Rare Gourami Species

[Seth15]

Hey everyone just thought that I would share my recent find at my LFS. You don't see these everyday and I think they are quite interesting with great personality.

They are a large pair of Belontia hasselti. They are a species of anabatnoid, native to Asia maxing out at around 8 inches. They are about 4.5 inches now.

I'll try to get better pics later

 

[Gypsy13]

Hubby says beautiful. He also asks what the white thing on top is? Has me curious now. Lol

 

[Seth15]

Thank you, the white thing on top of his head is one of his dorsal spines that is damaged.

It was hurt so I decided to purchase it and make sure that it heals properly.

 

[75g Discus Tank]

Cool find!

How will you be keeping them?

 

[Seth15]

Cool find!

How will you be keeping them?

Thank you!

I am currently keeping them in my 180 gallon planted community tank along with some congo tetras, angelfish, leopard ctenopoma, and others. None of the fish show any aggression towards each other.

They behave like a pair, with no aggression towards each other. I hope they are a pair, a shot at breeding them would be interesting I think.

There isn't really a lot of info about them online, with me only finding about 2 credible sites. I hope someone on this forum has kept them before and maybe could share their experience with them.

 

[75g Discus Tank]

Thank you!

I am currently keeping them in my 180 gallon planted community tank along with some congo tetras, angelfish, leopard ctenopoma, and others. None of the fish show any aggression towards each other.

They behave like a pair, with no aggression towards each other. I hope they are a pair, a shot at breeding them would be interesting I think.

There isn't really a lot of info about them online, with me only finding about 2 credible sites. I hope someone on this forum has kept them before and maybe could share their experience with them.

If you need sites, Fishbase and SeriousFish are good for info.

 

[Seth15]

I already checked those out, thanks. I agree, those sites contain solid info.

 

[Gypsy13]

Thank you, the white thing on top of his head is one of his dorsal spines that is damaged.

It was hurt so I decided to purchase it and make sure that it heals properly.

Awesome!

 

[Seth15]

Thank you

 

[chromedome52]

I used to have some more common Combtails, Belontia signata. Never saw any B. hasselti alive in 50 years of hobby, that's an impressive find. Good luck with them.

 

[Cheesearmada]

Mildly jealous but have fun with them and good luck!

 

[Seth15]

I used to have some more common Combtails, Belontia signata. Never saw any B. hasselti alive in 50 years of hobby, that's an impressive find. Good luck with them.

Thank you!
I'm glad I found these guys, they are such an interesting species of fish! Thanks, I'll keep you guys updated.

Mildly jealous but have fun with them and good luck!

Lol, I'll keep you guys updated and provide better pics

 

[Seth15]

Here's a few pics I was able to get, before lights out. Enjoy

looking right at the camera

Swimming with the congo tetras

Curious about the delhezi bichir