I was doing my semi regular water testing and i felt something wet hit my arm, then something else wet hit my arm. I looked down and realized that my dwarf Gourami was spitting water from the tank at me. I have heard of fish that use this technique to knock insects of logs into the water for feeding but don't remember what species that was. Has anyone else had this happen to them or can any one shed some light onto this type of behavior for me. Fish is happy and healthy I was just curious. Thanks

Shed some light??? Get a clue dude, he's spittin' on ya!!! :lol: Hmmm, I wonder if it's some kind of territorial thing.

From the research that i have done it seems that Gourami's do have the ability to spit water at insects above the water. I guess he was just hoping for a meal. Kind of cool to experience it first hand. Guess I'll have to be more careful around the tank to avoid getting a bath. :)

Hmmm ive never ever heard of gouramis doing this, only the archer fishes seem ready and able to do this with any frequency due to a specially adapted organ in the roof of their mouth that channels a concentrated jet of water when the fish clamps its gills. This is directed by the positioning of the head and a groove in the lips of the animal.

As gouramis lack any of this, i dont think they use it to feed, but they do spend a lot of time at the surface to make use of their labyrinth organ in order to breathe effetively

hmm... that's strange indeed, my dwarf gourami hasn't done this to my knowledge.

OK after more research online (not sure how reliable it is) I have found that the spitting is sometimes associated with mating. Though I only have a single male I doubt this is the cause. I also found that they spit the water by pumping it through their gills then out their mouth. One guy online said he entices his dwarf to do it by dangling a blood worm over the tank on a toothpick. Just thought I would post the additional things I have found.

hmm.... interesting stuff, toolidge. thanks for sharing.:)

I dunno dude. You're a boy, he's a boy... doesn't sound to good. :lol: Seriously good info though. Definately going to keep it under my hat. Good job. :tup: