Meanest Gourami of Them All

[Jim]

This is just a friendly warning to all those who enjoy having gouramis
in their community tank.

NOT ALL GOURAMIS ARE PEACEFUL.

I purchased Spencer, a baby albino giant gourami (scientific name:
Osphronemus gorami) about 3 months ago.

Generally, Spencer was always a good community fish in my 55-gallon
tank. He swims amongst fellow gouramis, bala sharks, and neon tetras.
Now that he is an adult reaching almost 9 inches in length, he is both
stunning and graceful.

One early morning, I proceeded to feed my fish and to my utter dismay,
I noticed that all 12 of my prized neon tetras were GONE !

I couldn't believe it ! Spencer had eaten all my tetras overnight
regardless of his regular feedings.

So to all you gourami lovers out there, be aware of this species of
gouramis because once they reach a certain size, they WILL consume
smaller tankmates.

[Velvet]

Jim wrote:
> This is just a friendly warning to all those who enjoy having gouramis
> in their community tank.
>
> NOT ALL GOURAMIS ARE PEACEFUL.
>
> I purchased Spencer, a baby albino giant gourami (scientific name:
> Osphronemus gorami) about 3 months ago.
>
> Generally, Spencer was always a good community fish in my 55-gallon
> tank. He swims amongst fellow gouramis, bala sharks, and neon tetras.
> Now that he is an adult reaching almost 9 inches in length, he is both
> stunning and graceful.
>
> One early morning, I proceeded to feed my fish and to my utter dismay,
> I noticed that all 12 of my prized neon tetras were GONE !
>
> I couldn't believe it ! Spencer had eaten all my tetras overnight
> regardless of his regular feedings.
>
> So to all you gourami lovers out there, be aware of this species of
> gouramis because once they reach a certain size, they WILL consume
> smaller tankmates.

Mmm. Personally, the description of him would have told me he'd not be
a suitable tank-mate for mixed community tank... baby albino *giant*
gourami... with a giant-sized mouth to boot!

Hope you've got plans for a bigger tank eventually for him - I've seen
the size those gourami get and he'll outgrow your 55...

Quite amazing to watch, though, a big fish like that, in a big tank.

--


Velvet

[NetMax]

"Velvet" > wrote in message
...
> Jim wrote:
> > This is just a friendly warning to all those who enjoy having
gouramis
> > in their community tank.
> >
> > NOT ALL GOURAMIS ARE PEACEFUL.
> >
> > I purchased Spencer, a baby albino giant gourami (scientific name:
> > Osphronemus gorami) about 3 months ago.
> >
> > Generally, Spencer was always a good community fish in my 55-gallon
> > tank. He swims amongst fellow gouramis, bala sharks, and neon tetras.
> > Now that he is an adult reaching almost 9 inches in length, he is
both
> > stunning and graceful.
> >
> > One early morning, I proceeded to feed my fish and to my utter
dismay,
> > I noticed that all 12 of my prized neon tetras were GONE !
> >
> > I couldn't believe it ! Spencer had eaten all my tetras overnight
> > regardless of his regular feedings.
> >
> > So to all you gourami lovers out there, be aware of this species of
> > gouramis because once they reach a certain size, they WILL consume
> > smaller tankmates.
>
> Mmm. Personally, the description of him would have told me he'd not be
> a suitable tank-mate for mixed community tank... baby albino *giant*
> gourami... with a giant-sized mouth to boot!
>
> Hope you've got plans for a bigger tank eventually for him - I've seen
> the size those gourami get and he'll outgrow your 55...
>
> Quite amazing to watch, though, a big fish like that, in a big tank.
>
> --
>
>
> Velvet

Spencer can reach 28" in length (71cm) and are typically listed as
predaceous and not suitable in the community tank (which is a bit of an
understatement as a five foot 100g would only hold a half-grown
specimen). You have to wonder about the morals of a store which would
sell this to a hobbyist *shakes head*. Here is some credible info on
them: http://www.mongabay.com/fish/osphronemidae.htm
--
www.NetMax.tk

[TYNK 7]

>Subject: Re: Meanest Gourami of Them All
>From: "NetMax"
>Date: 6/22/2004 3:26 PM Central Daylight Time
>Message-id: >
>
>"Velvet" > wrote in message
...
>> Jim wrote:
>> > This is just a friendly warning to all those who enjoy having
>gouramis
>> > in their community tank.
>> >
>> > NOT ALL GOURAMIS ARE PEACEFUL.
>> >
>> > I purchased Spencer, a baby albino giant gourami (scientific name:
>> > Osphronemus gorami) about 3 months ago.
>> >
>> > Generally, Spencer was always a good community fish in my 55-gallon
>> > tank. He swims amongst fellow gouramis, bala sharks, and neon tetras.
>> > Now that he is an adult reaching almost 9 inches in length, he is
>both
>> > stunning and graceful.
>> >
>> > One early morning, I proceeded to feed my fish and to my utter
>dismay,
>> > I noticed that all 12 of my prized neon tetras were GONE !
>> >
>> > I couldn't believe it ! Spencer had eaten all my tetras overnight
>> > regardless of his regular feedings.
>> >
>> > So to all you gourami lovers out there, be aware of this species of
>> > gouramis because once they reach a certain size, they WILL consume
>> > smaller tankmates.
>>
>> Mmm. Personally, the description of him would have told me he'd not be
>> a suitable tank-mate for mixed community tank... baby albino *giant*
>> gourami... with a giant-sized mouth to boot!
>>
>> Hope you've got plans for a bigger tank eventually for him - I've seen
>> the size those gourami get and he'll outgrow your 55...
>>
>> Quite amazing to watch, though, a big fish like that, in a big tank.
>>
>> --
>>
>>
>> Velvet
>
>Spencer can reach 28" in length (71cm) and are typically listed as
>predaceous and not suitable in the community tank (which is a bit of an
>understatement as a five foot 100g would only hold a half-grown
>specimen). You have to wonder about the morals of a store which would
>sell this to a hobbyist *shakes head*. Here is some credible info on
>them: http://www.mongabay.com/fish/osphronemidae.htm
>--
>www.NetMax.tk
>
>
>

NetMax....
Here in Chicago, IL we have the world's largest public aquarium...The John G
Shedd Aquarium.
They have had a couple (or more) fully grown Giant Gouramis. = O
When you see them in front of you....and think to yourself...they sell these
things in pet shops, it boggles your mind!
Actually, on the last trip out there (In March of this year) I was looking at a
particular specimen, and then was trying to find the fully grown Clown Loaches
that they had in there last time.....and the Giant Gourami kept bashing the
glass with his face because it was tryig to bite me!
He kept rushing at me, and then anyone else who stood there.
I sure am glad that glass was thick. = /
And people think Red Tail Catfish are big. = )~