Giant groumi not growing

[Rocksor]

I do strip tests for hardness, nitrites, ammonia etc. Every time I do water changes. But they seem stunted for no apparent reason.

liquid test is more accurate than strips

 

[Fishman Dave]

If you have had them in a pond for over a year and they are just over 4”, I can guarantee you do not have giant gourami, or rather you do not have ospheronemus gourami.
Any photo would help.

 

[Kingdoffishcraft]

You sure these are giant gourami and not something else? I've seen massive ones in swamps with stagnant water.

They look like giant groumi (coloration and patterns) and they're behavior matches

 

[esoxlucius]

They look like giant groumi (coloration and patterns) and they're behavior matches

As juveniles, "colours and patterns" don"t really exist on giant gourami, they are an extremely drab looking fish. Hardly any growth at all in over a year is basically impossible with GG, they're one of the fastest growing fish in the hobby.

There's one of two things going on here. Either you haven't got GG at all, or your pond is way too small for "multiple" giant gourami and you've stunted them already!

Close up pictures of the fish will help, and one of the pond too.

 

[jjohnwm]

I seem to recall that many years ago there was a member of the genus Trichogaster (I think...) that had several common names, and one of them was "giant gourami". They only got to about 4 or 5 inches, so the name never made sense to me. They looked like somewhat drab, larger Dwarf Gouramis. Back then the true Osphronemus was not seen much in the hobby, at least not up in Canuckistan. As esoxlucius stated, true Giants don't have much for colour or pattern at that small size.

Really need a pic.

 

[Rocksor]

I seem to recall that many years ago there was a member of the genus Trichogaster (I think...) that had several common names, and one of them was "giant gourami". They only got to about 4 or 5 inches, so the name never made sense to me. They looked like somewhat drab, larger Dwarf Gouramis. Back then the true Osphronemus was not seen much in the hobby, at least not up in Canuckistan. As esoxlucius stated, true Giants don't have much for colour or pattern at that small size.

Really need a pic.

I think it was the India giant gourami (Trichogaster fasciata), which just grew over 4". I also found it weird that its common name was Indian giant gourami when it nowhere near the same size as Osphronemus goramy.

 

[jjohnwm]

I think it was the India giant gourami (Trichogaster fasciata), which just grew over 4". I also found it weird that its common name was Indian giant gourami when it nowhere near the same size as Osphronemus goramy.

That's the one. Not even as big as some others in the hobby, like the Snakeskin or the Blue, but labelled as "giant". I think they are referred to as "banded" today, don't even know if they are available anymore.