Pearl gourami

Overview

The pearl gourami (Trichopodus leerii) is one of the most elegant and peaceful labyrinth fish. It reaches about 4-4.5 in (10-12 cm), and its silvery body is covered in tiny pearly spots, with a dark zigzag line running from snout to tail. In breeding condition, males develop a deep orange-red throat and chest, and their dorsal and anal fins grow long trailing extensions.

It comes from slow, acidic, heavily vegetated waters in Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia (Borneo and Sumatra). Pearl gouramis are calm, somewhat shy and long-lived, and almost all fish in stores are captive-bred. They make an excellent centerpiece fish for a medium-sized planted community tank.

Care and tank setup

A small group (one male and two females, or a pair) needs about 30 gallons (120 L) with good surface area, a heater and a filter with gentle output. They like calm water, light softened by floating plants and densely planted areas to retreat into.

• A tight lid to keep warm, humid air above the water.
• Soft to moderately hard, stable, clean water.
• A dark substrate and tall plants bring out their best colors.

This is one of the least aggressive gouramis. It lives well with tetras, rasboras, corydoras, bristlenose plecos and other peaceful fish; males may spar, but in a roomy tank it rarely goes further. Avoid fin nippers like tiger barbs and boisterous tankmates that make it skittish. At its size, it may eat small shrimp.

Feeding

Pearl gouramis are undemanding omnivores. Use a quality flake or pellet as the staple and add frozen or live foods (bloodworms, brine shrimp, daphnia) plus some plant-based food. They feed mainly at the surface and in midwater. Offer small portions once or twice a day. As a bonus, they are known to eat small hydra.

Breeding

The male builds a large bubble nest among floating plants and courts the female in his orange breeding colors. After spawning, which can produce over a thousand eggs, he guards the nest and the female should be removed. For breeding, use a separate tank with low water, soft and warm water around 81-82 °F (27-28 °C) and infusoria for the fry.

Compatible tank mates

Species from our database that share water parameters, size and temperament with the Pearl gourami. Calculated from the data in each profile.

Check the compatibility of your whole tank →

What not to keep it with

Popular species you shouldn’t house with the Pearl gourami, and why.

• Oscar: one may eat the other due to size, incompatible temperaments
• Celestial pearl danio: incompatible temperatures, one may eat the other due to size
• Ember tetra: one may eat the other due to size
• Amano shrimp: eats shrimp
• Cherry shrimp: eats shrimp

Recommended equipment

What you need to keep the Pearl gourami healthy, checked against Amazon stock.