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Powder Blue Dwarf Gourami

Blue Dwarf Gourami

Family: OsphronemidaeColisa laliaPhoto © Animal-World: Courtesy Greg Rothschild

   The pretty Powder Blue Dwarf Gourami is an attractive and hardy fish, enjoyed by both the beginner and the advanced aquarist!

   The Powder Blue Dwarf Gourami is a color-morph of the Dwarf Gourami. sporting primarily blue color overall with very diminished vertical striping. Other than its coloration however, the Powder Blue Dwarf Gourami is the same as the regular Dwarf Gourami. Not only are they hardy but they stay fairly small, reaching only about 2 inches. Being a peaceful fish makes them a good addition to a community tank but they can be a little timid, especially if housed with fish that pester them.

   Characteristic of all the Labyrinth fishes, the Dwarf Gourami is a bubble nest builder. However it is unique in that it will use bits of vegetation in its nest; such things as leaves, twigs, roots, peat fibers, and other debris. These fish are very desirable for a smaller aquarium but be sure to give them lots of plant cover not only for nest building, but also to provide plenty of places to hide.

   The Powder Blue Dwarf Gourami is one of a number of beautiful color morphs that have been developed. Some of the other color-morphs, also recognized by a variety of names, include the: Neon Blue (Rainbow) Dwarf Gourami, Flame (Fire Red/ 'Blood' Red) Dwarf Gourami.

For more Information on keeping this fish see:
Guide to a Happy, Healthy Freshwater Aquarium

Habitat: Distribution / Background

   The Powder Blue Dwarf Gourami is a captive bred color-morph of the Dwarf Gourami. Dwarf Gouramis are found in waterways and paddy fields of the tropical Far East; India, west Bengal, Assam, and Bangladesh. They typically inhabit areas with thick vegetation, such as the wetlands of the Ganges river; Jumna, Bramaputra, and the Baram river in Borneo.

• Scientific Name: Colisa lalia
• Social Grouping: Groups - Can be kept singly, in pairs, or groups. If kept in a group make sure there are plenty of hiding places to keep one or more of the individuals from being bullied.
• IUCN Red List: - This man made variation of Colisa Lalia does not exist in the wild.

Description

   The body of the Powder Blue Dwarf Gourami is somewhat compressed. The fins are rounded and relatively large. The ventral fins are threadlike and extremely sensitive. Their coloring is very pretty 'powdery' blue with very subdued vertical striping on the body and fins. This fish has a labyrinth organ, a part of the fish which allows it to absorb atmospheric oxygen directly into the bloodstream.

• Maximum Size: 2.5 inches (6.35 cm) - Two inches (5 cm) is a good length for this gourami to reach in the aquarium, though males can get slightly larger up to a maximum of two and a half inches (6cm).

Fish Keeping Difficulty

• Aquarium Hardiness: Very Hardy
• Aquarist Experience Level: Beginner

Foods and Feeding

   Since they are omnivores, the Powder Blue Dwarf Gourami will generally eat all kinds of live, fresh, and flake foods. To keep a good balance give them a quality flake or pellet food as the base to the diet. Supplement this with live foods such as white worms, blood worms, brine shrimp, or any other suitable substitute. Vegetable tablets can be offered as well.
   These gouramis are hardy fish. Although the labyrinth organ allows the fish to survive in oxygen depleted water, it is a common misconception that this makes water changes unnecessary. This is hardly the case as these fish will suffer the same tissue damage from built up toxins as any other fish. Regular water changes are a must with 25% weekly being recommended.
   Dwarf Gouramis enjoy an aquarium that gets a good amount of light, but the tank should be decorated in a manner that provides plenty of hiding places for this shy fish to live happily. They appreciate dense vegetation and the cover of floating plants. They can be housed in smaller aquariums. The minimum size is 5 gallons for a single fish, but more than one will need a larger tank.

• Diet Type: Omnivore
• Flake Food: Yes
• Tablet Pellet: Yes
• Live foods (fishes, shrimps, worms): Some of Diet
• Vegetable Food: Some of Diet
• Meaty Food: Some of Diet
• Feeding Frequency: Several feedings per day

Aquarium Care

• Water Changes: Monthly

Aquarium Setup

• Minimum Tank Size: 10 gal (38 L)
• Substrate Type: Any
• Lighting Needs: Moderate - normal lighting
• Temperature: 75.0 - 82.0° F (23.9 - 27.8° C) - Keep the surrounding room temperature consistent with the water temperature to avoid causing trauma to the labyrinth organ.
• Range ph: 6.0-8.0
• Hardness Range: 5 - 18 dGH
• Brackish: No
• Water Movement: Weak
• Water Region: All - These fish will swim in all areas, but particularly in the middle and top portions of the aquarium

Social Behaviors

   Powder Blue Dwarf Gouramis are a good community fish. They are timid, however, and may take a bit of time to become comfortable in an aquarium and come out of hiding. Keep them with other peaceful fish.

