A small, subtly iridescent labyrinth fish famous for the audible croaking sound it produces with specialized pectoral mechanisms, especially during courtship and disputes. A peaceful, characterful gourami for mature, well-planted, calm aquariums.
ℹ️
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Slow and standing waters across Southeast Asia (Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia)
Origin
Old World
Climate
🌴 Tropical
Water type
💧 Freshwater
Family
Osphronemidae
Genus
Trichopsis
Part of the Gouramis
Gouramis are labyrinth-breathing freshwater fish from Asia that gulp air at the surface, build bubble nests, and range from tiny croaking species to large centerpiece fish. Many are peaceful and characterful, thriving in warm, calm, planted aquariums.
From the minimum an animal needs to be kept humanely, up to the ideal setup. Bigger is almost always better — minimums are floors, not targets.
Photo coming soon
Minimum
Pair planted nano
15 gal / 57 L planted
Trichopsis vittata reaches 2.5 in and produces audible croaks. 15-gallon planted nano with floating plants, soft slightly acidic water, gentle filtration, and a tight lid. Pair or small group.
Photo coming soon
Recommended
Planted community
20 gal / 76 L planted
20-gal planted community with floating plants, leaf litter, peaceful tankmates, and warm 25–28 °C. Males build bubble nests and croak during courtship.
Photo coming soon
Ideal
SE Asian biotope
29 gal+ / 110 L+ biotope
SE Asian blackwater biotope with leaf litter, floating plants, very gentle flow, and a small breeding group. Beautiful natural courtship displays.
Life & growth stages
How this animal changes through its life — each stage often has its own care, diet and space needs.
Photo coming soon
Egg
Fish eggs are small, translucent spheres, often laid in clutches on plants, substrate, or in a nest — or carried/brooded by a parent in livebearing and mouth-brooding species. A dark eye spot and the curled embryo become visible inside as development progresses.
Photo coming soon
Fry
Newly hatched fry are tiny and semi-transparent, frequently still carrying a yolk sac that fuels them before they feed freely. They lack full fin structure and adult coloration, staying near cover until they can swim and forage on their own.
Photo coming soon
Juvenile
Juveniles look like miniature adults but with developing fins and muted or different markings; many species shift pattern and color as they mature. Growth is rapid at this stage given clean water and steady feeding.
Adult
Adults show the species' full size, finnage, and mature coloration, and are sexually mature. Many fish develop sex-specific differences in size, color, or fin shape, which can intensify during breeding.
Habitat & enclosure
A planted tank of 40-60 L (10-15 gal) or larger with a calm surface suits a small group. As an air-breathing labyrinth fish, it needs access to the surface and benefits from a layer of warm, humid air under the lid, so keep the tank covered with a small gap above the water. Provide dense planting, floating plants, and gentle flow. Maintain 24-28 C (75-82 F), pH 6.0-7.5, soft to moderately hard water. Tannin-stained, dimly lit setups bring out their best behavior and color.
Substrate
Fine dark sand or gravel works well. A bed of leaf litter and botanicals adds tannins, supports microfauna, and helps replicate the still, vegetated waters they inhabit, while also providing cover for spawning and fry.
Equipment & setup
Use a gentle sponge filter or low-flow filtration to keep the surface calm, which is important for labyrinth breathing and bubble-nest building. A heater maintains warmth, and a snug lid preserves the warm humid air layer above the water. Modest lighting filtered by floating plants is ideal. No UVB needed.
Diet
A micropredator that takes a range of small foods. Offer good-quality micro-pellets and flake alongside frozen and live items such as Daphnia, bloodworm, brine shrimp, and Cyclops. A varied diet with regular small live or frozen foods keeps them colorful and encourages spawning. Feed modest amounts once or twice daily.
Behavior & temperament
Peaceful and somewhat shy, best appreciated in a quiet tank where their croaking courtship and mild territorial displays can be observed. Males spar and 'croak' at one another using a specialized pectoral-fin mechanism, but rarely cause injury. They are easily intimidated by larger or boisterous tankmates and should be kept with calm, similarly small species. A display fish, not handled.
Health
Reasonably hardy in stable, warm, clean water. As labyrinth breathers they are sensitive to cold air at the surface, so avoid chilling the air layer under the lid. Susceptible to bacterial infections and fin issues if water quality slips. Avoid strong current, which stresses them. Quarantine wild-collected imports.
Tips, DIY & hacks
Keep a small group so natural sparring and croaking can be observed without bullying. They are bubble-nest spawners, often building among floating plants or under leaves; the male tends the nest. A calm, mature, planted species tank yields the best results. Distinguish from the smaller dwarf croaking gourami (Trichopsis pumila), which is similar but tinier.
