Giant gourami

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Giant gourami
Osphronemus Gourami (better).png
Adult
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Anabantiformes
Family: Osphronemidae
Genus: Osphronemus
Species:
O. goramy
Binomial name
Osphronemus goramy
Lacépède, 1801
Giant goramy range.svg
Native range in green (widely introduced elsewhere, not shown)
Synonyms
  • Trichopus goramy(Lacépède, 1801)
  • Trichopodus mentumLacépède, 1801
  • Trichopode mentonnierLacépède, 1801
  • Trichopus satyrusG. Shaw, 1803
  • Osphromenus satyrus(G. Shaw, 1803)
  • Osphromenus olfaxG. Cuvier, 1831
  • Osphromenus notatusG. Cuvier, 1831

The giant gourami (Osphronemus goramy) is a species of large gourami native to freshwater habitats in Southeast Asia. [2] It has also been introduced elsewhere. The species is commercially important as a food fish and is also farmed. [3] It can be found in the aquarium trade, as well. [4] The species has been used for weed control on highly invasive aquatic plants like Salvinia molesta , as the giant gourami can be a voracious herbivore. [5] [6]

Contents

It is capable of breathing moist air, so can survive out of water for long periods. It is much larger than most gouramis (only the other Osphronemus species reach a similar size), growing to a maximum standard length of 70 cm (28 in), though most are only around 45 cm (18 in). [4]

Distribution and habitat

The giant gourami is native to rivers, streams, marshes, swamps and lakes in Southeast Asia, from the lower Mekong of Cambodia and Vietnam, and Chao Phraya and Mae Klong of Thailand, as well as river basins in the Malay Peninsula, Sarawak of Malaysia, and Java, to Sumatra and Western Kalimantan of Indonesia. [1] [4] However, the exact limits of the natural range are often labelled with uncertainty due to confusion with the other Osphronemus species (which only were scientifically described in 1992 and 1994) and the widespread release of giant gouramis outside their native range. [7] [8] For example, both the giant gourami and elephant ear gourami have been reported from the middle Mekong, and both the giant gourami and O. septemfasciatus have been reported from Borneo in the Kapuas River and river basins in Sarawak. However, middle Mekong records of the giant gourami are likely misidentifications of elephant ear gouramis (the only place in the Mekong basin where the giant gourami likely occurs naturally are in the southernmost part, like tributaries originating in the northern Cardamom Mountains). [9] The presence of giant gouramis in Borneo is possibly the result of introductions. [8] The final species in the genus, the giant red tail gourami, is restricted to Sabah where the others do not occur. This suggests that the different Osphronemus species originally had allo- or parapatric distributions. [7] [8]

Whether deliberate or by accident, giant gouramis have been introduced widely as food fish. In Asia, this has expanded their range to include an area from southern China to India and Sri Lanka, and in other continents they are now found in Australia, Mauritius, Réunion, Madagascar and elsewhere. [10] Translocations within Southeast Asia likely started in ancient times. Even Europeans recognized its value as a food fish several hundred years ago. For example, Georges Cuvier (1769–1832) suggested that it should be introduced to the French colonies. [10]

In aquaria

Tank specifications

Albino giant gourami Osphronemus goramy albino 2015 G1.jpg
Albino giant gourami
Giant gourami at Sarkanniemi Aquarium in Tampere, Finland Giant gourami.jpg
Giant gourami at Särkänniemi Aquarium in Tampere, Finland

The giant gourami is also popular in aquaria. Tanks commonly have dark bottoms, with densely planted edges, and room left in the center of the tank for them to swim. They prefer the company of other fish of similar sizes and temperament. They are easy to keep at three months old at around 7.5 cm or 3 in long. At this age, they have a pronounced beak. They can grow rapidly given sufficient food and space to move. Even under less than ideal conditions, gourami can grow from 7.5 cm to 50 cm in four years. At this age, in addition to the rounded face, a mature giant gourami will have begun to develop the hump just above its eyes. Taiwanese and Malaysians admired fish with protruding heads, known as 'kaloi' or 'warships', found in the western part of the nation. The slightly protruding forehead and long tail of these fish were prized in Taiwanese society as bringing luck in geomancy.

A gourami in a community tank will snap and charge any other fish which are small enough for it to bully. Like most aquarium dwellers, giant gourami can be quickly raised with larger, more passive fish. However, if other fish are added to a tank, either large or small, they might be killed within a short period.

