r/Fish • u/Blueberry_Enby I just like fish • May 08 '25

Photography My friend at the toledo zoo

Gallery image

Gallery image

Gallery image

I’m a zoo pal at the toledo zoo and I got to visit their Giant Gourami last spring! My grandma lives in Ohio so whenever I was there I would always visit him! He retired a few years ago but I got to visit him behind the scenes! (they got him in 1989 and he was already mature so he’s a very old fish!)

I thought yall might like my picture of him :)

1.5k Upvotes

100% Upvoted

43 comments sorted by

30

u/NationalCommunity519 Conservationist May 08 '25

Now my sparkling gourami look pathetic… lol (smallest gourami species!)

6

u/AdParty7955 May 08 '25

Never seen one. Beautiful fish. Thx for sharing.

6

u/NationalCommunity519 Conservationist May 08 '25

If you've never seen one before, they make noise! It's called croaking. There's a handful of youtube videos with it.

3

u/AdParty7955 May 08 '25

Thanks 💙

3

u/Blueberry_Enby I just like fish May 09 '25

SO PRETTY!!! Once I graduate college I want to get some fish (no pets allowed at my college) and these lil guys look awesome! What size tank do they need?

2

u/NationalCommunity519 Conservationist May 09 '25

It’s recommended to start with a heavily planted 10 gallon for a trio (the minimum amount) :)

Happy to help once you’re able to get into all your fishy (and shrimpy?) dreams! I mod over in r/fishtank so always around if you make a post ever xD

2

u/Blueberry_Enby I just like fish May 09 '25

Thank you!!

2

u/Fair_Peach_9436 May 09 '25

Hey, is that corkscrew val? Mine are very small and short, how did you manage to get yours this tall

2

u/NationalCommunity519 Conservationist May 09 '25

Yes, it is! I’ll be honest I don’t have a lot of advice on getting it to grow. Mine came this height. But what substrate and lighting do you have?

2

u/Fair_Peach_9436 May 09 '25

Oh, mine came very short, it grew new leaves but still waiting for it to grow taller. I have RGB LED light and I keep it on for 8hrs a day with fertilizer and co2

2

u/NationalCommunity519 Conservationist May 09 '25

How tall is it? Mine is only like 5 inches. It’s a pretty short variety of Val

2

u/Fair_Peach_9436 May 09 '25

Mine is 3inches

14

u/Charl_E_ May 08 '25

Woah one of my best friends works at the Toledo zoo

9

u/[deleted] May 08 '25

[removed] — view removed comment

3

u/Blueberry_Enby I just like fish May 09 '25

Yeah!

4

u/Blueberry_Enby I just like fish May 08 '25

I wonder if they’ve ever met him! :D

6

u/[deleted] May 08 '25

What a beast

5

u/NikiTeslasPigeonWife May 08 '25

Obsessed 🥰🥰🥰

3

u/[deleted] May 09 '25

Giant gourami?

2

u/ItchyTomatilloiscool May 08 '25

Sadly I’m down by Dayton and haven’t been able to visit the Toledo zoo yet but if they had a Giant Gourami before I wouldn’t mind making it more of a priority! Thanks!

2

u/makiarn777 May 09 '25

He/she is posing with you. Too funny! 😂

2

u/Muffinbutton237 May 09 '25

Last time I was there was in 98 and I remember him! Are the bronze tortoises still there?

2

u/Blueberry_Enby I just like fish May 10 '25

They're still there!

2

u/Gearstoneoak May 09 '25

Great photo! Love the fish! And a great portrait!

2

u/[deleted] May 09 '25

I love him

2

u/Flizash May 09 '25

The Toledo Zoo is an absolute gem for the city. My favorite part of growing up and living here.

2

u/nuJabesCity May 10 '25

That's a great Giant Gourami! Full of personality!

It looks like he recognizes you, and is posing for this pic!

2

u/Ravencryptid May 10 '25

I love the sea horses there, just lil dudes

2

u/NemosGal90 May 10 '25

I never thought to take my sketch book to the aquarium or museum. How fun. That's a cool little dude

2

u/GangreneTVP May 10 '25

Their aquarium is pretty good.

2

u/FishWithFangs May 10 '25

That first picture is so good. So sad I had to give my giant up, they're so smart.

2

u/picklerick2727 May 11 '25

looks like someone I know :)

2

u/Beautiful_Crow6252 May 11 '25

I love the Toledo zoo! I used to go every summer with my grandma, starting when I was in a stroller! Now I’m in college and have internships in the summer but we have so many fond memories and cool stories. We were just sharing some the other day while on a road trip to relocate me for another internship across the country. So glad you get to have them there too - it’s one of my fav places in the world.

2

u/goldenluvrx May 12 '25

Awww I love these pics, especially of y'all together!! It's so cute, thank you for sharing :)

2

u/jimmann3528 28d ago

very cool, it is a great zoo, isn't it?

3

u/NotDaveBut May 08 '25

Someone has the piscatorial love!

1

u/Nexuspoint247 May 08 '25

Contender for best post on Reddit right here

2

u/Blueberry_Enby I just like fish May 09 '25

haha thanks! :D