TankBud

Giant red tail gourami

Osphronemus laticlavius

Also known as Giant red fin gourami, Red-tail giant gourami, Red-fin giant gourami, Red giant gourami

FreshwaterFish

Giant red tail gourami (Osphronemus laticlavius)
Hectonichus · CC BY-SA 3.0

Care at a glance

Temperature
68–86°F
20–30°C
pH
6.5–8.0
Adult size
19.7 in
50 cm
Minimum tank
172 gal
650 L
Temperament
Mostly peaceful
Social behavior
Solitary
Tankmates
With caution
Swim level
Middle
Diet
Herbivore
Difficulty
Medium
Breeding
Hard
Rarity
Rare
Family
Osphronemidae
Origin
Rivers of Borneo, principally Sabah in Malaysia, in large slow-flowing waters.

Overview

The giant red tail gourami is a mostly peaceful tank-buster that needs a very large aquarium as an adult. It suits a keeper with a little experience.

Did you know

The giant red tail gourami is an obligate air-breather that comes to the surface to take in atmospheric air.

Caring for the giant red tail gourami

An adult giant red tail gourami needs at least 172 gal (650 L), ideally a custom tank or an indoor pond. It tolerates a range of water conditions, but it needs clean, well-filtered water, so run strong filtration.

Keep the water at 68 to 86°F (20 to 30°C) and a pH of 6.5 to 8.0. Feed a mostly vegetable diet of blanched greens, pellets and fruit, with occasional meaty foods. It is largely herbivorous despite its size, and such a voracious plant eater that live plants rarely survive in its tank.

Giant red tail gouramis are mostly peaceful and can share space with other large fish, such as big catfish and knifefish. A cramped tank makes them aggressive. Breeding them is hard.

Good to know

Osphronemus laticlavius belongs to the family Osphronemidae. Adults develop red coloration in the fins and tail, which sets them apart from the plain giant gourami, Osphronemus goramy. It is also sold as the giant red fin gourami.

In the wild

The giant red tail gourami comes from rivers of Borneo, mainly Sabah in Malaysia. It lives in big, slow rivers and connected pools, where adults grow very large. Young fish shelter among cover, while adults patrol open water.

Common questions

What size tank does a giant red tail gourami need?

A giant red tail gourami needs at least 172 gal (650 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.

What temperature and pH does a giant red tail gourami need?

A giant red tail gourami is comfortable at 68–86°F (20–30°C) with a pH of 6.5–8.0.

What does a giant red tail gourami eat?

A giant red tail gourami eats a mostly vegetable diet of blanched greens, pellets and fruit, with occasional meaty foods. It eats so many plants that live plants rarely survive in its tank.

How big does a giant red tail gourami get?

An adult giant red tail gourami reaches about 19.7 in (50 cm).

Related species