Fig. 242. Croaking Gourami (Ctenops vittatus) 



The illustration shows one phase of the breeding habits of the bubble-nest builders, 

 of which there are a number. The nest is built of bubbles from the mouth of the male, 

 who takes entire charge of affairs. As the female drops a few eggs he at once fertilizes 

 them, picks them up in his mouth, attaches a bubble, and floats them into the nest, 

 where he guards them valiantly. If in a usual aquarium, the female must be removed 

 after spawning is completed, otherwise he will kill her, so zealous is he in guarding the 

 eggs and young from her possible cannibalism. In outdoor pool culture this does not 

 always appear to be true. We have seen many pairs work together in common interest. 

 Dwarf Gouramis like to interweave bits of vegetation into the nest, such as broken leaves 

 of Myriophyllum. In this work the female helps with apparent enthusiasm. Illustra- 

 tions 242 to 249 are all nest-builders. Additional breeding instructions on page 237 

 (No. 2). 



259 



