Brown Spiketail Gourami

About

Found in slow-moving and still waters across Kerala, India, this small labyrinth fish, Pseudosphromenus dayi, inhabits ditches and swampy backwaters where conditions can be quite variable. Like its anabantoid relatives it possesses a labyrinth organ that allows it to breathe atmospheric air directly, though it tends to surface less frequently than many of its cousins, suggesting it gets along reasonably well even in well-oxygenated water. It can be told apart from its only close relative, P. cupanus, by the two irregular dark lateral stripes running along the head and body, and by the more elongated caudal fin seen in males. Peaceful and somewhat timid by nature, it is not really cut out for a busy community setup despite its mild temperament. Small cyprinids and loaches from similar habitats make reasonable tankmates, but fish with a similar body shape tend to cause stress. Keeping a pair or a small group works well and brings out some genuinely interesting social interactions. Breeding is one of the highlights of keeping this species. Males are secretive nesters, preferring to build under overhangs or inside cavities, and coconut shells or clay pipes work perfectly in the aquarium. Both sexes help attach eggs to the nest ceiling after spawning, though the male typically takes over guard duty afterward. Fry are free-swimming within a few days and should be moved to a separate rearing vessel promptly.