AboutRon Coleman Expertise I am an expert on cichlid fishes, particularly New World cichlids. My broader expertise includes the behavior, ecology and reproduction of fishes in general. (I am NOT an expert on Goldfish). Please do not use abbreviations, such as "my GT has a swollen eye" because I don't know what a "GT" is. The more clearly you can explain your question, the better chance I have of understanding what it is that you seek. I keep fishes both as a scientist and as a hobbyist and I currently maintain about 140 aquariums.
Experience I am an Assistant Professor at the California State University, Sacramento in the Department of Biological Sciences, and I run a website, called the Cichlid Research Home Page . I also write for many popular aquarist magazines, and I am editor of Cichlid News magazine. I am a scientist and I spend my time teaching fish biology, ecology, behavior and evolution and doing research on the reproductive biology of fishes, particularly cichlids. I do research in the laboratory and in Costa Rica, Nicaragua and Mexico. My main interest is understanding the evolution of parental care in fishes. I am interested in encouraging greater public awareness, understanding and participation in science.
Publications Cichlid News, Tropical Fish Hobbyist, Freshwater and Marine Aquarium, Science, Behavioural Ecology and Sociobiology, Copeia, Canadian Journal of Zoology, Trends in Ecology and Evolution, AUK, Environmental Biology of Fishes
Question I'm doing a project on Honey Gourami. But i know nothing about it. In the Internet, their answer wasn't really the same. It makes me very confuse. I would like to know the environment they live in, pH ,what kind of tank should i give them, do i need a filter inside or maybe i can just put air stones. Most importantly, i would like to know how they will behave in the wild and in captivity and also what it feeds in the wild and in captivity. And other extra things or tips on keeping a gourami. Thanks :)
Answer Hi Rebecca,
I cannot do your project for you but I will give you some hints. Gouramis come from South East Asia.
If you keep them in a tank, then you definitely should have a filter in the tank.
When you say "how do they behave", what do you mean?
[If you are interested in how they breed, they are bubble nesters.]
They also have a very interesting breathing system called "the labyrinth" which is why the group including the gouramis are called
labyrinth fishes.
-- Ron
rcoleman@cichlidresearch.com
Cichlid Research Home Page <http://cichlidresearch.com>
