- Gouramis are medium- to large-size freshwater fish native to Asia, identified for his or her lung-like labyrinth organ that enables them to breathe atmospheric oxygen.
- When housing gouramis, select tankmates which are peaceable and related in dimension to make sure compatibility and keep away from aggression.
- Totally different gourami species have various care wants, together with particular water situations and tank sizes, which must be adhered to for optimum well being.
Gouramis are medium to giant freshwater aquarium fish native to Asia. They’ve a lung-like labyrinth organ that lets them gulp air on the floor to breathe atmospheric oxygen. This characteristic allows them to reside in heat, low-oxygen water. Most gouramis are appropriate for group aquariums, however some species don’t get together with others, and others are too timid to share area with bigger fish.
Be taught extra about these 10 species of gourami fish.
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Table of Contents
Blue Gourami
Blue gouramis are probably essentially the most well-known of the gourami household. They’re straightforward to look after and will be saved with different fish of comparable dimension. Blue gouramis don’t tolerate others of their species effectively. That is significantly true of males, and it is really helpful that just one male be saved in a tank. They’re native to southeastern Asia, however aquarium fish are commercially raised on fish farms.
The usual blue-colored fish has a black spot on the bottom of the tail, one in the course of the physique, and the black pupil of the attention makes the third spot, giving the blue gourami the alternate identify of 3-spot gourami. A number of coloration morphs exist, corresponding to a gold selection that also has the spots, and a blue selection that has black blotches or marbling as a substitute of the distinct spots, known as the “opaline gourami” (or “Cosby gourami”). The “silver or platinum gourami” is the white coloration morph.
Species Overview
Scientific identify: Trichogaster trichopterus
Frequent names: Three spot gourami, opaline gourami, Cosby gourami, golden gourami, silver gourami
Grownup dimension: 4 inches (10 cm)
Lifespan: 4 years
Minimal tank dimension: 20 gallon
pH: 6.0 to eight.8
Hardness: 5 to 35 dGH
Temperature: 72 to 82 F/22 to twenty-eight C
Tankmates: Typically peaceable with related sized fish
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Chocolate Gourami
![Chocolate Gourami (Sphaerichthys osphormenoides)]()
Chocolate gouramis are one of many more difficult gourami species to maintain. They’re extra delicate to water situations than different species and are somewhat timid, making them unsuitable for conserving with extra boisterous or aggressive fish. Chocolate gouramis can be tough to seek out however are relished by skilled fish keepers. They’re native to a lot of Malaysia, Sumatra, Indonesia ,and Borneo.
Species Overview
Scientific identify: Sphaerichthys osphormenoides
Frequent identify: Chocolate gourami
Grownup dimension: 1.75 inches (5 cm)
Lifespan: 5 years
Minimal tank dimension: 30 gallon
pH: 4.0 to 7.0
Hardness: 2 to six dGH
Temperature: 75 to 86 F/25 to 30 C
Tankmates: Appropriate just for very peaceable species
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Dwarf Gourami
![Powder Blue Dwarf Gourami]()
One of many smallest of the gourami household, this species is effectively fitted to group aquariums of small fish. They’re additionally appropriate for conserving in mini aquariums. The pure coloration of the male dwarf gourami has alternating diagonal purple and blue stripes. The feminine is much less colourful. Colour varieties that solely have blue stripes are known as powder blue gouramis, and solely purple stripes are known as hearth purple gouramis The dwarf gourami is native to Pakistan, India, and Bangladesh.
Species Overview
Scientific identify: Trichgaster (Colisa) lalia
Frequent names: Powder blue gourami, purple gourami
Grownup dimension: 2 to three inches (5 to 7 cm)
Lifespan: 4 to six years
Minimal tank dimension: 5 gallon
pH: 6.0 to 7.5
Hardness: 4 to 10 dGH
Temperature: 72 to 82 F/22 to twenty-eight C
Tankmates: Peaceable, greatest saved with different smaller fish
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Kissing Gourami
![Kissing Gourami]()
Kissing gouramis are fairly common resulting from their distinctive habits of showing to kiss one another. In actuality, they’re exerting their territorial rights. This species will be quarrelsome with others, and care must be taken when placing them in a group tank. Typically, they do greatest with medium- to large-sized fish. Inexperienced is the pure coloration for this fish, however the pink variation is mostly out there. They’re native to mainland southeast Asia and the islands of Borneo, Java, Sulawesi, and Sumatra.
Species Overview
Scientific identify: Helostoma temminckii
Frequent names: Inexperienced kisser, pink kisser
Grownup dimension: 12 inches (40 cm)
Lifespan: 5 to 7 years
Minimal tank dimension: 40 gallon
pH: 6.5 to 7.0
Hardness: 5 to 12 dGH
Temperature: 64 to 74 F/18 to 24 C
Tankmates: Appropriate with related sized species
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Moonlight Gourami
![Moonlight Gourami]()
Moonlight gouramis are aptly named for his or her silvery look. They’re one of many bigger species of gouramis, and in addition one of many extra timid. Moonlight gouramis favor a well-planted tank that gives loads of hiding areas. This species is tolerant of water situations. They’re native to southeast Asia.
