Dwarf gourami bubble nest questions?

Question

Right now my dwarf gourami is building a bubble nest. He keeps on pulling java moss to the top but it always falls. Is there anything that i can do to make it stay? The female in the tank has lots of hiding places so the male doesn't kill her. There are also many water sprite plants. He uses some of those but not all of them. How long will it take for him to finish the nest? (he started it 20 minutes ago). How long will it take for him and the female to mate after the nest has been finished? On average many eggs are dispersed? How long does it take for them to hatch? Will the male eat the young?



MERRY X-MAS!!!

there is no filter

Answer 1

He may be having trouble keeping the bubblenest together if you've got a filter and it's disrupting the surface. So the Java moss might be his attempt to block the nest from the current. You might try turning your flow rate on the filter down, or use a styrofoam cup cut in half lengthwise (http://www.flippersandfins.net/Images/BettaCup2A.jpg ) and float this on the surface - the bubble nest should be under it where it will be protected. You can also use a clean plastic lid (like for a margarine tub) turned upside down.

Length of time to finish the nest and mate is variable, and will depend on your fish.

A female can lay several hundred eggs, and these should hatch within 1-2 days. The fry will take a few days to absorb their egg sacs, and starting on around day 5, you should begin feeding the fry.

If you're using a regular filter on the tank, you might want to get a foam block that fits around the intake to prevent the fry from being caught. A sponge filter would be better to use. You should remove the male one the fry become free-swimming - after about 5 days of hatching. The female should be taken out once the eggs are laid and fertilized.

ADDITION: Even without a filter, you can add the cup or plastic top - these will help serve as a place to anchor the nest. It would seem that's what he's trying to do with the plants. You could also get a piece of mesh that will fit across the tank and cover about 1/4-1/3 of the water and put some moss on top of this - attach the ends to the rim of the tank. Just don't cover the entire surface so the fish can still get to the surface to breathe.

Answer 2

Gourami Bubble Nest

Answer 3

It's unlikely you have any female dwarf gourami. As they are best described as small, and grey. It's much more rare for a dwarf gourami to build a nest unless they have a mate(s) than say betta, but it happens. I wouldn't worry as it's harmless unless the gourami starts bullying other dwarfs too much. (The males tend towards mild aggression towards other dwarf gourami male, and female.)

Answer 4

cool,you obviously keep them very happy.Good on you!Here's what i know(in short)
THE DWARF GOURAMI:
The popular dwarf gouramiss are native to the vegetation clogged rivers&streams of India,Bengal&Assam.They are hardy,peacfull&undemanding.Feeding can present problems as they will readily accept dried food,however their diet should consist of live suppliments(i know you know this,bear with me)They are anabantids&posses the labarynth lung system which enables them to breath atmospheric oxygen.The smallest of their genus,males do not exceed 2.1/2inches&female 2inches.
For breeding the best environment,small well stocked tank,floating plants&generouse sunlight.A dark bottom is recommended.Water should vary from Neutral to slightly Acidic.Airation NOT advised in the first stage(disturb his bubble nest/surface must be kept still).Temperature should be between 75-81f.A 10 gallon tank,6inches water.Tank should be near sun as to produce algae.
THE MALE WILL BUILD A NEST OF BUBBLES SEVERAL INCHES IN DIAMETER AT THE SURFACE(can take a coupl of hours)WHEN INTRODUCED/INVITES FEMALE TO NEST TO SPAWN,WITH HIS BODY ENCIRCLING HERS,HE WILL MANEUVER HER INTO AN UPSIDE DOWN POSITION WITH HER ABDOMAN DIRECTED TOWARDS THE SURFACE.EGGS ARE THEN RELEASED&FERTALISED AS THEY FLOAT TOWARDS THE SURFACE.THE MALE RELAXES HIS EMBRACE&QUICKLY GATHERS THE EGGS&CAREFULLY PLACES IN NEST.SPAWNING IS CONTINUED AT DIFFERENT INTERVALS,THEN SHE IS DRIVEN AWAY(REMOVE HER)THE MALE TENDS NEST ALONE.THE TINY EGGS ARE USUALLY ABOUT 100-150&HATCH IN 2DAYS.THE FRY ARE FREE SWIMMING TWO MORE DAYS AFTER THAT(REMOVE MALE DAY4-5)THE MALE WILL NOW SEE FOOD NOT OFFSPRING.NOW THEY ARE READY TO BE FED SMALL INFUSORIA(THEY ARE DELICATE&TINY@FIRST&MANY STARVE)
So you should be starting/getting a culture ready now.Hence the necessary algae growth in tank(this will form micro colonies of tiny organisms that is their food)elodia in tank will grow this in abundance.
For nexy feeding stages you will need to get a b/b shrimp hatchery started.Do you know how(can show you)
This will all take the better part of 4-10 hrs from introduction/start to spawn to female removal&male tending.Be sure he's fed well,many males do not eat during the time they are with eggs/fry(but do offer him some,he may eat-best to be double safe).
Also either fish can appear paralysed for a moment&float up/down(this is normal)they will come to&start again.Sometimes they stop&start&stop&start...
There it's really easy(similar to bettas)
Hope it helps.GOOD LUCK&MERRY CHRISTMAS(cool gift your fishy friends are giving you)
PS:i'll be asking you for advice,want to breed also,but here(aust.)due to the high Turberculosis risk(gouramis carry/recessive/spread)aquarists only import males(so hard pushed to get pairs!)which sucks!