Feeding pygmy croaking gouramis/american flag fish

[garcia]

Hi,

I have a couple of pygmy croaking gouramis and another small gourami species (can't find it in the fauna photo section) that don't seem to be interested in the flake food that I'm currently feeling the fish. Can anyone throw some light on their feeding habits?

On a separate matter....does anyone know which LFSs sell the american flag fish?

Thanks.

[budak]

Usually, pgymy gouramis eat almost anything. Are they refusing to feed at all, or coming up to see but rejecting the flakes? what about other fish? But in a well-planted tank, I find these little gouramis can thrive just by pecking on the microscopic fauna amongst the plants. please do describe how your other small gourami looks like.....

Earlier this year, many LFS were stocking the flagfish, but it seems that shipments have stopped. The last I saw of the fish was in Plantas months ago... but it's best if you call them to check.

[garcia]

The other fish (mostly tetras and mollies) are taking to their food (flake, freeze dried bloodworms) just fine.

The croaking gouramis are quite a new introduction to the tank and may not be accustomed to the routine feedings. So they don't surface at all. They're tiny and I'm wondering if they feel threatened by their larger tankmates. And you know how tetras eat....boisterously.

The other small, unidentified gourami surfaces but doesn't express any interest in the food at all. I bought it from C328....it's small (about 3cm), beige and with a dark and undistinct lateral line. A honey gourami?

thanks.

[budak]

I won't worry too much about the croakers... they can take care of themselves after a while. Or you could try putting the flakes into the water (so that they get soaked and sink) to let shyer fish at the bottom access to the food.

Does your other gourami have a deep, thick type of body (like the Colisa or Trichopterus) or a thin, longish form? Could it be some species of liquorice gourami? Check again in the database for similarly-shaped fish.

[garcia]

The other gourami resembles colisa lalia, only smaller and beige.

[aqua]

hi

biotope seems to have a tankful of flag fish. do call and check with them

cheers

[garcia]

Thanks! Biotope did have the fish and I got myself a couple this evening. They're not very attractive but, from what I've heard and read, pretty good hair algae munchers.