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Neon Blue Dwarf Gourami

Rainbow Dwarf Gourami

Family: OsphronemidaeNeon Blue Dwarf GouramiColisa lalia
Latest Reader Comment - See More
This is my favourite fish. Im sitting here now watching a Power Blue tending his nest and eggs. For some reason he keeps shooting water at me when I approach, just... (more)  Nevyn

   Though it has the same basic coloration as the regular Dwarf Gourami... the Neon Blue Dwarf Gourami has a lot more blue!

   The Neon Blue Dwarf Gourami is an extremely attractive color-morph of the Dwarf Gourami. This color variety may be referred to as the Rainbow Gourami when the blue coloring has a shiny metallic cast to it. Other than the more intense blue coloration, the Neon Blue Dwarf Gourami or the Rainbow Gourami are the same as the 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 with plenty of plant cover not only for nest building, but also to provide plenty of places to hide.

   The Neon Blue Dwarf Gourami is one of a number of beautiful hybrids that have been developed and are readily available today. Some of the other hybrids, recognized by a variety of names, include the: Powder Blue (Blue) Dwarf Gourami, and the Flame (Fire Red/ 'Blood' Red) Dwarf Gourami.

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


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Geographic Distribution
Colisa lalia
Data provided by FishBase.org
  • Kingdom: Animalia
  • Phylum: Chordata
  • Class: Actinopterygii
  • Order: Perciformes
  • Family: Osphronemidae

Habitat: Distribution / Background

   The Neon 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: NE - Not Evaluated or not listed - This man made variation of Colisa Lalia doesn't exist in the wild.

Description

   The body of the Neon 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 similar to the Dwarf Gourami, but with a much more intensive amount of blue. Males are easily distinguished, having a bright orangish red background with bluish green vertical striping extending onto the fins. Females have a lighter blue-gray background and are less colorful. 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 Neon 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

   Neon 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.

  • Venomous: No
  • Temperament: Peaceful - Breeding males can be quite belligerent.
  • Compatible with:
    • 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. Picture of a Neon Blue Dwarf Gourami

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

  • Ease of Propagation: Moderate

Availability

   The Neon Blue Dwarf Gourami is readily available. Males will be about $6 - $10 USD each, with females (or puchasing 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


Colisa Lalia Neon Blue Dwarf Gourami Colisa Lalia Neon Blue Dwarf Gourami
Offered By: That Pet Place
Price: $5.99
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Lastest Comments on Neon Blue Dwarf Gourami

Nevyn - 2003-09-15
This is my favourite fish. Im sitting here now watching a Power Blue tending his nest and eggs. For some reason he keeps shooting water at me when I approach, just like an Archer fish would! Amazing.

Click For Replies (2)
  • anand - 2010-07-23
    I have two neon gourami one male and female, male shoots water at me like your fish. It's amazing I don't know why he does that:-)
  • bluegourami - 2011-08-03
    I actually read somewhere that these fish shoot water out to catch bugs and other things that could be hovering over the water. It could just be instinct...he sees you and knows food but innate abilities kick in and he does what he would normally do to catch the food :)
Reply
Tracie - 2010-06-24
I have a neon blue dwarf gourami. I only have one. I believe it is male. It's belly has become huge and bloated looking. He is still eating and swimming. What is wrong with him?

Click For Replies (2)
  • anand - 2010-07-23
    There is one disease which come for fishes the belly become big and it'll die soon it may be the disease. You can do a research on it probably.
  • Joanne - 2010-08-10
    I was told that they will always eat so overfeeding will cause the bloated stomach. Feed only every other day.
Reply
Caleb - 2010-07-17
I just bought a baby (7/8 or 1 inch) neon blue gourami today to put in with my platys and cherry shrimp. He (I think) is a wonderfully coloured fish and full of personality. At the pet shop, I walked up to the tank and he swam to the front and followed me around it. I wasn't even intending on buying him, but his personality and colours got me. Overall, a wonderful fish.

Reply
Amanda - 2008-09-09
Believe it or not, Walmart has female eon dwarf gouramis. The best part is, if you have any problems within 90 days, you take them the fish and the reciept and they will refund your money or give you another fish.

Click For Replies (2)
  • Meghan L - 2010-04-04
    I bought mine yesterday at Petco and I got 2. I'm not sure if they're girl girls or boys or both. But one of thm is not using his gills but he was before. I'm not sure if this is a good or bad thing. He's not moving as much as he used to (he was active during the morning) plz let me know if you know anything about what's going on. thanks
  • Tracie - 2010-06-24
    Yes, today I saw neon blue dwarf gouramis at Walmart for $1.84. I couldn't believe it. I paid $6 for mine at Petsmart!
Reply
eden - 2010-05-08
I have 2 gouramis and I love them they are very hardy and do great in a community tank. The weird thing is that they won't mate if you don't have live plants trust me I have tried and it doesn't work out. As soon as I put live plants in they built a bubble nest and are still building. The reason I think they need live plants in there is so they can weave the plant debris in the nest. I would highly recommend getting this type of fish!

Reply
Robert - 2008-05-17
I had a Dwarf in a community tank and everything got along great, I then added an opaline gourami. The Dwarf and the Opaline fought but it was never bad. Then one morning I woke up and my dwarf was on his side at the bottom of the tank with gashes in his side and a dent in his head. I wouldn't recommend putting these two fish together

Reply

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