Species Overview
Scientific identify: Trichogaster microlepis
Frequent identify: Moonbeam gourami
Grownup dimension: 6 inches (15 cm)
Lifespan: 4 years
Minimal tank dimension: 20 gallon
pH: 6.0 to 7.0
Hardness: 2 to 25 dGH
Temperature: 79 to 86 F/26 to 30 C
Tankmates: Timid, hold solely with non-aggressive fish
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Pearl Gourami
![Pearl Gourami]()
Pearl gouramis are probably the hardiest and simple to look after of the gourami household. They’re extremely adaptable and do effectively with a variety of water situations in addition to tank mates. The males are bigger and extra colourful than the females. When prepared for breeding, the males turn out to be a lot brighter. Males even have longer dorsal and anal fins. They’re native to Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia.
Species Overview
Scientific identify: Trichogaster leeri
Frequent names: Leeri gourami, lace gourami
Grownup dimension: 4 inches (10 cm)
Lifespan: 8 years
Minimal tank dimension: 20 gallon
pH: 6.5 to eight.5
Hardness: 5 to 30 dGH
Temperature: 74 to 82 F/24 to twenty-eight C
Tankmates: May be saved with all group species
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Honey Gourami
The honey gourami is a brightly coloured fish that showcases orange, blue, silver, and yellow hues. These fish are hardy and simple to look after. It’s greatest to place them in a tank with loads of crops and a few hiding locations. And since they’re peaceable, you possibly can hold your honey gourami with different group fish that aren’t aggressive. They’re discovered within the wild in India, Nepal, and Bangladesh.
Species Overview
Scientific identify: Trichogaster chuna
Frequent names: Sundown gourami, purple honey gourami, purple flame gourami
Grownup dimension: 2 inches (5 cm)
Lifespan: 5 to eight years
Minimal tank dimension: 10 gallon
pH: 6 to 7.5
Hardness: 4 to 12 dGH
Temperature: 72 to 82 F/22 to twenty-eight C
Tankmates: Peaceable, non-aggressive fish which are an analogous dimension
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Glowing Gourami
The sparking gourami is placing in look and simple to look after. They’re small, lively fish who can be housed with numerous different tank mates as a result of they’re peaceable and received’t wish to get into fights. Their physique options hues of inexperienced, brown, and blue, and so they have blue fins with black spots, with a purple line on the sting of every fin. Sparking gouramis are from Southeast Asia.
Species Overview
Scientific identify: Trichopsis pumila
Frequent identify: Pygmy gourami
Grownup dimension: 1.5 inches (4 cm)
Lifespan: 4 to five years
Minimal tank dimension: 15 gallon
pH: 6 to 7
Hardness: 5 to 19 dGH
Temperature: 76 to 82 F/24 to twenty-eight C
Tankmates: Peaceable fish of comparable dimension
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Croaking Gourami
The croaking gourami is one other species from Southeast Asia. They acquired their identify from their capability to make a croaking sound when they’re establishing dominance or able to mate. Their our bodies are colourful, with hues of inexperienced, silver, and brown, and so they even have stripes on their sides. Like different gourami, they like planted tanks with locations to cover.
Species Overview
Scientific identify: Trichopsis vittata
Frequent identify: Croaking gourmai
Grownup dimension: 3 inches (7 cm)
Lifespan: 4 to five years
Minimal tank dimension: 10 gallon
pH: 6 to 7.5
Hardness: 5 to fifteen dGH
Temperature: 72 to 82 F/22 to twenty-eight C
Tankmates: Non-aggressive fish which are related in dimension
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Snakeskin Gourami
One other hardy and simple to look after fish is the snakeskin gourami. Their colours aren’t as vibrant as these of different gourami, and embrace shades of greenish grey, olive, and white, and so they characteristic stunning striping on the edges. If you’re in search of a bigger fish, this can be a sensible choice, particularly since they will do effectively in peaceable group tanks. They’re naturally present in Southeast Asia.
Species Overview
Scientific identify: Trichopodus pectoralis
Frequent identify: Snakeskin gourami
Grownup dimension: 10 inches (25 cm)
Lifespan: 6 years
Minimal tank dimension: 40 gallon
pH: 5.5 to eight.5
Hardness: 5 to fifteen dGH
Temperature: 72 to 86 F/22 to 30 C
Tankmates: Peaceable fish that aren’t so small they danger being eaten
Take care of Gourami Fish
Gouramis aren’t tough to look after. Select the fitting tank dimension primarily based on the species and their wants, as bigger fish will want bigger tanks. They will eat numerous business fish meals, together with flakes, pellets, algae rounds, frozen meals, and reside meals. Examine the precise water situations for every species to make sure they’re given the temperature, pH, and hardiness that they want.
Are Gouramis Good With Different Fish?
Gouramis can get alongside effectively with different peaceable fish. Select tankmates that received’t nip at your gouramis. Additionally, getting tankmates which are an analogous dimension can assist guarantee everybody will get alongside—you don’t need smaller fish to be seen as meals, and also you don’t need bigger fish to intimidate smaller ones within the tank and trigger them to cover on a regular basis.
Various kinds of gouramis could also be housed collectively in a big tank that provides all of them loads of room to swim, eat, and conceal. Nonetheless, male gouramis will be aggressive in the direction of one another.
Splendid tankmates for gouramis embrace fish which are peaceable, corresponding to:
- Catfish
- Tetras
- Platies
- Rasboras
- Mollies
- Danios
How Many Gouramis Ought to Be Stored Collectively?
Not all gouramis are education fish, however should you select a species that’s, you possibly can home a number of of them collectively—make sure that the tank is giant sufficient. Some gouramis can be territorial, wherein case, chances are you’ll not have the ability to home a couple of within the tank. Keep in mind, at all times select the fitting variety of fish primarily based in your tank’s dimension.
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