10 Captivating Gourami Fish Species for Your Aquarium

  • 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.

  • Blue Gourami

    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

  • 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

  • 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

  • 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

    Proceed to five of 10 under
  • 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

  • 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

  • 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

  • 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

    Proceed to 9 of 10 under
  • 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

  • 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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