Giant red tail gourami

Care at a glance

Overview

This is a tank-buster that grows to about 50 cm, so an adult needs a very large aquarium of at least 1000 litres, ideally a custom tank or an indoor pond. Keep it at 20 to 30 C with a pH of 6.5 to 8.0 and strong filtration. It is mostly peaceful and can share space with other large fish like big catfish and knifefish, but a cramped tank makes it aggressive. Feed a mostly vegetable diet of blanched greens, pellets, and fruit, with occasional meaty foods.

In the wild

Inhabits big, slow rivers and connected pools where adults grow very large. It is an obligate air-breather that comes to the surface to take in atmospheric air. Young fish shelter among cover while adults patrol open water. The species tolerates a range of water conditions but needs clean, well-filtered water in captivity.

Good to know

Osphronemus laticlavius belongs to the family Osphronemidae and reaches around 50 cm in length. Adults develop striking red coloration in the fins and tail, which sets them apart from the plain giant gourami Osphronemus goramy. It is largely herbivorous despite its size.

Did you know

Because it is a voracious plant eater, live aquarium plants rarely survive in its tank.

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