Honey gouramis color variation

[Ripnhammer]

I saw fish in my lfs that resemble the top fish in the picture. The ones in the store looked sorta plain but the bottom one is beautiful...could someone explain why there is a color variation and what i should look for in the store if i'm buying some

also, do they like being in schools?

 

[CAPSLOCK]

That is probably a female gourami. They will be grayer or browner than the male.

Gouramis do not school, but females will tolerate each other's company. Males will generally fight, although honeys are dwarfs and aren't quite as territorial as the larger gouramis.

 

[phOOey]

The top honey gourami is a female and the bottom one a male. As you can see the males are lot more colourful than the females. Gouramis do not need to be kept in schools. A male and female pair is normally a good choice to have in an aquarium although the male may harass the female a little.

 

[Ripnhammer]

so at the store the male honey gourami should look like that one in the bottom? or is he only like that when hes ready to breed (i thought i read this somewhere)

 

[phOOey]

I believe males only turn like that when they are courting the female ( ready to breed )

 

[CAPSLOCK]

A male honey gourami with no nearby females will have a honey colored body, with a lighter face and head.

In a store, they may be a bit faded because of cramped conditions or the stress of moving, but they should color up nicely in a home tank.

 

[Ripnhammer]

cool thanks,

im wondering if i could add two honeys to my 20g...it already has two chocolate gouramis in it though...i just dont want to get anyone chocolate ones because they are too sensitive/boring/short life span/hard to bread (mouth brooders)