Anabantoids

AKA Labyrinth Fishes

Betta Time
14 May 2016
Anabantoids: The Labyrinth Fishes

• Word Origin

• “Travel Upward” and

“Form”

• This refers to these

fishes habit of gulping
air at the surface of
the water.
 Anabantoids: The Labyrinth Fishes

• Labyrinth fish belong to the sub-order

Anabantoidei

• Three families; Anabandidae, Helostomatidae and

Osphronemidae.

• Labyrinth fish inhabit Africa, Asia, India, and

Southeast Asia.

• Derived from the Labyrinth Organ

 Taxonomical Overview
• Order Perciformes
– Suborder Anabantoidei
• Anabantidae

• Helostomatidae

• Osphromidae
–Belontinae
–Luciocephalinae
–Macropodinae
–Osphroneminae
 History of Labyrinth Fish
• All Anabantoid Fishes
evolved from a
common ancestor
about 60 million years
ago.
• The closest
evolutionary link by
fossil records is the
Badis badis.
• Confirmed via new
DNA studies of
anabantiod fishes.
 Anatomy of a Labyrinth Fish
• What sets the Anabantoid
(Labyrinth) fish apart is
their ability to breath
atmospheric air.
• Many species live in
oxygen poor swamps.
• Some species are capable
of actually leaving the
water and migrating on
land.
• The labyrinth itself is a
highly convoluted
structure which allows for
maximum oxygen uptake.
Occurance of Anabantoid Fish
 Family Anabantidae
• Genera Anabas, Ctenopoma,
Microctenopoma and Sandelia.
• The Anabantidae or Climbing
Perch Family is widespread
throughout Africa and
Southeast Asia.
• Anabas species are well-
known for their land exploits,
and some are said to have the
ability to climb shrubs and
small trees.
 Climbing Perch
• Genus Anabas
• Origin: SE Asia
• Anabas is capable of wandering
"cross-country" from one water body
to another.
• It crawls about with its spiky gill
covers propped by its pectoral fins.
• Able to cover several hundred meters
per trip.
• Kept by some believing that they help
ward off evil spirits.
• They are sold in markets for food
occasionally.
• Eggs scattered and free floating.
• Also note, this fish is illegal to keep in
most parts of the United States.
 African Bushfish
• Genera Ctenopoma and Microctenopoma
• Origin: Africa
• Many species, however few are available
and that is infrequently.
• Considered among the most difficult of
anabantiods to breed.
• Ctenopomas are broken into two
catagories, Broodcaring and
Nonbroodcaring.
• Broodcaring species build bubblenests
but some actually will not and will
spawn in plants or mops.
• Nonbroodcaring tend to be the larger
ambush predators and lay eggs in the
water.
 Sandelia
• Genus Sandelia
• Origin: Southern Africa
• Not normally available in the
aquarium trade.
• These are large, over 8 inch
predatory fish.
• Little is known about this group. The
labyrinth organ is not very convoluted
indicating that they do not rely on it
heavily.
• They depart from other anabantoids
by laying sinking eggs that attach to
plants. The male then guards the
spawning area.
 Family Osphronemidae

• Subfamilies
– Belontinae
– Luciocephalinae
– Macropodinae
– Osphroneminae
 Sub Family Osphromeninae
• One Genus and Four
Species and two
undescribed species.

• Tank Buster Fish that is

increasing in popularity.

• These species are also

commonly used as a food
fish.
 Giant Gouramies
• One Genus and Four
Species, and Two
undescribed species.
• Origin: SE Asia
• Very large fish up to 28
inches in length.
• Omnivorous and easily cared
for, this species just needs a
lot of room.
• Gouramy is also available in
various color morphs.
 Sub Family Belontiinae
• Genus: Belontia

• These are very rare in the

hobby.

• Used to be more common

but fell out of favor.

• Large quarrelsome species.

 Ceylon Fighting Fish
• Genus Belontia, species hasselti
and signata
• Origin: Ceylon, Malaysia, Borneo
• These are large fish almost to 8
inches.
• Quite aggressive and not very
common in the pet trade.
• Spawning is not difficult and
these fish will spawn without a
nest.
• Plenty of hiding spaces should be
provided considering the
aggressiveness of these fish.
• Fry are large and can take brine
shrimp from the beginning.
 SubFamily Macropodinae
• Genera: Betta,
Macropodus, Malpulutta,
Parosphromenus, and
Trichopsis.

