TankBud

Eyespot gourami

Parasphaerichthys ocellatus

Also known as False chocolate gourami, Burmese chocolate gourami, Ocellated gourami, Burmese Mini Chocolate Gourami

FreshwaterFish

Eyespot gourami (Parasphaerichthys ocellatus)
Andrew Bogott · CC BY-SA 4.0

Care at a glance

Temperature
64–77°F
18–25°C
pH
6.5–7.5
Adult size
1.4 in
3.5 cm
Minimum tank
12 gal
45 L
Temperament
Peaceful
Social behavior
Social
Tankmates
With caution
Swim level
Middle
Diet
Carnivore
Difficulty
Difficult
Breeding
Bubble nester · Hard
Rarity
Very rare
Family
Osphronemidae
Origin
Upper Ayeyarwady basin of northern Myanmar, including Lake Indawgyi, in cool, still, vegetated waters.

Overview

The eyespot gourami is a tiny, shy fish for a cool, planted tank with calm company. It suits experienced keepers.

Did you know

The eyespot gourami is one of the few chocolate gourami relatives that does not brood its eggs in the mouth.

Caring for the eyespot gourami

Keep a group of six or more eyespot gouramis in a planted tank of at least 12 gal (45 L). They are slow, retiring fish that keep to cover.

They do better in cooler, room-temperature water than in tropical heat, so hold the temperature at 64 to 77°F (18 to 25°C). Keep the water soft to neutral, at a pH of 6.5 to 7.5.

Feed small live and frozen foods such as baby brine shrimp, daphnia and micro worms. This picky micropredator often ignores dried food.

Eyespot gouramis are peaceful but easily intimidated. Keep them on their own or with equally calm, small fish, and avoid fast feeders. They build bubble nests, and breeding them is hard.

Good to know

Parasphaerichthys ocellatus was described by Prashad and Mukerji in 1929 and belongs to the family Osphronemidae. It looks like a small chocolate gourami but sits in a separate genus. It carries a dark eyespot near the base of the tail. It is also sold as the ocellated gourami.

In the wild

Eyespot gouramis come from the upper Ayeyarwady basin of northern Myanmar, including Lake Indawgyi. They live in still and slow, heavily planted waters such as swamps and the margins of the lake. These northern waters can run cool, so the fish live at subtropical rather than tropical temperatures.

Common questions

What size tank does an eyespot gourami need?

An eyespot gourami needs at least 12 gal (45 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.

What temperature and pH does an eyespot gourami need?

An eyespot gourami is comfortable at 64–77°F (18–25°C) with a pH of 6.5–7.5.

What does an eyespot gourami eat?

An eyespot gourami eats small live and frozen foods, such as baby brine shrimp, daphnia and micro worms. It is a picky micropredator and often ignores dried food.

How big does an eyespot gourami get?

An adult eyespot gourami reaches about 1.4 in (3.5 cm).

How does an eyespot gourami breed?

An eyespot gourami builds a bubble nest. Breeding it is hard.

Related species