Diet

Gourami tend towards herbivory, preferring algae-based foods, but will eat meaty foods. An algae-based flake food, along with freeze-dried bloodworms, tubifex, and brine shrimp, provides these fish with the proper nutrition while young. Once of significant size, they can be fed legumes, partially or fully cooked fibrous or starchy vegetables, or fruits.

Breeding

The giant gourami is an egg layer and builds a nest from plant fibers. Both male and female gourami participates at building nests, though the male appears to play a more prominent role. [11] The male and female are distinguished by the dorsal fins and body color. The dorsal fin on the male ends in a point, and the body is darker changing to nearly black during spawning. After building nest the eggs will be laid before next 24 hours. When breeding, the water in the tank should be decreased to about 20 cm (8 in) deep and the temperature should be 28 °C (82 °F). After spawning, the female should be removed to a separate tank as the male will jealously guard the eggs, in a captive environment, sometimes becoming aggressive towards the female. The eggs hatch in 24 hours. They must be kept in a dark aquarium.

As food

Partly in consequence of its size, the giant gourami is a significant food fish, and in its native regions it has been harvested as a customary food source. [12] In Southeast Asian cuisine, gourami is highly valued as food due to its thick flesh, pleasant texture as well as its tasty flavour. Unlike carp and milkfish, gouramis do not have fine bones within their flesh, which render them easy to consume, thus elevate its economic value. In Southeast Asian market, gourami is one of the most highly-valued freshwater food fish. Gourami flesh is rich in protein and minerals. [13]

It is a popular food fish in Indonesian, Malaysian and Thai cuisines. Gouramis are particularly popular in Sundanese cuisine of Indonesia, [14] where they often being fried as ikan goreng , grilled as ikan bakar or cooked with spice inside a banana leaf wrap as pepes . In some parts of Southeast Asia, they are salted to preserve and prolong shelf life.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gourami</span> Family of fishes

Gouramis, or gouramies, are a group of freshwater anabantiform fish that comprise the family Osphronemidae. The fish are native to Asia—from the Indian Subcontinent to Southeast Asia and northeasterly towards Korea. The name "gourami", of Indonesian origin, is also used for fish of the families Helostomatidae and Anabantidae.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Three spot gourami</span> Species of fish

The three spot gourami, also known as the opaline gourami, blue gourami, and gold gourami, is a species of fish native to southeastern Asia, but also introduced elsewhere. This gourami gets its name from the two spots along each side of its body in line with the eye, considered the third spot. This species is of minor commercial importance as a food fish in its native range and is also farmed. It is also popular in the aquarium trade. The species reaches 15 cm in standard length.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kissing gourami</span> Species of freshwater fish

Kissing gouramis, also known as kissing fish or kissers, are medium-sized tropical freshwater fish comprising the monotypic labyrinth fish family Helostomatidae. These fish originate from Mainland Southeast Asia, the Greater Sundas and nearby smaller islands, but have also been introduced outside their native range. They are regarded as a food fish and they are sometimes farmed. They are used fresh for steaming, baking, broiling, and pan frying. The kissing gourami is a popular aquarium fish.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Paradise fish</span> Species of fish

The fork tailed paradisefish, or paradise gourami is a species of gourami found in most types of fresh water in East Asia, ranging from the Korean Peninsula to northern Vietnam. This species can reach a standard length of 6.7 cm, though most are only about 5.5 cm . Paradise gouramis were one of the first ornamental fish available to western aquarium keepers, having been imported 1869 to France by the French aquarium fish importer Pierre Carbonnier in Paris. The paradise fish is one of the more aggressive members of its family. It is more aggressive than the three spot gourami, yet less pugnacious in nature than the less commonly kept combtail.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dwarf gourami</span> Species of fish

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thick-lipped gourami</span> Species of fish

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<i>Osphronemus</i> Genus of fishes

Osphronemus is a genus of large gouramis, the only genus within the subfamily Osphroneminae. These fish are known as the giant gouramis and are native to rivers, lakes, pools, swamps and floodplains in Southeast Asia, with O. exodon from the Mekong basin, O. laticlavius and O. septemfasciatus from Borneo, while O. goramy is relatively widespread. O. goramy has been introduced outside its native range in Asia, Africa and Australia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Snakeskin gourami</span> Species of fish

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<i>Trichopodus</i> Genus of fishes

Trichopodus is a genus of tropical freshwater labyrinth fish of the gourami family found in Southeast Asia. Gouramis of the genus Trichopodus are closely related to those of Trichogaster ; species of both genera have long, thread-like pelvic fins used to sense the environment. However, Trichopodus species have shorter dorsal fin base and, when sexually mature, are much larger, with the largest, the snakeskin gourami, capable of reaching a length of over 8 in (20 cm).

