deficiency can be caused by both a weak aeration system and the accumulation of excessive amounts of organic waste in the aquarium. Therefore, 25% of the water contained in the aquarium in which the Lunar Gurami are located is recommended to be changed every 7 days. In this case, the water temperature should be from 25 to 30 degrees Celsius.
During the decoration of the aquarium, which contains the Lunar Gourami, you must try to achieve a balance between the availability of free sites for unhindered swimming and places with thickets of plants. It should be noted that this type of aquarium fish is prone to damage plants. When designing an aquarium, it is recommended to use hard-leaved plants with a strong root system. Artificial plants can be used as an alternative to decorating an aquarium.
Social behavior
In conditions of aquarium breeding and keeping, Lunar Gurami can successfully live both in a group and in a pair. It should be noted that in the case of the maintenance of the group of this aquarium fish, which includes more than 3 individuals, a large aquarium is necessary. In addition, in such an aquarium there should be many shelters due to the fact that the males of the Lunar Gurami are prone to the manifestation of territorial behavior. As a result of this, in a small aquarium in which there are no shelters, weak fish will be constantly attacked by their stronger relatives.
Lunar Gurami females are more tolerant than males. The most optimal ratio of the content of this species of fish in the aquarium is the presence of several females per male. In one aquarium, the Lunar Gurami get along well with the peace-loving and calm, as well as large species of fish.
Gender differences
Males have a more elegant and slim look. Their fins are orange. However, at the beginning of the spawning period, the fins of the males of this aquarium fish acquire a red tint. In addition, in Lunar Gurami males, the fins located in the back and anus have a pointed shape.
Breeding
In order to stimulate the spawning of the Lunar Gourami in the aquarium, it is necessary to lower the water level to about 20 cm.Also, fish to stimulate its spawning should be transferred to an enhanced diet with animal feed. In such conditions, the female will gradually begin to appear caviar, because of which she will begin to swell. The fins of the male in this period acquire a red tint.
After laying eggs, already on the 2nd day fry begin to appear from it. They must be transferred to another aquarium, away from adult individuals that are able to eat them. To feed the young Lunar Gurami, special micro-feed or Daphnia should be used.
Video: Lunar gourami aquarium fish
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