Thick lipped gourami red - Colisa labiosa

The thick-lipped red gourami is scientifically also called Colisa labiosa. Its wild form once originated from Asian waters. With the great red color and the eponymous thick lips, this gourami is guaranteed to stand out among green aquatic plants.  Because they are quite easy to care for, beginners can already keep them well.

Offer your animals an aquarium from 80 liters and make sure that it is somewhat shaded, for this you can use floating plants, but also dim the lighting a bit. Because they use the water surface for breathing, make sure that it is always freely accessible. In places you can place dense plant stands, so that your animals can retreat. Pay attention to a good water hygiene, also humic substances should not be neglected. Because they come to the water surface to breathe, this should always be freely accessible.

It is best to keep them in groups of 5-10 animals or more, from which harmonizing pairs will develop. Thick-lipped gourami grow to about 10 cm in size, with the monks remaining somewhat smaller. Like other gourami, they are foam nest breeders, with the male taking over territorial defense. After mating, the male collects the female's eggs with his mouth and spits them into the foam nest. It is best to keep the female separate during this time until the young have hatched. A rearing tank is recommended. You can raise the babies with nauplii and rotifers.

They are quite peaceful, so you can keep them together with other friendly and not hectic fish. However, you should refrain from fin-nibbling and other gourami, as well as crayfish, which could injure them on their filamentous namesake elongated pelvic fins. Tetras, catfish, danios and livebearers make good tankmates. You can also pack dwarf shrimp with them, they are not actively chased.

Colisa labiosa is an omnivore, which can be easily fed with live and frozen food, but also with dry and flake food. Meaty food increases their coloration, among other things.

Our food recommendation: With the NatureHolic BettaFeed a special food for fighting fish was tailor-made, whose soft granules remind of the consistency of insect larvae in nature. The soft beads protect the sensitive fish mouth from micro-cracks caused by too hard food grains. The specially developed NH Immun+ complex as well as the NH Color+ high-performance additive support the immune system and the magnificent color formation of the fish.

Our plant recommendation: Use for planting NatureHolic InVitros. These are free of snails, planaria and other unwanted co-inhabitants. Also free of algae spores, bacteria and fungi.

Expert Tip: We recommend when keeping fish the NatureHolic 3 Phase Liquid. The care set offers the best all-round protection for your animals. It ensures optimal conditions for successful breeding and keeping.