View Full Version : gouramis
LMOUTHBASS
07-08-2003, 4:35 PM
just a ??? the whiskery things that hang from their belly, what are these for, are they for like for touch or sense or something??? are they for navigating or soething???
Awestralian
07-09-2003, 1:39 AM
Yeah mine use them to touch other fish, as well as items in the tanks..
They can extend them forward to touch things in front of them, kinda like feeler arms.
pinballqueen
07-09-2003, 3:20 AM
They are actually modified fins. I'm pretty sure they use them to size up their surroundings (and other fish). If they break, they grow back like regular fins.
From what I hear, they come from "dark" water, and use the feelers to do just that. Feel around there inveroment.
delmore
07-09-2003, 9:50 AM
All of the above are only half right. They pelvic fin of blue, pearl, and similar gouramis are used for sensing and feeling.
Gouramis use the pelvic fin to "taste" and object to see if it is food. Want to see for yourself? Place some food that the gourmi is not used to in the tank. The gourami will sense what it is by touching it with the pelvic fin.
fishdude
07-15-2003, 7:36 PM
mine touch all the fish and items in my tank with their wiskers and feel new foods with their pelvic fins