A tiny, jewel-like nano gourami with iridescent blue-green flecks across the body and fins, and the remarkable ability to produce audible croaking sounds during courtship and disputes. Peaceful and ideal for well-established nano and planted tanks, though it needs pristine, stable water.
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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.
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Minimum
Planted nano
10 gal / 38 L planted
Trichopsis pumila stays under 4 cm and is a peaceful labyrinth fish needing a planted nano with floating cover, gentle flow, and warm soft water (24–28 °C).
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Recommended
Species or peaceful community
15–20 gal / 60–75 L
Small group (4–6) in a planted tank with surface cover. They make audible croaking sounds during courtship. Pair only with very peaceful nano tankmates.
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Ideal
Blackwater biotope
20–29 gal / 75–110 L biotope
Mature blackwater biotope with leaf litter, dense cover, and small harem. Natural bubble-nest building and croaking displays visible regularly.
Life & growth stages
How this animal changes through its life — each stage often has its own care, diet and space needs.
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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.
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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.
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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 heavily planted 10 gallon (40 L) tank suits a small group. Keep warm at 76-82 F (24-28 C), pH 6.0-7.5 and soft to moderately soft water. Very low flow is essential, as these small fish are easily buffeted. Provide dim, dappled lighting with dense planting and floating cover to mimic their shallow, sluggish, vegetated wild waters.
Substrate
Dark fine sand or fine gravel suits a nature-style aquascape and shows off their iridescence. Plenty of fine-leaved plants, leaf litter and floating plants provide essential cover and microfauna for grazing.
Equipment & setup
Use a gentle sponge filter to keep flow minimal and protect tiny fish and fry, plus a small reliable heater. A lid maintains a warm, humid air layer for labyrinth breathing and prevents jumping.
Diet
Micropredator that needs small foods: live or frozen baby brine shrimp, daphnia, cyclops, microworms and finely crushed micro-pellets. Many individuals ignore large dry flakes, so offer small, meaty items for best condition.
Behavior & temperament
Peaceful and slightly shy; best kept in a group of six or more, which encourages natural croaking displays and confident behaviour. Ideal tankmates are other small, calm species such as pygmy rasboras, dwarf corydoras and peaceful shrimp. Freshwater only, not a reef fish.
Health
Sensitive to poor water quality and prone to ich and bacterial infections if parameters swing; their small size means they decline quickly when stressed. Use a mature, cycled tank, quarantine newcomers and keep nitrate low with frequent small water changes.
Tips, DIY & hacks
Botanicals such as Indian almond leaves release tannins that soften water and encourage natural behaviour and croaking. They are bubble-nest breeders; a quiet, densely planted tank with stable warm water often yields spawns without intervention.
