Cooperation: OFY Sagami, Rio

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This time, I would like to introduce Chocolate Gourami (hereinafter referred to as Choco Gourami). It's a rather silly idea to coincide with Valentine's Day, but when you raise them, you'll be surprised to find that they're actually quite lazy. Be sure to understand the Chocogra's profile before breeding it.

What is chocolate gourami?

This species, which is known by the abbreviation "chocogra" among aquarists, is a lovable fish with a unique chocolate-colored body color as its name suggests, and is full of charm points such as a round body and a small mouth. It is a small species with a total length of about 5 cm and is a member of the anabantid family like betta fish and dwarf gourami. It is distributed from the Malay Peninsula to Sumatra and Borneo.

The scientific name isSphaerichthys osphromenoides. There are four known species in the genus Sphaerichthys, including Chocogra (see table). Among them, Chocogra has been known as an ornamental fish for a very long time and has been loved by many aquarists. The other three types have mainly been distributed in Japan since 4, but until then they were a phantom existence. Currently, the second most imported variety after Chocogra is Vaillanti, followed by Serratanensis, and unfortunately, Acrostoma is not easily distributed.

A common feature of the anabantid family is that they breathe air, and of course Chocogra also breathes by sticking its snout out to the surface of the water. However, compared to improved betta and dwarf gourami, this happens less frequently, and it feels like it sucks quickly even though it's buzzing. This clearly shows Chocogra's cautious behavior.

Also, the anabantid family can be divided into a group that builds bubble nests and a group that performs mouth breeding to protect eggs and fry in the mouth, and Chocogra is the latter. Although the male has a small mouth, he protects the eggs by stuffing them in his mouth.

What we can learn from Chocogra's natural habitat

I conducted a collection survey on the Malay Peninsula in 2008, and was able to collect chocogra. I think knowing the local situation will be of some benefit to breeding, so I'd like to introduce a little bit of what the situation was like at that time.

The place where Chocogra was collected was a stream near Pontian, Johor, Malaysia, at the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula. The area around Pontian is covered in peat swamps, and the streams that weave through the oil palm forests are brown in color due to the tannins of accumulated plant matter, so-called black water. The river is about 3 meters wide, and grasses belonging to the grass family grow on the riverbank, and there are places where rushes grow inside the river. You can imagine that the area around these plants is a perfect hiding place for fish. If you rustle around the grass, you're sure to catch some tropical fish.

When I looked into the stream, I saw something with a black body and white markings wandering around in the shallows. At first glance, it doesn't look like a fish, but if you look closely, you'll see that it's chocolate. It was our first encounter. I knew about it from the information, but it was very moving to actually see Chocogra swimming in the black water. As it is a peatland, the bottom of the water is soft and fluffy and you can sink up to your ankles. With great difficulty, I collected about 10 fish. What I noticed while collecting them was that they had a loose territory, swimming around in search of food, and when other individuals approached, they would chase them out of their territory. For this reason, it was not possible to catch multiple fish all at once using hand nets, and collecting them one by one was quite hard work. We found a male with an egg in its mouth among the individuals we collected! I was also impressed by this.

When viewed from the water, the water looks almost black, but when you scoop it up with a case, it's not black, but slightly brownish. It appears black because of the depth of the water and the sediments on the bottom.The local water quality is soft water with a pH of less than 5.is. This is a very important point when breeding Chocogra. Black water, which at first glance appears to be contaminated with sediment, is actually very clean water with very little dirt. Chocogra lives only in clean waters like this, soIf the water gets dirty during breeding, they often become unwell.It is

Tropical fish collected in this stream include Rasbora einsobenii, three-spotted gouramy, Berontia hasselti, Anabas, Bankas snakehead, Almond snakehead, etc. Not only are there powerful predators underwater, but there are also large kingfishers above the water. At first glance, the stream looks like a paradise for chocogras, but I realized that they are working hard to survive.

