Giant Red Tail Gourami

Distribution:
   Giant Red Tail Gourami are from southeastern Asia, found in Northern Borneo. This impressive fish was first described by Roberts in 1992.

Status:
   These fish are not endangered.

Description:
   The Giant Red Tail Gourami has a compressed, oval shaped body and a blunt head. More colorful than its close relative the Giant Gourami, this species natural color can be quite beautiful. It has wonderful blue-green highlights and fins that are trimmed in red. Mature males will develop a 'nuchal hump', a swollen knob or lump on the forehead.
   Like all other gouramis they can breath air, generally gulping it at the water's surface. They have a special 'labyrinth organ' which acts like a lung which enables them to survive in oxygen-depleted waters.

Size - Weight:
   This species can grow up to 20 inches (50 cm).

Care and feeding:
   Since they are omnivores, the Giant Red Tail Gourami will generally eat all kinds of foods. Although it can be a voracious predator, this fish will eat almost any freshwater aquarium foods if it is trained to do so at an early age. If they are mainly fed live fish, your food bills will be very high so it is suggested that you start to train them on the dried foods as soon as they are obtained.
   Sometimes, predatory fish that are never fed any live fish will grow up not knowing that other fish should be considered dinner. There are reports of large sized Giant Gouramis living peacefully with small tetras or danios.
   These fish grow large so as adults they will need a very large aquarium, 100 gallons or larger is recommended. You will also want to be sure to have a good filtration system and do large weekly water changes, with 25% or more being reasonable. As they are large and active, they will need minimal tank decorations.

Water Region: Top, Middle, Bottom:
   The Red Tailed Giant Gourami will swim in most parts of your aquarium.

Acceptable Water Conditions:
   Due to their size, make sure you have good filtration and do weekly water changes!
   Temperature: 72 - 82° F (22 – 28° C)
   Hardness: (not critical) 25° dGH
   Ph: 6.2 to 7.8

Social Behaviors:
   The Giant Red Tail Gourami are generally a peaceful fish, but there can be exceptions to this rule. Occasionally a large male can become very territorial and will attack other fish in their tank. It is best if you plan which species you want in your tank from the very start and obtain them all at or near the same time. Most of the time, fish that are generally considered compatible will get along better if they are raised together.

Sexual Differences:
   The Giant Red Tail Gourami males are much more colorful than the females.

Breeding/Reproduction:
  The Giant Red Tail Gourami have not yet been bred in captivity. Like most fish in this family, the gourami are bubble nest builders. Their close relative, the Giant Gourami male, will build a ball-shaped nest out of bits of plants just below the surface of the water. Their eggs as well as the fry, are lighter than water and float to the top. See the description of how to breed labyrinth fish in Breeding Freshwater Fish.

Availability:
   The Giant Red Tail Gourami are relatively rare. Specimens will be about $40.00 USD and up.
   There is a high demand for this fish in parts of Asia and this helps to keep the price high. Their close relative, Giant Gourami, is commercially produced in many parts of tropical Asia so it is hoped that someone there will soon be able to spawn the Giant Red Tailed Gourami.