🐟 AquaticCare difficulty: BeginnerLegal complexity: Low

Three-spot gourami

Trichopodus trichopterus · also called Blue gourami, Opaline gourami, Gold gourami, Cosby gourami, Two-spot gourami

A hardy, widely available medium gourami named for two body spots plus the eye counted as the 'third spot.' Sold in many tank-bred colour forms (blue, gold, opaline). Tough and adaptable, but adult males can be territorial, so it is better kept singly or with robust tankmates than in tight groups.

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Quick facts

Size	4-5 in (10-13 cm)
Lifespan	4–6 years
Social needs	solo
Native region	Southeast Asia
Origin	Old World
Climate	🌴 Tropical
Water type	💧 Freshwater
Family	Osphronemidae
Genus	Trichopodus

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.

Chocolate gourami Croaking gourami Dwarf gourami Honey gourami Kissing gourami Licorice gourami Paradise fish Pearl gourami Sparkling gourami

Habitat & space requirements

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

Long planted tank

40 gal / 150 L

Trichopodus trichopterus reaches 15 cm and is a larger gourami. Long planted tank with floating cover, gentle flow, warm soft-to-medium water (24–28 °C).

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Recommended

Larger community

55–75 gal / 200–280 L

Long footprint for a pair (or 1 male : 2 females). Pair with peaceful larger tankmates — males can be aggressive in cramped tanks.

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Ideal

Southeast Asian biotope

90 gal+ / 340 L+ biotope

Long biotope with leaf litter, driftwood, and dense surface cover. Bubble-nest building and natural display behaviour visible.

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.

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.

Color & pattern variants

Natural variants occur in the wild; selectively bred (man-made) variants were developed in captivity.

Selectively bred (man-made)

Blue gourami →

CommonBeginner

A solid powder-blue color form of *Trichopodus trichopterus* retaining the two characteristic flank spots. One of the most common and hardy aquarium lines.

Tip: House one male per tank or in groups of five-plus — like all three-spot lines, mature blue males get territorial and bully tankmates and each other in cramped quarters.

representative

Opaline gourami →

CommonBeginner

A marbled blue line where the spots dissolve into a swirling dark-blue mottled pattern over the body. Selectively bred variant of the blue form.

Tip: Provide floating plants and a calm surface — opalines build bubble nests and are happier breeders/displayers when the water surface is still and dimly lit from above.

representative

Gold gourami →

CommonBeginner

A xanthic gold-to-honey colored line, again retaining faint flank spots. A long-established hardy aquarium morph of the three-spot.

Tip: Keep nitrates down for best color — the pale gold body shows ammonia/nitrate stress streaking quickly, and washed-out gold usually signals water-quality slip rather than genetics.

representative

Cosby (platinum) gourami →

UncommonBeginner

A silvery platinum-blue line with heavy dark marbling, named after the breeder who fixed it. Less common than blue/gold but still a robust, undemanding fish.

Tip: Give a planted, broken-sightline layout — Cosby males can be as scrappy as standard three-spots, so dense plants let subdominant fish escape harassment and color up.

Habitat & enclosure

Provide at least a 30 gallon (115 L) tank, longer rather than tall, with a calm surface for air-breathing at the labyrinth organ. Target 72-82 F (22-28 C), pH 6.0-8.0, soft to moderately hard water. Low to moderate flow suits them; they dislike strong current. Dim to moderate lighting with floating plants reduces skittishness and frames their natural slow-water vegetated habitat.

Substrate

Dark fine gravel or sand shows off their colours and suits a planted, naturalistic layout. Driftwood and rooted plants provide cover and break sightlines that reduce aggression.

Equipment & setup

Use a gentle filter (sponge or baffled hang-on-back) to keep flow low, plus a reliable heater. A secure, well-fitted lid is essential because they gulp air and may jump; leave a small warm air gap above the water for labyrinth breathing.

Diet

Omnivore that readily accepts quality flakes and pellets as a staple. Supplement with frozen or live bloodworms, brine shrimp, daphnia and the occasional blanched vegetable. They will also pick at small invertebrates and hydra, helping control pests.

Behavior & temperament

Generally peaceful but adult males can be territorial and nippy, especially toward conspecifics and long-finned tankmates. Best kept as a single specimen or with sturdy mid-size community fish such as larger barbs, rainbowfish and peaceful catfish. Avoid housing multiple males in small tanks. Not relevant to reef systems (freshwater).

Health

Hardy but susceptible to ich, fin rot and bacterial infections in poor water; the labyrinth organ makes them sensitive to cold air at the surface, so keep the room and water warm and the lid closed. Quarantine new arrivals and maintain stable temperature to avoid stress-driven outbreaks.

Tips, DIY & hacks

Keeping one male, or one male with several females, avoids most squabbles. They build bubble nests at the surface and are easy egg-layers; remove the female after spawning as the male guards eggs and can harass her.

Sources

Three spot gourami - Wikipedia (wikipedia)
Trichopodus trichopterus - Seriously Fish (care guide)
Wikipedia: Three-spot gourami (wiki)