Distribution and acquisition

Chocogra is a fish that is widely distributed and easy to obtain throughout the year. What is imported are so-called wild specimens collected locally in countries such as Indonesia. Sizes vary from sub-adult fish of about 3 cm to adult fish class. The problem is the import status. Chocogra is a fish that is susceptible to water stains and body surface abrasion, and is easily damaged during transportation. A successful start to breeding Chocogra depends on whether you can obtain individuals in good condition.

So when I find Chocogra at a shop, I take a close look at it. It would be a good idea to buy one that has a nice color on its body and eyes and is swimming smoothly and energetically, or one that is searching for food. On the other hand, individuals with lackluster skin, cloudy eyes, or those who swim floppy with their tail fins folded are no good. It's been a long time since the fish arrived at the shop, and they have become accustomed to the aquarium environment and are eating well. It would be a good idea to ask the shop staff when purchasing how long it has been since the item was in stock.Just get one in good condition. This is the first step in breeding Chocogra.

Cowardly yet aggressive!? Chocogra breeding number problem

As you can see from their habitat, Chocogras have loose territories and live their lives while being wary of other predators. For this reason, they are quite timid even in the tank, and may hide in the shadows and not be seen easily in the early stages of breeding. However, in an environment where there are no enemies around, their behavior becomes bolder over time, and they show their curious side by actively searching for food.

The difficult part is deciding how many to keep. Because chocolate isAlthough he is timid, he hits his own kind extremely hard.This behavior is observed, and sometimes stronger individuals frequently attack weaker individuals, weakening them. As seen in their habitat, this behavior is a result of having a territory and is the natural instinct of Chocogra. What I want to think about is the number of animals kept and the layout inside the aquarium. Keeping a small number of fish in a small tank is quite dangerous and attacks tend to concentrate on weaker individuals. ThereforeIf you want to keep more than one, use a larger aquarium and increase the number of Chocogra to spread out the attacks.I think it's easier to keep if you do that. moreoverPlace plenty of aquatic plants and driftwood in the tank so that chased individuals can quickly hide.It's also important.

In this breeding example, 45 individuals with a total length of about 4 cm are kept in a 8 cm wide aquarium. Even though they usually swim together calmly, their instincts seem to switch on every time they are fed, and one strong individual can be seen violently driving away the others. He gets angry and says, "This is my feeding ground! Get out!" There are 1 individuals that are attacked, but I think it's a little harsh when there are so few. The aquarium size is 7cm wide, so about 45 to 6 fish would be a reasonable line. If there are more than this, it will feel cramped.

Also, if you keep them for a long time, the power balance may change. There are also cases where some individuals resist the strongest individual and the attack becomes weaker. Well, this area also changes depending on the individual's personality, so please observe it carefully every day. If the attacks are too intense and you find it painful to watch, you may try increasing the size of the tank and changing the layout inside the tank.

Key points of breeding

If you keep a few points in mind and adapt well to the environment in the aquarium, they will be durable. If you stand in front of the aquarium, they may become accustomed to waiting for food. First, let's focus on the key points of breeding.

◆Chocolate breeding example
Here, we set up an aquarium to enjoy Chocogra with the ultra-small carp friends Boraras brigittae (10 individuals) and Sunda Danio "Neon Blue" (20 individuals). Although you can raise Chocogra alone without any problems, if you have other gentle fish living with you, they tend to eat artificial feed better and get used to the breeder more easily. The water quality maintains a pH of about 5.8. Since we keep a rather large number of fish, including the fish that live with us, we regularly clean the filters, clean the bottom sand, and change the water to keep the water quality clean.

