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pge of labyrinth fishes 2

Trichogaster trichopterus goudgoerami
Trichogaster trichopterus trichopterus
pickeled goerami
Trichogaster trichopterus sumatranus
silver gourami

Trichogaster trichopterus sumatranus
Cosby
. Trichogaster leeri Diamantgoerami

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Besides the special adaptation to the environment with the labyrinth organ and for the Asiatic species the attractive pattern of colors the way of reproduction appeals to the imagination. Perhaps it is of less knowledge that far from all labyrinthfishes are foamnestbilders; mouthbreeding and egg layers are patterns of reproduction that are found to. As far as the foam nest builder one could speak about a basic behavior that shows common characteristics with all the species. To provoke that behavior it is necessary that both partners see each other; by that specific hormones are formed , tat at their turn are responsible for the ripening of the gonadale secretions. The time for this can be considerable short but long enough for the male to build a foamnest and pay his attention to the female by impressing her by wide spread fins. The foamnest itself consists, depending on the species, of only a few little bubbles at the surface or underneath leaves, for specific species also in the middle water layer and a very compact whole consisting out of very much little bubbles, even reinforced with algae and particles of plants. Bu the most of the foamnests are rather loose and are underneath the water surface. The foambubbles are made by the male with atmospheric air that he take-up at the water surface.

When the eggs of the female are ripe she takes the initiative, by swimming in the environs of the nest or sometimes straight to it. As long he is not yet ready with the blowing bubbles she will not be driven away. If she succeeds in touching his belly with the mouth she will not be seen as an enemy any longer and admitted underneath the foamnest. Ushered in by this touch the first of a series of illusory matings. Some people suppose based on observations in very big aquariums, this behavior will only occur under circumstances in aquaria. When she follows him under the nest, the male takes position with wide spread fins and lumbers with the body. The touch is the signal for swimming around each other in circle's. Out of this circling the female swims into the body of the male that is strongly bend sideward and the for Labyrinthfishe characteristic embrace follows. With this en met d the female is clasped and turned with the belly to the nest. Slight trembling the male ejects his sperm followed by the eggs of the female. Most of the eggs rise to the surface, are collected and deposited in the nest. The number of the eggs may strongly differ by the species.
See also the foto-info pages 37, 39 and 40