• Temperament: Peaceful - Breeding males can be quite belligerent.
• Same species - conspecifics: Yes
• Peaceful fish (): Safe
• Semi-Aggressive (): Monitor
• Slow Swimmers & Eaters (): Monitor - Gouramis can be quick at feeding time. Make sure any fish that are not so quick get fed if you are keeping them with gouramis.

Sex: Sexual differences

   The male Dwarf Gourami is much more colorful and has a pointed dorsal pennant, they also generally have a smaller belly than the female. The female actually has very little color at all. Pairs will generally swim together.

Breeding / Reproduction

   Like most fish in this family, Dwarf Gouramis are bubble nest builders. They do go a little farther in their nest building than most gouramis however, and will weave in bits of plants and debris into their nest structure. Their eggs as well as the fry, are lighter than water and float to the top.

See the description of how to breed these fish in Breeding Freshwater Fish.

• Ease of Breeding: Moderate

Availability

   The Powder Blue Dwarf Gourami is readily available. Males will be about $5.00 - $9.00 USD each with females (or purchasing by the pair) usually being a little less.

References

Animal-World References
Freshwater Fish and Plants Tropical Fish ~ Freshwater Fish ~ Aquatic Plants

Author: Clarice Brough, CFS

• Powder Blue Gourami : $4.99

Powder Blue Dwarf Gourami Colisa Lalia Offered By: That Pet Place Price: $4.99

Lastest Comments on Powder Blue Dwarf Gourami View all 9 comments on Powder Blue Dwarf Gourami Add Your Comment

Thomas - 2010-03-12 I have a 15 gallon tank, and one blue dwarf and it ate the eyes out of my 3 silver hatchet fish. Any comments on why it might have done this? Anonymous - 2010-12-23 They were hungry. samiran roy,india - 2011-08-27 all fish dont mix. you should probably keep the powder blues with other larger species of gourami such as flame gouramis,three-spot,honey,etc. Anonymous - 2012-05-20 They are omnivores needing plant and meat based foods might need more protein in diet Jeremy Roche - 2012-05-21 Gourami's will pick at other fish. Reply

Lori - 2011-08-29 I have had 5 Powder Blue Gouramis and they looked good, but they start to get thin and then die. They are eating, don't show signs of disease, then they get listless and die with in days. I have a healthy 55 gallon tank, lots of plants and hiding places. I have Angels, Parrots, Kissing Gouramis, Tetras and Barbs. They all seem to get along, with some spats, but nothing constant. Any suggestions? Toby Jungle - 2011-08-30 Try loooking for symptoms on Animal Worlds Fish Disease and Treatment. Usually behavior is tank conditions so throughly check temperature, water, PH etc. Look at the Animal World link on Symptoms and see if anything looks familar and recommended treatment is there. Sorry you are having the problem but the idea is to get to the bottom of it. Harry - 2012-01-23 How big is your angel? I have gourami and angel mixed tank and to begin with it was a struggle angels at time can be very aggressive Especially when fully grown!! daryl - 2012-02-16 I have the same problem and the same size tank. My other dwarf Gouramis do great just the powder blues are having a problem.. Wonder what is going on no signs of disease. Reply

Rodrigo - 2011-01-23 Are they really hybrids? I thought they where just selective bred Dwarf Gouramis. If so what are the probable parents? David Brough - 2012-01-23 You are right, they are not a hybrid. They are a color-morph of the Dwarf Gourami. The introduction stated they are hybrids but has been fixed. Thanks! Reply

Taylor - 2011-02-22 This is the most aggressive fish I have ever had. The other gouramis I've had (Pearl, Dwarf, and Flame) were territorial, but nothing on this level. Before I moved him into his own (smaller) home, he bullied my Dwarf Gourami to death, Terrified my tetras into a back corner and had even beaten my Zebra Danios into submission. The only thing he won't attack are shrimp. In my opinion, not the best community fish. Safari Gill - 2011-10-28 I thought we were talking about Dwarf Gouramis, is that the one attacking the other fish? Harry - 2012-01-23 My powder blue is the most placid fish in the world and if anything is bullied by the other dwarf gouramis Reply

Sara Triplett - 2011-03-11 I have a Dwarf Blue Gourami doing ok with guppy and betas and tetras. Reply

Sue Criddle - 2011-11-11 Hi. I have a powder blue Dwarf Gourami which is laying down and swimming on the side any idea as to why? Thanks. Jasmine Brough Hinesley - 2011-11-11 This could be any number of things. Swim bladder disease could be the problem - where it seems like it has lost its balance/not swimming correctly (which usually indicates other problems with the fish), or it could be something like Hexamita which causes them to swim backwards. There are remedies for these problems, but it may be hard to pinpoint exactly what the cause is. You may want to try medicating the aquarium with a general bacterial or fungal treatment. Also, check this Fish Disease Diagnostic Chart to determine if you can find any other possible symptoms your fish may have. Reply

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