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Croaking gourami

Trichopsis vittata

FreshwaterFish

Croaking gourami (Trichopsis vittata)
BEDO (Thailand) · CC BY-SA 4.0

Care at a glance

Temperature
72–82°F
22–28°C
pH
6.0–7.5
Adult size
2.8 in
7 cm
Minimum tank
18 gal
67 L
Temperament
Peaceful
Social behavior
Social
Swim level
Middle
Difficulty
Easy
Breeding
Bubble nester · Medium
Rarity
Rare
Family
Osphronemidae
Origin
South East Asia

Overview

The croaking gourami is a small, peaceful labyrinth fish that mixes well in a quiet community tank. It is easy to keep and undemanding.

Did you know

The croaking gourami really does croak. Both sexes make a rattling, purring sound by plucking modified tendons in their pectoral fins. The sound is heard most during courtship and confrontations, often as two males square up near the surface.

Caring for the croaking gourami

Give croaking gouramis a densely planted tank of at least 18 gal (67 L). Add floating plants, gentle filtration and a dark substrate to bring out their best colors and behavior. They breathe from the surface and are sensitive to cold, dry air, so leave a warm air gap under the lid.

Keep the water at 72 to 82°F (22 to 28°C) with a pH of 6.0 to 7.5. Offer small foods such as frozen bloodworm, daphnia, brine shrimp and a fine dry food, which they take readily.

The croaking gourami is peaceful and happiest in a group, so keep several together. It occupies the middle of the tank and likes to hang among plants and near the surface. Pair it with other calm, small fish, and avoid boisterous or fin-nipping tank mates that will out-compete it at feeding time.

Males build a bubble nest, sometimes under a broad leaf or at the surface, and guard the eggs and fry. Breeding is moderately difficult.

Good to know

The croaking gourami is a member of the gourami family Osphronemidae. It is one of three closely related croaking species.

In the wild

Trichopsis vittata is widespread in Southeast Asia. It lives in still and slow-moving waters thick with vegetation, such as ponds, ditches, marshes and rice paddies. The water there is usually warm and soft to moderately hard.

Weekly picks

Tank mates

The croaking gourami is a peaceful, social species that keeps to the middle. These picks share a community profile with it, are safe together in both directions, and overlap on water type, temperature and pH.

Check the full mix in the stocking calculator

Common questions

What size tank does a croaking gourami need?

A croaking gourami needs at least 18 gal (67 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.

What temperature and pH does a croaking gourami need?

A croaking gourami is comfortable at 72–82°F (22–28°C) with a pH of 6.0–7.5.

What does a croaking gourami eat?

A croaking gourami readily takes small foods such as frozen bloodworm, daphnia, brine shrimp and a fine dry food.

How big does a croaking gourami get?

An adult croaking gourami reaches about 2.8 in (7 cm).

How does a croaking gourami breed?

A croaking gourami is a bubble nester. The male builds the nest, sometimes under a broad leaf or at the surface, and guards the eggs and fry.

Related species