LFS Mislabel...bonus yay for me!!

[Fishnut]

I saw some fish labeled Chocolate Gourami at a LFS.  I knew by looking at them that they weren't exactly chocolate gouramis, but something similar because they looked almost like a chocolate gourmai but with a slightly different body shape.  I bought 2.

I've spent some time with my Baensch Atlas and Google and have discovered something AMAZING!!  I have Sphaerichthys vaillanti!!!  Mine are still quite young but I think they're both males.

Here's a video of a pair spawning.  Check out the colours on the female!!!  They are mouth brooding fish and the MALE broods!

http://youtu.be/BIOIuLftuLs

Here's a video of young fish before they colour up...which is what mine look like:

http://youtu.be/xl2Pnm3VQCw

Here's the chocolate gourami.  Note the deeper body

http://youtu.be/FfL-g4OcKjo

Sooooo...for date night, I'm dragging my husband to the LFS to see if there are any that are showing signs that they may be a female.  He chose a crappy movie a few weeks ago, so I have a bit of leverage.

[exv152]

Samurai gourami eh? Excellent find. I think I saw those this past weekend, they also caught my eye. Post some pics if you can.

[Fishnut]

I got 4 more!  

Samurai?  Is that another name for them?  I didn't come across that name.  I'll check it out...maybe find more info.

I got the first 2 at Critter Jungle but I remember seeing them at BA Kanata a while ago, so I went to see the ones in Kanata.  I rarely get out to that store so I thought I would make the trek.  BA had them labeled correctly.

This is going to be a LONG 6 week quarantine!  I already can't wait to get them upstairs into my display tank!  They're eventually going in my 40 long, which is my planted/mini fish tank...although these guys are not mini as adults.  Oh well!  They're in a 10g QT with a couple of scarlet badis (Dario dario), a couple of sparkling/pygmy gouramis and some cherry shrimp.

I can't wait for QT to be over!!

[Greatwhite]

Nice find!

[Laura]

Beautiful!

[exv152]

Yeah they're also called samurai gourami, check out the link http://www.theaquariumwiki.com/Sphaerichthys_vaillanti. I also noticed the badis badis at BAs in Kanata, and LaNiche just got a bunch of these in last friday, very nice specimens. My only concern with these fish is apparently they only eat live foods.

[Fishnut]

Yes, most do, but these guys showed an interest in flakes today.  I was too busy watching the gouramis to pay attention to the badis enough to see them actually eat it. I'll feed some frozen blood worms tomorrow and see how it goes.  I've had them before...they are a bit of a pain to feed but not bad.  

When I got home with the other 4, I broke some almond leaf into bits and put it in the tank.  The water is already tea coloured from the driftwood, but everything I've seen about these guys has the leaves in the water.  I'll add them to the display tank as well I guess.

[daworldisblack]

Woah! Awesome find! Really like the looks of them! As for Dario Dario, i've read the same but I have 2 right now that were in a tank that only got flake food mostly and some bloodworms and white worms every now and then and they are still doing well. Maybe its a matter of time before they accept them?

[exv152]

Woah! Awesome find! Really like the looks of them! As for Dario Dario, i've read the same but I have 2 right now that were in a tank that only got flake food mostly and some bloodworms and white worms every now and then and they are still doing well. Maybe its a matter of time before they accept them?

Rah, are you keeping the badis in the same tank as the chilis?  Wonder how they get along.

[daworldisblack]

Rah, are you keeping the badis in the same tank as the chilis?  Wonder how they get along.

Yeap I had them with together in my Aquastyle and they got along fine. I find Chilli's tend to swim on the middle or upper level and the badis tend to stay at the bottom.