Labyrinth Fish

Posted December 7, 2009

Labyrinth fish are fish that can breathe atmospheric oxygen through a special organ called the labyrinth. This an adaptation that allow these fish to live in low oxygen environments in their native Africa & Asia. They are fishes in the Anabantoidei suborder and are also known as anabantoids. Labyrinth fish includes a number of very popular aquarium fish such as the ever popular Betta fish and the equally popular gouramis. It is important to remember that these fish will drown if they are not able to surface for air. It is therefore important to keep an air span between the surface and the aquarium lid when you keep these fish.

Labyrinth fish are only found in freshwater in Asia and Africa. Most species are Asian and amd can be found in Eastern, South Eastern and Southern Asia. In Africa a smaller amount of species can be found on the southern half of the continent. Labyrinth fished as re primarily but not exclusively found in warm, slow-flowing, low-oxygen waters

Labyrinth fish comes in a wide variety of shape and sizes. Species common in the trade ranges from small honey gouramis to gigantic giant gouramis. There are even labyrinth fish species that have learned to climb in trees.

There are many hardy species of labyrinth fish that are suitable for beginners and can be kept in community aquariums but there are also a lot of sensitive species that are best left for experts and that need species tanks. Example of such sensitive species is the chocolate and liquorice gouramis. Examples of species suitable for beginners include the blue, white and yellow gouramis, the common Betta, pearl gouramis, snakeskin gouramis and a lot of other species.

The betta fish is so popular that it has its own section here at tropicalfishaholic.com and if you want to know more about Betta fish you should visit the Betta section.

Most common labyrinth fish species are easy to breed or at the very least possible to breed in home aquariums. Most species are carnivores but some species eat vegetables and algae as well. Some species can spit water to knock insect in to water similar to the archer fish. Other species can climb trees in their hunt for insects. Most species are active during the day but there are some nocturnal species as well.

Most labyrinth fish show some kind of care for their fry. Many species are bubble nest builders but there are also many species that are mouth brooders or spawn in a cave.

Several species of labyrinth fish are important food fish in Asia. This is especially true for the Giant Gourami that is farmed in huge quantities. Some smaller species are also important food sources and species we keep in aquariums like the kissing gouramis is a common food fish in some areas.

The Giant gouramis have been introduced to many countries across the world due to their quality as food fish and people tried to introduce it to a lot of other areas as well unsuccessfully. Areas where they tried to introduce the fish but failed include Southern France and California.

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