TankBud

Giant gourami

Osphronemus goramy

FreshwaterFish

Giant gourami (Osphronemus goramy)
George Chernilevsky · Public domain

Care at a glance

Temperature
68–86°F
20–30°C
pH
6.5–7.5
Adult size
27.6 in
70 cm
Minimum tank
180 gal
680 L
Temperament
Mostly peaceful
Social behavior
Social
Tankmates
With caution
Swim level
Middle
Diet
Omnivore
Difficulty
Medium
Breeding
No record
Rarity
Very rare
Family
Osphronemidae
Origin
South East Asia

Overview

The giant gourami is a huge, slow-moving fish that needs enormous space. It suits a keeper with a little experience and a very large tank.

Did you know

Many giant gouramis become tame enough to take food from their keeper's hand.

Caring for the giant gourami

Plan on a tank of at least 180 gal (680 L) for a giant gourami, and realistically much more for a mature adult. It is not fussy about decor. Smooth wood, a soft substrate and robust or artificial plants suit it, since it may nibble soft greenery. As an air-breather, it needs a warm, humid gap under the lid.

Keep the water at 68 to 86°F (20 to 30°C) and a pH of 6.5 to 7.5. Its sheer size calls for strong filtration and generous water changes. Feed a varied diet of pellets, vegetables, fruit and occasional meaty foods, since adults eat a lot of plant matter.

Young giant gouramis can live in a group, but adults are usually housed singly or as a pair. A full-grown fish is too big for most community tanks. It is mostly peaceful for its size but will eat small fish, so choose large, robust tank mates. It cruises the middle of the tank and surfaces to breathe and to beg for food.

Giant gouramis build a large nest from plant material rather than a simple bubble nest, and both parents may tend the young. Home breeding is seldom recorded because of the space it needs.

Good to know

The giant gourami is the largest member of the gourami family Osphronemidae and among the largest of all labyrinth fish. It can live for two decades or more. Young fish have a pointed snout and bold banding, while old adults develop a heavy, deep body and a pronounced, almost humped forehead. It is widely farmed and is an important food and pond fish across much of Southeast Asia.

In the wild

The giant gourami is native to Southeast Asia. It lives in warm, slow or still fresh waters, such as large rivers, lakes and swamps.

Common questions

What size tank does a giant gourami need?

A giant gourami needs at least 180 gal (680 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.

What temperature and pH does a giant gourami need?

A giant gourami is comfortable at 68–86°F (20–30°C) with a pH of 6.5–7.5.

What does a giant gourami eat?

A giant gourami eats a varied diet of pellets, vegetables, fruit and occasional meaty foods. Adults eat a lot of plant matter.

How big does a giant gourami get?

An adult giant gourami reaches about 27.6 in (70 cm).

How does a giant gourami breed?

Giant gouramis build a large nest from plant material instead of a simple bubble nest, and both parents may tend the young. Breeding at home is seldom recorded, because of the space required.

Related species