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Frail gourami

Ctenops nobilis

Also known as Noble gourami, Indian gourami, Frail mouthbrooding gourami

FreshwaterFish

Frail gourami (Ctenops nobilis)
The Wet Spot Tropical Fish · Used with permission

Care at a glance

Temperature
68–79°F
20–26°C
pH
6.0–7.5
Adult size
3.9 in
10 cm
Minimum tank
24 gal
90 L
Temperament
Mostly peaceful
Social behavior
Solitary
Tankmates
With caution
Swim level
Middle
Diet
Carnivore
Difficulty
Difficult
Breeding
Mouthbrooder · Hard
Rarity
Very rare
Family
Osphronemidae
Origin
Northeastern India, Bangladesh, and Nepal, in clear, slow streams of the Ganges and Brahmaputra basins.

Overview

The frail gourami is a delicate and demanding fish for a quiet, dim tank. It is best left to experienced keepers.

Did you know

The frail gourami is one of the very few gouramis that broods its eggs in the mouth.

Caring for the frail gourami

Give a frail gourami a mature, densely planted tank of at least 24 gal (90 L), with dim light and plenty of cover. It is prone to disease and stress and suffers badly from rough shipping and poor water quality. Pristine water and a quiet setup are essential.

Keep the water soft, at 68 to 79°F (20 to 26°C) and a pH of 6.0 to 7.5. Feed small live and frozen foods such as daphnia, artemia and bloodworm. It is a picky micropredator and rarely takes dried food.

Frail gouramis are mostly peaceful but delicate and retiring, and they hide among plants and cover. Adults can be openly hostile to their own kind, so give them plenty of space or keep a single fish. Choose any tank mates with caution.

The male broods the eggs and fry in his mouth for one to three weeks, until they can swim free. Breeding them is hard.

Good to know

Ctenops nobilis was described by McClelland in 1845 and belongs to the family Osphronemidae. It is also sold as the noble gourami or Indian gourami.

In the wild

Frail gouramis live in clear, slow, shaded streams and pools with dense marginal vegetation. They come from the Ganges and Brahmaputra basins in northeastern India, Bangladesh and Nepal. The water is soft and can turn cool during the season, reflecting the subtropical foothill range.

Common questions

What size tank does a frail gourami need?

A frail gourami needs at least 24 gal (90 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.

What temperature and pH does a frail gourami need?

A frail gourami is comfortable at 68–79°F (20–26°C) with a pH of 6.0–7.5.

What does a frail gourami eat?

A frail gourami eats small live and frozen foods, such as daphnia, artemia and bloodworm. It is a picky micropredator that rarely takes dried food.

How big does a frail gourami get?

An adult frail gourami reaches about 3.9 in (10 cm).

How does a frail gourami breed?

Frail gouramis are mouthbrooders. The male holds the eggs and fry in his mouth for one to three weeks, until they can swim free, and breeding is hard.

Related species