Labyrinth Fish

Anabaptism are a very popular group of fishes from Asia and Africa, most of which are known as georamas. These fish have a special extra breathing organ called the 'labyrinth',which is a bunch of folded tissues with many blood vessels within it. This organ enables the fishes to extract the oxygen from air taken in at the surface, which is very useful in water with low oxygen levels. However, georamas have evolved to depend so much on this organ that now they cannot exist without regularly taking air from the surface, regardless of the water's oxygen content. The air is also used to construct what are usually described as `bubble nests'. The male fishes build these nests on the surface of the water with air and their saliva and attach them to any floating debris. Most anabatic are undemanding and relatively peaceful compared to other fishes,although often they do not get along too well with their own kind.

The pearl, or lee ri, Agoura(Trichinas lee ri) grows to 10cm(4in). Its long, compressed body is blue-brown with a smothering of pearl spots. Maintain the water at 2.5.5°C(78°F) and carry out regular water changes. The fish accept all foods, but relish lire food. They spawn in a bubble nest; raise the fry on liquid fry food or brine shrimp.

In the three-spot Agoura(Trichinas tricksters) the body is light blue with several darker vertical patches. There is a black spot in the middle of the body and at the base of the tail, and the eye makes up the third spot. There are several other variants of this species,including light blue specimens with no spots or even gold specimens.Take care when keeping this species in pairs, as male scan he very aggressive towards females and may bully them to death if there is no escape. Provide plants for cover and some open space for the fish to swim around in. These fish accept all foods, but prefer live food.

The lovely dwarf Agoura (Co lisa ',Iliad) only grows to about 6.5cm(2.5in)in total and is completely peaceful - a superb aquarium subject. Males are more colorful than females.ater conditions are not critical, but maintain the temperature at about25.5°C(78°F) and avoid acidic water. Dwarf georamas often live in one of the top corners of the tank and prefer a little shade, so if their tank is brightly lit, provide some floating plants, such as duckweed,for cover. They relish live foods and also accept flake,dried and frozen foods.

When they spawn, the male builds a bubble nest and then entices the female into it.

Paradise fish (Macrocodes) are often available, but males can be quite aggressive towards one another during the breeding season, so they do not mix very well. Females are slightly smaller and escallop than males. This very hardy little Asian fish can survive in water temperatures as low as 13°C(55.F),

although at these temperatures it is nowhere near as colorful. The fish appreciate some plant cover and subdued lighting. They accept all foods, particularly small live floods breed at the warmer temperature of 24°C(75°F) in typical fashion; take care that the female is not fatally bullied.

The Impressive giant Agoura(Onshore Agoura) grows 60cm(24in) long and is best kept as as ingle specimen 'pet' in a very large tank or with other large species. It thrives in hard water at about 24°C(75°F). It is vital to keep the water clean, which may be a problem as the fish eats a great deal of food and creates so much waste. Good biological filtration is essential; for best results, couple this with an external mechanical filter. Gatorades will readily eat everything from vegetables and fruit to worms,beef heart and raw fish.