Dwarf Gouramis are popular aquarium fish, but there is some debate over whether they are true omnivores. Some people say that they only eat plant matter, while others believe that they will eat both plants and meat.
In this article, we will explore the question of whether Dwarf Gouramis are true omnivores and look at the evidence for both sides of the argument.
Are Dwarf Gouramis Omnivores?
Dwarf Gouramis are omnivores but prefer meat to plants.
The diet of Dwarf Gouramis is the most important factor in determining whether or not they are true omnivores or if their omnivorous status is just a myth. Reviews by the University of Michigan and AquaWorld state that Dwarf Gouramis are omnivores that eat both plant matter and meat.
The University of Michigan review stated, “They seem to be adaptable as long as the diet is varied with live, frozen and prepared foods.”
However, some people believe otherwise. On popular online forums such as AquariaForum.com, many people claim that Dwarf Gouramis are completely herbivores that only eat plant matter. This is because the fish will occasionally eat algae wafers, but they may not be getting enough protein in their diet to thrive.
The bottom line is that Dwarf Gouramis are omnivores, but prefer meat to plants. This means that they will eat both meat and plant matter, but they need to get more protein in their diet than just algae wafers.
If you want the fish to thrive and be healthy, make sure that they are getting enough protein in their diet by feeding them a variety of food types such as brine shrimp, bloodworms, and daphnia.
Are Dwarf Gouramis Herbivores or Omnivores? An Evidence-based Analysis
Dwarf Gouramis are omnivores that prefer meat. The evidence for this is as follows:
- Dwarf Gouramis eat both plants and meat in the wild; we know this because their predators consist of both meat-eaters and plant-eaters.
- In the wild, if given a choice between meat and plants as food sources, they will choose meat more often than not.
- In the aquarium setting, Dwarf Gouramis have been documented to eat algae wafers at times, but not consistently enough for their diet to be based on them.
- The same review that stated that Dwarf Gouramis are omnivores also stated, “They seem to be adaptable as long as the diet is varied with live, frozen and prepared foods.” This shows that even the scientific community acknowledges that Dwarf Gouramis eat both plant matter (live, frozen and prepared foods) and meat (live, frozen and prepared foods) in the aquarium setting.
The bottom line is that Dwarf Gouramis should be considered omnivores that prefer meat because of how they act both in the wild and in captivity. They eat both plants and meat at least some of the time, but always prefer meat.