• These are commonly kept

Anabantoid fish and many
are easily obtainable at
any pet shop.
 Paradise Fish
• Genus Macropodus
• Origin: China through SE Asia
• The common Paradise fish is
the 2nd oldest fish kept in the
United States. It has been a
mainstay since the late 1800s.
• An easily bred fish available at
every petshop.
• The 3 other species are more
difficult to keep but not as
hard as most of the other
anabantoids.
 Fighting Fish - Bubblenester
• Genus Betta
• Origin: Malaysia, Sumatra,
Borneo
• Not commonly available
except for the common
fighting fish Betta
splendens. Some pet
shops are stocking more of
the wild fighters as
demand for them
increases.
• Most are easily kept in
species tanks.
 Fighting Fish - Mouthbrooder
• Genus Betta
• Origin: Malaysia, Sumatra,
Borneo
• Not commonly available in the
aquarium trade but are
increasing in frequency.
• Best suited for species tanks,
males can be aggressive and
females have been known to
kill intruding males.
• If kept in more then pairs then
groups of 6 or more should be
used.
 Pointedtail Gourami
• Genus Malpulutta
• Origin: Sri Lanka
• Endangered and because
of its protected status
almost never seen in the
hobby. IGL, AAGB and
IAA all have stocks in
breeding programs.
• This fish is very
suseptable to aquarium
conditions and is
considered fragile.
 Spiketail Paradise Fish
• Genus Pseudosphromenus
• Origin: Southern India and
Vietnam
• An easy to keep fish as it is
widely adaptable to almost
any water conditions. This
group likes plant cover and is
available in the aquarium
market but not common.
• Males build submerged
bubblenests under plants.
• Fry are relatively easy to care
for.
 Sparkling and Croaking Gouramis
• Genus Trichopsis
• Origin: SE Asia
• Undemanding realitively
peaceful fish. Under 2
inches in length. Sensitive
to changes in pH.
• In the wild they feed upon
small insects, larvea and
crustacians.
• Males build submerged
bubblenests under leaves.
 Licorice Gouramis
• Genus Parosphromenus
• Origin: Malaysia, Sumatra,
Borneo
• Considered difficult to keep.
In the wild they inhabit peat
swamps with pH 4.5. In
captivity they will do fine in
neutral water.
• Some species are becoming
more readily available but
none are common in the US
yet.
• In the wild they feed upon
small invertebrates.
 Sub Family Luciocephalinae
• Genera Ctenops,
Luciocephalus,
Sphaerichtys,
Paraspharichtys,
Trichogaster, Trichopodus

• Includes some of the

most commonly kept
anabantoids and some of
the most exotic rarely
seen species.
 Frail Gourami
• Genus Ctenops
• Origin: India and Bangledesh
• Considered close to the most
difficult species to keep alive.
• Water conditions must be kept
perfect, they come from peat
swamps, pH 4.5, very
suseptable to disease and
often times refuse to eat
anything but live food.
• Reproduction is via
mouthbrooding.
 Dwarf Gouramis
• Genus Trichogaster formerly
Colisa
• Origin: India, Bangledesh
• Very common in the aquarium
trade.
• Normally a peaceful, shy fish but
some males can be quite
aggressive and territorial.
• Fry are very small to start and
need infusoria, APR, or vinegar
eels to start.
• In the wild they feed upon insect
larvae and small insects.
• In reproduction they build
bubblenests with plant material
intertwined.
 Gouramis
• Genus Trichopodus formerly
Trichogaster.
• Origin: Malaysia, Sumatra,
Borneo
• Several species, some up to 10
inches in length.
• Very common in the aquarium
trade.
• Temperament varies by species,
3 spots can be nasty, moonlights
are very peaceful.
• Many species will lay their eggs
with no nest since the eggs are
lighter then water. Some can lay
over 1000 eggs in a spawn.
 Why the Name Change?
• Rules were outlined in 1735 by Linnaeus
• 1801 Trichopodus was formed by Lacepede for T mentum
and Labrus trichopterus.
– The four dwarf gouramis were classified Trichogaster and
larger gouramis as Trichopterus.
• 1923 Myers incorrectly interpreted the type species and
reclassified Trichopodus to Trichogaster and errects new
genus Colisa.
• 1997 Derjist points out Myers incorrect classification
• 2004 Britz made Colisa obsolete and the former
classifications were reinstated.
• 2009 Topfer and Schindler confirmed and literature finally
adopted the changes.
 Chocolate Gouramis
• Genera Sphaerichthys and
Parasphaerichtys
• Origin: Malaysia, Sumatra, Borneo
• Not a common one in the pet trade
but is increasing in popularity.
• Considered a difficult fish to maintain
but many aquarist run into trouble
trying to recreate their natural waters
which are peat swamps at pH 4.5.
These fish do quite well in neutral
water. The pH swing make them
suseptable to disease due to stress.
• In the wild they are primarily
insectivorous but are opportunistic.
• Reproduction is via mouthbrooding.
 Pikeheads
• Genus Luciocephalus,
species two pulcher, aura
• Origin: Thailand and Borneo.
• Blackwater predatory fish
found in forrested streams.
• Up to 8 inches in length.
• Many only take live foods.
• Paternal Mouthbrooder.
 Family Helostomatidae
• One Genus and one species,
Helostoma temminckii.
• Origin: Indo China and Indo Malay
• This is one of the most adapted
anabantoids as it is a specialized algae
eater in the wild. In captivity they will
thrive on most any food.
• Commonly kept as a food fish in Asia,
they can be quite prolific with one
female can lay 10,000 eggs in one
spawn.
• Eggs float on water and adhear to
plants. Parents will devour eggs so
should be removed after spawning.
For Further Information
For Further Information