Aquarium: width 450 x depth 220 x height 330mm/approx. 27.8L
filter:Suisaku Space Power Fit Plus M WhatIto,Suisaku panel filter W
Filter material:Suisaku Space Power Fit Plus Replacement Filter Media
Substrate: Soil type
illumination:light up 400 white(Lights on for about 1 hours a day using a timer)
timer:LED smart timer
Water temperature: 26℃ (water temperature gauge isTemperature to paste (using M)
Food: Flake or granule type food in the morning, brine shrimp larvae at night, sometimes frozen red beetles
Breeding organisms: Chocogra (8), Sundadanio "Neon Blue" (20), Boraras brigittae (10), Otocinculus (1), Yamatonuma shrimp (2)
Aquatic plants: Microsolum “Wavey Leaf”
*Aquarium setRiva 450N 6 piece set(Aquarium / Lid / Protective mat / Filter / LED light / Descaling)

●Aquarium
As an adult fish, the total length is about 5 cm.Recommended to be kept in an aquarium with a width of 30 cm or more.is. A small aquarium with a width of 1cm is fine for one fish, but if you have more than one fish, consider a larger tank. If possible, if the width is at least 20 cm, or 45 cm wide, the water quality will be more stable and it will be easier to keep.

●Water quality
As mentioned in the local information, they prefer soft water with a low pH. Consider this a necessary condition for chocolate. Therefore, avoid adding anything that will increase the pH or hardness of the aquarium, such as coral fragments, shells, stones, gravel, and accessories that will affect the water quality.

In actual breedingAim for pH around 5 to around 6.5I'll make it. Another important thing is whether the water is clean. Dirty water, even if the pH is low, can make you more susceptible to diseases. Chocogra is a delicate fish that is very sensitive to water quality, so it is best to keep it with a proper filtration system.

●Filter (filtration)
Filtration is important because if there is noticeable dirt in the aquarium, some fish may become unwell. Be especially careful when the water quality is not yet stable, such as in the early stages of setting up an aquarium. It is also a good idea to raise other fish first and bring in Chocogra after the filtering bacteria have functioned and the environment has been prepared.

Internal and external types are easy to use, and external and bottom types can also be used without any problems. In this breeding example, the mainSuisaku Space Power Fit Plus M White” and in the sub “Suishin series`` which is operated by an air pump such as ``Suisaku panel filter W” is set on the wall of the aquarium. Chocogra does not like strong water currents, so the water from the filter is directed near the water surface.

●Filter material
Use water that does not make the water alkaline.To do. Those that do not affect the water quality or those that make the water slightly acidic are suitable. Use the one that matches your filter.

●Bottom sand
Selection of substrate sand is important as it can affect water quality. Soil-based sand is easy to handle because it creates soft water. Even though they are soil-based, there are some that have a pH adjustment function, so it is important to choose one that will give you the right water quality for Chocogra. Gravel can also be used as long as it does not affect water quality.

●Water temperature
Maintain around 25-26℃There is no problem if you do that. In the summer, use an air conditioner to prevent high temperatures, or use an aquarium.Mini cool fan USBstyleTry to lower the temperature by installing a cooling fan such as ``.

●Lighting
Necessary for observing Chocogra and growing aquatic plants. In this breeding example,LED smart timer” for about 8 hours.Lights up approximately 1 to 6 hours a day.It would be nice to do that.

●Bait
They will eat a variety of foods, including artificial feeds such as flake and granule types, and frozen feeds such as frozen red beetles, frozen brine shrimp, and frozen daphnia. If they are hungry, you can observe them actively eating food that has fallen to the bottom of the water. Brine shrimp larvae are also good bait. However, if you feed them too much continuously, they may lose their condition and become more likely to pollute the water with leftover food. It is important to understand the appropriate amount and make sure to feed the amount that the dog can eat.

●Layout inside the aquarium
Provides a place for weak individuals to escape when chasedLayout with plenty of aquatic plants and driftwoodlet's. If you are having trouble with the layout, you can simply add aquatic plants with larger leaves such as Microsolum or Anubias.Prepare plenty of hiding placesLet's do it. Also, if you leave some space near the bottom of the water, it will be easier for them to eat fallen food, and it will be easier to clean the sand at the bottom.

