Gouramis in Ponds

[SecretAsianFish]

In another similar thread that I made I said that I got a project to make my neighbors 20 gallon hex about ground pond look nice;
http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?p=2395339#post2395339

I wanted to put a pair of gouramis in there for the summer and bring the pair and fry in for the winter. Can gouramis survive that way? They have a labrynth organ. I'm putting a net over it soon to prevent birds from feasting,

 

[bradlgt21]

you would likely need a way to heat it unless your in a really warm climate. Gourami like there water above 75. Most likely the water will be too cold without a heater.

 

[SecretAsianFish]

I can get the water heated no prob

 

[Jayhawk]

Paradisefish (i.e., paradise gouramis) would do fantastic anywhere between 90 degree water down to near freezing.

Blue gouramis can also handle cooler temps than many other species (as in 3 spot blue gouramis not the color morph dwarf or the opaline version of the blue which is bred from the sumatran subspecies).

Eric

 

[jpappy789]

I agree, paradise fish are your best bet.

 

[slackline]

Paradisefish (i.e., paradise gouramis) would do fantastic anywhere between 90 degree water down to near freezing.

Blue gouramis can also handle cooler temps than many other species (as in 3 spot blue gouramis not the color morph dwarf or the opaline version of the blue which is bred from the sumatran subspecies).

Eric

That is true. I read a post a few years ago where one was left in a bag in the backseat of a car for two days in a Michigan Novemember. The owner thought he had left it at the pet shop and wasn't concerned. Two days later, his son found it in the back seat. The guy just slowly reheated the bag and the fish survived. Obviously the bag wasn't frozen solid but that is still pretty cold.

 

[Jayhawk]

Paradise fish are amazing - found from Vietnam up through China and Korea. Climates very similar to most of the US.

They are seriously under-appreciated fish.

Eric

 

[SecretAsianFish]

I love Paradise fish, my kind (koreans) are found in the same area, but after losing my favorite most colorful paradise I just can't even look at them anymore.

 

[FishVixen]

Back in the early 70's I threw a giant gouramis in a 500 gal pond that had a heater in the winter. When I moved 4 years later he was still in there and huge! This was in No Virginia.