<i>Trichogaster fasciata</i> Species of fish

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Elephant ear gourami</span> Species of fish

The elephant ear gourami is a large species of gourami native to the Mekong river basin in Thailand, Laos, and Cambodia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Giant red tail gourami</span> Species of fish

The giant red tail gourami is a large species of gourami belonging to the family Osphronemidae. This endangered fish is native to the Southeast Asian island of Borneo, where only known from the Kinabatangan and Segama river basins in Sabah, East Malaysia. First described in 1992 based on an aquarium specimen, its exact range was not entirely certain, leading some source to incorrectly also report it from Indonesia.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ikan bakar</span> Indonesian and Malay grilled fish

Ikan bakar is an Indonesian and Malay dish, prepared with charcoal-grilled fish or other forms of seafood. Ikan bakar literally means "grilled fish" in Indonesian and Malay. Ikan bakar differs from other grilled fish dishes in that it often contains flavorings like bumbu, kecap manis, sambal, and is covered in a banana leaf and cooked on a charcoal fire.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Palembang cuisine</span> Cuisine of the people of Palembang

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<i>Osphronemus septemfasciatus</i> Species of fish

Osphronemus septemfasciatus is a species of giant gourami, a type of Southeast Asian freshwater fish from the family Osphronemidae. It is endemic to the island of Borneo where it is found in the Malaysian state of Sarawak, in Brunei, and the Indonesian provinces of West Kalimantan, East Kalimantan and North Kalimantan. It is found in large slow-flowing rivers where it prefers the main channels, although juveniles also occur in large tributaries near the main river. Like its relatives, it is known to be an obligate air-breather. The largest recorded specimen of O. septemfasciatus, which possibly also is the largest giant gourami, was caught in Sarawak and it was 72.4 cm (28.5 in) in standard length, 87.2 cm (34.3 in) in total length and 20.5 kg (45 lb) in weight.

References

  1. 1 2 Low, B.W. (2019). "Osphronemus goramy". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2019: e.T180720A89805140. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-2.RLTS.T180720A89805140.en . Retrieved 19 November 2021.
  2. ↑ Alderton, David (2019). Encyclopedia of Aquarium and Pond Fish. United Kingdom: Dorling Kinderseley Limited. p. 113. ISBN   978-0-2413-6424-6.
  3. ↑ "Gourami".
  4. 1 2 3 Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.) (2014). "Osphronemus goramy" in FishBase . February 2014 version.
  5. ↑ FAO - Weed control
  6. ↑ Dinalankara, Senura; Tharaka Sahan Chandrasiri; Dakshitha Dias; Kokila Hettiarachchi (2018). Vision Based Automated Biomass Estimation of Fronds of Salvinia molesta. University of Moratuwa.
  7. 1 2 Roberts, T.R. (1992). Systematic revision of the Southeast Asian anabantoid fish genus Osphronemus, with descriptions of two new species. Ichthyol. Explor. Freshwat. 2(4): 351–360
  8. 1 2 3 Roberts, T.R. (1994). Osphronemus exodon, a new species of giant gourami with extraordinary dentition from the Mekong. Natural History Bulletin of the Siam Society 42(1): 67–77
  9. ↑ Rainboth, W.J. (1996). Fishes of the Cambodian Mekong, p. 218. FAO, United Nations. ISBN   92-5-103743-4.
  10. 1 2 Roberts, T.R. (1989). The freshwater fishes of Western Borneo (Kalimantan Barat, Indonesia). Memoirs of the California Academy of Sciences. 14: 1–210.
  11. ↑ Arifin, Otong Zenal; Slembrouck, Jacques; Subagja, Jojo; Pouil, Simon; Yani, Akhmad; Asependi, Asependi; Kristanto, Anang Hari; Legendre, Marc (March 2020). "New insights into giant gourami (Osphronemus goramy) reproductive biology and egg production control". Aquaculture. 519: 734743. doi: 10.1016/j.aquaculture.2019.734743 . ISSN   0044-8486.
  12. ↑ Cultured Gourami in Bogor, Indonesia
  13. ↑ "Kandungan Protein Ikan Gurame". Neraca (in Indonesian). 7 December 2013.
  14. ↑ "Resep Ikan Gurame".
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