I am starting to think my "Red Honey Gouramis" are actually dwarves. I have two in my 29, which also has a genuine honey gourami in there. Now that the two red ones are full grown (or at least very close to it), it occurs to me that they are larger than I expected for honey gouramis. It really hit me when I was at the lfs where I bought them the other day, and they had flame dwarves labeled as "Red Honey Gourami". I researched them around the time I got them and found out that there is in fact a red form of the honey gourami (not the red/gold), so I accepted that that's what they were. They are not the brilliant red that is typical of the dwarf gouramis, nor do they have any stripes. They are just a solid red (like the classic red platy color, not the brick red). I know a pic would help, but I don't have a camera. I have noticed that their color is gradually fading as they mature, with the chest area becoming more golden . Also, their fins blackened up but also formed colored blotches (similar to a cockatoo apisto). For a while I thought maybe they had been dyed, although I've never heard of this with gouramis and the color seems natural.
Also, yesterday I noticed some strange behavior from them. They swam close together, head to tail......wrapping themselves together and slapping each other with their tails. Were they establishing dominance? Both are males, but to me it looked more like spawning behavior than fighting. This is the only time I have witnessed such behavior from them. They generally get along quite well, with no serious fighting. I'm wondering if they are just reaching sexual maturity, and are frustrated with the lack of females.
One last point to make is that the red ones have a more pronounced "forehead" than the young golden honey, which is another thing that leads me to believe they are actually dwarves. Also they are each close to 3" long.
Any thoughts? Has anyone seen solid red dwarves or honeys before?
Also, yesterday I noticed some strange behavior from them. They swam close together, head to tail......wrapping themselves together and slapping each other with their tails. Were they establishing dominance? Both are males, but to me it looked more like spawning behavior than fighting. This is the only time I have witnessed such behavior from them. They generally get along quite well, with no serious fighting. I'm wondering if they are just reaching sexual maturity, and are frustrated with the lack of females.
One last point to make is that the red ones have a more pronounced "forehead" than the young golden honey, which is another thing that leads me to believe they are actually dwarves. Also they are each close to 3" long.
Any thoughts? Has anyone seen solid red dwarves or honeys before?
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