- Mixed swimming with other fish
If you mix it with fish that are stronger than Chocogra, it may become frightened and not come out, or it may become unsteady and lose its condition. ThereforeChoose small, gentle fish as a swimming partner.Let's make chocolate the main character. In this breeding example, we are raising extremely small carp species called Boraras and Sunda Danio from Indonesia, which prefer the same water quality as Chocogra. Chocogras usually do not interfere with these small fish, but when I once mixed a small fish with one Chocogra, this one became tyrannical. When I fed it, it became aggressive and chased away other mixed fish. I think it depends on the individual's personality and the mixed swimming environment, but if the mixing doesn't go well, you may need to change the fish. Let's deal with the situation flexibly.

Fish suitable for mixed swimming
・Medaka friends: Medaka family such as lampeye
・Small characin: Small species such as red tetra and deep red firefly tetra
・Small carp: Small species such as Espei and Boraras
・Gentle catfish: Otocinculus, small corydoras, etc.
・Loach: Gentle species such as coolie roach
・Small crustaceans such as shrimp：Yamato Numa shrimp, Minami Numa shrimp, etc.

Fish that are not suitable for mixing
・Medium to large fish:Not allowed as it will attack or eat Chocogra.
・Cichlid:Cichlids may attack Chocogra, so you should avoid mixing them in small aquariums.
・Anabantid: It is better to refrain from swimming together as there is a possibility of fighting.
・Fish that prefer alkaline or brackish water：NG because the water quality is not suitable

●Daily management
Make sure to carefully monitor your chocolate's physical condition every day and pay attention to maintaining the water quality. In particular, if dirt accumulates at the bottom of the water, your fish may become unwell or become ill. ThereforeWe recommend regular cleaning of the bottom sand and water changes.To do. It depends on the size of the aquarium, but if it's a 45cm wide aquarium like the one in this example, it's a good idea to clean the substrate and change the water about once every two to three weeks. Use water for water changes that has been adjusted with a pH lowering agent.

●If you lose your temper
When a chocolate grub loses its condition, it often folds its tail fin, and if you see one like this, change the water as soon as possible and clean the water, or use almond leaf, black water extract, etc.betta leaf extract packYou may see an improvement if you add black water made using something like ``.

This state of folding the tail fin is a sign of poor health, and if left untreated, the disease will progress and may even lead to death. Common infections include columnaris disease and aeromonas disease. It is often caused by poor water quality or infection from infected individuals. Individuals who swim strangely with their fins folded or rocking back and forth also suggest these diseases. In this case, put fish disease medicine in a separate aquarium and give it a medicated bath. In severe cases, the chance of survival is very low, so it is important to not only take prompt action but also to keep the water quality clean on a daily basis to prevent the spread of disease.

●Possibility of breeding
If you are able to successfully raise them and the individuals mature, you may see pairing behavior, such as not running away even when attacked, or swimming in circles as if the two were dancing. However, the difficult thing about Chocogra is that it is difficult to distinguish between males and females unless you are used to it. In all Chocogra family members, there is a tendency for females to be more colorful than males. In the case of Chocogra, it seems that individuals with strong redness are likely to be females, but it is not necessarily true that females turn red, so you may not be able to tell unless you try pairing them. It's better to breed several and pair them naturally from there.

in conclusion
Chocogras are sold at a relatively low price, but they are quite addictive, and breeding them requires techniques to maintain the quality of soft water for a long period of time, as well as determining the balance between breeding numbers. It may be difficult to care for at first, but if you manage to raise them properly, you will be soothed by their unique body colors and patterns, how they swim, and how they effortlessly peck at food with their cute little mouths. The hurdles are high, but if you can raise them well and watch them spawn, your love for chocolate gras will deepen. Please enjoy raising a quirky but interesting little gourami. see you!