Gourami

Overview

The three spot gourami (Trichopodus trichopterus) is one of the most widespread labyrinth fish in the aquarium hobby. "Gourami" is also the common name for the whole family Osphronemidae; this entry describes its most common aquarium species, the three spot gourami, and its colour forms.

It is loved for its hardiness, fairly peaceful nature when young, good size and the amusing habit of "feeling" everything with its long, thread-like pelvic fins, which work as touch organs in murky water. It is a good choice for beginners.

Like all labyrinth fish, the gourami has a labyrinth organ above the gills and breathes atmospheric air, regularly rising to the surface to gulp it. Without access to air it dies, so the water surface must stay open. In the wild it lives in marshes, swamps, canals, rice fields and other still or slow-moving, oxygen-poor waters.

Appearance

The body is deep, elongated and laterally compressed. The species reaches 15 cm standard length (Russian Wikipedia gives up to 20 cm in the wild); in aquariums it usually grows to 8–11 cm, rarely 15 cm. The pelvic fins are modified into long thin threads.

The name comes from two dark spots on each side, one mid-body and one at the base of the tail; the eye counts as the third "spot". The spots may be faint or dark, and they fade under stress and with age.

The wild form is silvery with a faint lilac sheen and indistinct lilac-grey vertical bars. The fins are nearly clear with pale orange spots, and the anal fin has a reddish-yellow edge. During spawning the fish darken, the bars turn almost black and the eyes turn red.

Males are easy to tell by the dorsal fin: long and pointed in males, shorter and rounded in females (though some females have a longer one). The male's anal fin is pointed too. Males are usually larger, slimmer and brighter.

Care

• Tank: from 80 L for several pairs.
• Temperature: 24–28 °C; keeping below 24 °C is not recommended.
• Water: pH 6.0–7.8, general hardness 4–20 °dGH.
• Free access to the surface is essential: gouramis breathe atmospheric air.
• A lid is a must: it stops the fish jumping out and keeps the air above the water warm, as gulping cold air can make them ill.
• Plenty of live plants and several hiding places (driftwood, caves); dark substrate shows off the colours.
• Good filtration without strong flow; aeration is optional.
• Water changes: 1/5 to 1/3 of the volume weekly.

Lifespan in the aquarium, according to Tetra, is 4–6 years on average.

Feeding

The three spot gourami is an omnivore. In the wild it feeds on zooplankton, crustaceans and insect larvae.

In the aquarium, base the diet on quality dry food (flakes, granules), including algae-based food. Add bloodworms, tubifex, brine shrimp, daphnia and mosquito larvae — live, frozen or freeze-dried.

Feed young fish several times a day. Gouramis are greedy, so avoid overfeeding; adults tolerate a week without food without harm.

Compatibility

Gouramis get along with peaceful fish of similar size: platies, swordtails, rainbowfish, tetras, peaceful catfish, angelfish.

Males are territorial and may fight each other, and with age some become aggressive towards other tankmates as well. They often harass fish with long, bright fins, such as male guppies, bettas and goldfish. With several males, provide plenty of cover; keep at least two females per male.

Avoid fin-nippers (e.g. tiger barbs) and large aggressive cichlids. Small fish and fry will be eaten.

Breeding

Gouramis mature at about 8–12 months. Breeding is easy: the male builds a foam nest at the surface from air bubbles stuck together with saliva, often with bits of floating plants.

• Breeding tank: 20–50 L, water level 10–15 cm, floating plants (riccia, hornwort), no strong filter.
• Trigger: raise the temperature to 26–28 °C and replace part of the water with fresh soft water.
• The male wraps around the female under the nest and squeezes out the eggs. According to English Wikipedia and Tetra, a female can lay up to 800 eggs; a typical clutch is about 50–200.
• The eggs float; the male gathers them into the nest and guards them. Remove the female right after spawning.
• Larvae hatch after 24–48 hours and live off the yolk sac for about three more days.
• Once the fry swim freely, remove the male too. First foods: infusoria and fine zooplankton.

The fry's labyrinth organ only develops after 2–3 weeks, so frequent water changes, gentle aeration and stable temperature are important during this time.

Fun facts

• The "three spots" are two spots on the side plus the eye.
• Gouramis breathe atmospheric air and, according to Russian Wikipedia, can survive 6–8 hours out of water if their gills stay moist.
• For a long time the fish died in transit in sealed barrels. Once people noticed that gouramis rise to the surface for air, the barrels were filled only two-thirds and left open — and in 1896 three spot gouramis reached Europe.
• The blue form has been known in Europe since 1934.
• In its native range the species is caught and farmed as a food fish.
• It has been introduced far outside its native range, e.g. to the Philippines, India and Trinidad.
• In the flood season the fish migrate from permanent waters into flooded forests, for example in the Mekong basin.
• Gouramis readily eat freshwater hydra, and according to Tetra they can knock flying insects down with a jet of water.