Move the female gourami you have selected to breed into the breeding tank first. This gives the female fish time to locate hiding spots and acclimatize to the tank. After at least an hour, or up to a full day, introduce the male to the tank. Watch the behavior of the two fish, making sure the female has enough hiding places to remain alone for part of the day. The male may cause minor bruising or scrapes on the female while chasing her. If the female sustains more serious injuries, or is being harassed around the clock, consider adding a second female to divide the male's attention. It may be several days before the gourami pair mates. While the exact nature of the mating ritual, amplexus, and/or spawning varies by species, it typically takes several hours. Look for the following signs if you are trying to catch the fish in the act: In many gourami species, the male will create a nest of bubbles before mating occurs. This nest may be in a corner of a tank, or on the underside of a floating object. The two fish may "dance" around each other, eventually touching and wriggling against each other. In some species, they will latch together and one will roll onto its back. As the female lays eggs (usually hundreds or thousands), the male may pick these up in his mouth and move them to the bubble nest. In species that do not construct bubble nests, the eggs are typically strewn around into the water. The adult female gourami should be moved back to the original tank directly after spawning, or she may eat the eggs. If the male constructed a "bubble nest," he will likely continue to care for the young until the fry become free-swimming, after which he should be removed as well. For species that do not construct a nest, such as kissing gourami, remove the parents immediately after spawning. The male may not eat much or at all while he is caring for the eggs. Pay attention to his eating habits and reduce the amount of food if necessary to avoid making the water dirty.

Summary: Introduce the female to the breeding tank first. Introduce the male. Wait for the fish to mate. Know when to remove the parents.

Use an old toothbrush to remove grease, lint, and dirt from all surfaces of your knife. Try applying a bit of dish soap to the toothbrush and then use it to scrub all of the surfaces of your knife. For small, detailed areas, you can use a wooden toothpick or a cotton tipped swab (Q-Tip). Rinse away the soap after you are finished and then dry the knife with a clean cloth. A magic eraser cleaning sponge may help to remove rust from your knife blade. You do not need to use any chemicals with a magic eraser. Just get it wet with a bit of water and it is ready to use. Use the magic eraser to scrub the rust spots off of your knife blade. Then, rinse off the blade and dry it with a clean cloth. You can also try to scrub the rust stains from the blade using a piece of fine steel wool, fine-grit sandpaper, or a wire brush. You can scrub the blade while it is dry, or add a bit of water, or use some water and dish soap. If you do not have a steel brush or sandpaper, try using a crumpled ball of aluminum foil to scrub the blade. Make sure that you rinse the blade after you are finished and dry it off with a clean cloth. If you cannot remove the rust with oil or cleansers alone, try using an electric rotary tool to remove the stains. Work slowly and carefully to avoid damaging the blade. Apply oil to the rusted blade before you use the rotary blade. Use a fine brass wire brush attachment on your rotary tool to remove surface rust. Secure the knife in a vice grip, and apply the wire brush tool to the blade in short, smooth movements. Change the brush attachment to a felt polishing wheel. Dip the wheel in polishing compound (such as 3-In-One, Clean Streak, or Metal Brite) and apply the wheel to the blade with smooth, short strokes. Switch to a clean polishing blade and finish with a paste polish such as Flintz. Buff the blade until it is smooth and shiny.

Summary: Scrub the knife with a toothbrush. Try a magic eraser sponge. Use some steel wool or another abrasive tool. Clean the knife with a rotary tool to remove serious rust stains.

Your child may have lots of questions about the death of a friend. It is important for you to answer these openly and honestly, again using concrete explanations. Keep it simple. It is also fine to admit when you don't know something. Children might wonder if death is like going to sleep. Explain that during sleep the body still works, while with death it doesn't. Be clear about the differences so that your child doesn't start to fear sleeping. Kids may also ask about pain, i.e. "Does it hurt to die?" You might say that doctors and nurses can use medicine to take away the pain and make it hurt as little as possible. Be honest if your child asks more generally about death and whether he or she will die. Explain that everyone dies at some point, but that most people live for a long-time and that someone will be there to look after your child if you yourself die. Questions of meaning are harder. It's OK to admit that you don't know why your child's friend had to die or say that you are upset and confused, too. Should you take your child to the funeral of a friend? The answer to this question is very personal. Your child should be able to join in any mourning ritual but only if he or she wants to. Don't pressure the child to do so. First, explain what your child will see at the funeral or memorial service, i.e. the friend's body may be in a casket and there will be many others there, too. Explain what will take place, as well. For example, other people will probably speak about the friend who's died and other mourners may be crying. If you are religious, you can also share your faith's spiritual beliefs about death and what these mourning rituals mean. Make sure to respect your child's wants at the funeral, too. Don't force your child to stay if he or she wants to leave. Children learn how to cope with emotions and to grieve by watching what adults do. They are very aware of how you react to death and loss. That said, try to model healthy grieving. Sitting quietly, crying, and displays of emotion show children that these behaviors are natural and OK. It is OK for your child to see you cry. This can make the child more comfortable with showing his or her own emotions. Your child should also know that it's OK to feel strong emotions when a friend has died, like anger, sadness, and fear. Continue to model grief by encouraging your child to express how they feel in healthy ways. Allow adequate time and don't press the child into resuming "normal" activities before they've had a chance to process and deal with the death. For example, you could give your child the chance to say a final goodbye by writing a letter for the graveside or casket or by releasing a balloon. You can also encourage your child to draw pictures or write poems or stories about the friend and how they feel. Put limits on grieving behavior, though. It's normal for kids to react to death with some regressive behavior, but limit acting out and displays of physical aggression.
Summary: Be ready to answer questions. Decide whether or not to attend the funeral. Model healthy grieving. Encourage your child to express emotions.