Order Perciformes ( Perciformes )
Suborder Anabantoidei ( Anabantoidei )
Family Osphronemidae ( Osphronemidae )
Subfamily ( Luciocephalinae )
Genus Ctenops — Ctenops.
— Frail Gourami — Ctenops nobilis [McClelland, 1845]. Synonym: Osphromenus nobilis. (English: Frail Gourami, Indian Paradisefish). Northern India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Janali, Ganges, and Brahmaputra rivers. 7-10 cm. Elongated body with a pointed snout. Large eyes are constantly in motion. Unpaired fins are rounded with a reddish border.
Brown with two longitudinal stripes, various dark geometric patterns, and an ocellated spot at the base of the tail. Small black dots are scattered across the body, and the caudal fin has a red edge. Males have longer dorsal fins than females. Adult females are larger than males and have a broad head when viewed from above. Until reaching a size of 1.5 cm, the fry are striped.
Dense planting of various plants not only helps to calm this timid species but also provides plenty of divided territories that will reduce the frequency of aggressive encounters. If you use bright lighting for plants, add different species that grow near the surface and some varieties of floating vegetation. The aquarium cover must fit very tightly, as this fish is an excellent jumper.
Males are very aggressive towards each other, and a large aquarium is required to keep a group of fish together. Aggressive towards smaller fish. They occupy the upper water layers. The water should be soft or of medium hardness, and the water flow should be weak or there should be no water movement at all. Frequent small water changes are vital for their well-being.
These are omnivorous fish and accept all aquarium foods in the surface layers, but prefer live and frozen foods. They do not take food from the bottom. This species is very sensitive to poor maintenance conditions and is easily prone to fungal diseases. Considered one of the most difficult species to keep in captivity, with relatively few cases of thriving in aquariums, so it cannot be recommended for amateurs. Males mouthbrood the eggs. pH 5.7-7.5; dH 1-12°; T 21-24°C.
Genus Parasphaerichthys — Parasphaerichthys.
— Eyespot Gourami — Parasphaerichthys ocellatus [Prashad & Mukerji, 1929]. (English: Eyespot Gourami). Northern Myanmar, Ayeyarwady River basin. 3.5 cm. Body is low, laterally compressed, head slightly elongated. The dorsal fin is located on top of the back, its base is 2 times shorter than that of the anal fin. Pectoral and pelvic fins are close together, with pelvic fins located below the pectoral ones. The first soft ray of each pelvic fin is elongated into a filament. The dorsal, anal, and pelvic fins have spiny rays. The caudal fin is paddle-shaped with a rounded edge.
Body coloration is yellow with coffee-colored patches; in the center of the body and at the base of the caudal fin, there are 2 dark spots surrounded by a light border (resembling eyes, hence the name). A dark stripe runs along the base of the anal fin.
Peaceful, males are aggressive among themselves. Keep fish in small aquariums densely planted with fine-leaved plants, with hiding places and open swimming spaces. Substrate is dark. Live or frozen foods are mandatory for this species. Very susceptible to diseases. T 24-28°C, pH and water hardness do not matter, aeration and filtration are not needed.
— False Chocolate Gourami — Parasphaerichthys lineatus [Britz & Kottelat, 2002]. Southeast Asia, Southern Myanmar. In nature, they inhabit ponds and ditches under the protection of vegetation hanging from the banks into the water, as well as in slow-flowing, overgrown streams. The smallest member of the family Osphronemidae – up to 2 cm. Body moderately elongated, slightly high, laterally compressed, belly profile more curved than the back profile, snout sharp.
Dorsal and anal fins are long and low, pelvic fins have a thread-like elongated first ray. Body is chocolate-brown to faint reddish-brown, partly with a slight greenish sheen. Scales with a dark border. Several pale yellow to white transverse stripes cross the entire body. Anal fin with a narrow yellow border.
Before spawning, the male’s head area turns black and the rest of the body becomes bright orange, while the female’s throat turns reddish. At this time, males emit croaking sounds to attract the attention of females. Females are noticeably larger and fuller-bodied than males.
Aquarium with dense vegetation of stem and floating plants, driftwood, and tree branches. Should be kept in a small species aquarium in a group of 6 individuals. Peaceful towards other fish species, somewhat timid, males are pugnacious among themselves. A pair claims a territory and will defend the space during spawning. They swim in the upper and middle water layers.
Unlike all others, it can be kept in hard, slightly alkaline water. Water flow from filtration should not be strong. Fed very small live and frozen food, later can be accustomed to flakes. Spawning is in pairs. In the spawning aquarium, there is fine sand; circling over it, the fish use the water current to make a depression where the female spawns her eggs. In some cases, both adults protect the clutch, but usually, the male does it. T 22-27°C; pH 7.0-8.0; dH 14-25°.
Colisa chuna, sota, Honey Gourami.
Belontia hasselti, Belontia signata. 
