(Blue Gourami) (Opaline Gourami) (Opal Gourami) (Cosby Gourami) (Golden Gourami) (Silver Gourami) (Two Spot Gourami) (Platinum Gourami) (Lavender Gourami) (Amethyst Gourami) (Brown Gourami) (Hairfin Gourami)
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Scientific Name |
Trichogaster trichopterus |
| Type |
Gouramis |
Family |
Osphronemidae |
Subfamily |
Trichogasterinae (sometimes Trichogastrinae), Belontiidae |
Other Names |
Blue Gourami, Opaline Gourami, Opal Gourami, Cosby Gourami, Golden Gourami, Silver Gourami, Two Spot Gourami, Platinum Gourami, Lavender Gourami, Amethyst Gourami, Brown Gourami, Hairfin Gourami |
Minimum Tank Size |
20 gallon |
Tank Level |
Top, mid dweller |
Care |
Easy, Hardy |
Behavior |
Peaceful, especially with other larger fish. Have been known to attack smaller fish if they are kept in a tank which is too small. Males can get territorial with other male gourami. |
| Compatibility |
Does well with Asian bottom fish (loaches, catfish) and calm barbs, danios and rasboras. One male per tank as males are highly territorial, unless the tank is large enough for both males to have their space. |
Life span |
4 years |
Size |
Up to 6" (15cm), but usually smaller. |
Aquarium |
Large covered, planted tank with some floating plants. Gentle water circulation with Central open area. |
Water chemistry |
Fresh water, soft to slightly hard |
pH |
6.0 - 8.8 |
Hardness |
5 - 35 dGH |
Temperature |
72° - 82° F (22-28 C) |
Feeding |
Omnivore (Animals who eat both meat and vegetables), eats most foods. Flake foods (green flakes) various live and frozen foods. They are prized for feeding on hydra, which are small carnivorous animals from the Phylum Cnidaria that can be introduced to a tank by feeding live food. Hydra look like small bags of tentacles. |
Sexing |
Males and females differ in the shape of the dorsal fin. In males it is long and pointed and in females' it is shorter and more rounded. |
Breeding |
Egglayer - bubblenest builder, prefer soft slightly acidic water when in breeding season |
Origin |
South East Asia |
Extras |
Their colors can change with their moods. Blue Gouramis are deeper blue during spawning. Although they have the name "Three Spot" they actually only have two spots on each side. The third spot is actually their eye. The Cosby or Opaline hybrids lack the spots and the darker blue marbling. |
