Noble Gourami

About

Noble gourami (Ctenops nobilis) is the sole member of its genus and one of the more unusual labyrinth fishes available to dedicated hobbyists. Native to rivers, lakes, ponds, and heavily vegetated waterways across India and Bangladesh, it is an obligate air-breather that relies on its labyrinth organ to supplement gill respiration. A trait shared with bettas and other anabantoids. The fish carries a reputation for being nearly impossible to keep, but that reputation is somewhat undeserved; the real issue is that specimens are often in rough shape by the time they reach a retailer, making them vulnerable to parasites and velvet infections straight out of the bag. A thorough quarantine and deworming treatment on arrival goes a long way. Behaviorally, this is not a typical community fish. Juveniles are reasonably social, but adults can be downright brutal toward one another, regardless of sex, and serious aggression is common in cramped or bare setups. Dense planting and broken sightlines are essential if you want to keep more than one. Breeding is genuinely fascinating. The female initiates courtship and literally spits eggs toward the male, who broods them in his mouth for up to three weeks before releasing fully-formed fry. That alone makes it worth the extra effort for the right keeper.