Description
Scientific Name: Trichogaster lalius (formerly Colisa lalia) – Red/Flame Morph Common Names: Red Colisa, Flame Dwarf Gourami, Blood Red Dwarf Gourami Origin: South Asia (Ganges and Bramaputra river basins in India, West Bengal, and Bangladesh).
Physical Characteristics This fish is selectively bred to remove the blue stripes found on wild Dwarf Gouramis, leaving a solid red color.
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Coloration: The body is a deep, fiery red or sunset orange. The dorsal fin (top fin) usually features a striking iridescent blue edge or patch, creating a beautiful contrast.
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Feelers: Their pelvic fins have evolved into long, thin, thread-like sensory organs. You will see them waving these “whiskers” forward to feel objects, food, or other fish.
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Labyrinth Organ: Like Bettas, they possess a special lung-like organ that allows them to breathe atmospheric air from the water’s surface.
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Size: They stay small, reaching a maximum of 2 to 3 inches (5–7.5 cm).
Behavior and Temperament
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Shyness: They are generally peaceful and somewhat timid. They prefer a quiet tank and can be easily bullied by aggressive fish.
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Bubble Nesters: Males build intricate nests made of bubbles and saliva at the water surface when they are ready to breed.
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Territorial: While peaceful with other species, males can be territorial toward other male gouramis. It is usually best to keep one male with a female, or a single male in a community tank.
Care and Habitat
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Tank Size: A 10 to 20-gallon tank is perfect.
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Water Flow: They are poor swimmers due to their deep bodies. They prefer calm water with very gentle filtration. Strong currents will stress them out.
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Decor: They love tanks with floating plants (like Duckweed or Amazon Frogbit), which dim the light and provide a place for them to build bubble nests.
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Diet: Omnivores. They enjoy flake food, bloodworms, and brine shrimp.
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