TankBud

Variety of Three spot gourami

Opaline gourami

Trichopodus trichopterus

One of 3 varieties of Trichopodus trichopterus · See all varieties →

FreshwaterFish

Opaline gourami (Trichopodus trichopterus)
The Wet Spot Tropical Fish · Used with permission

Varieties · Trichopodus trichopterus

See all 3 →

Care at a glance

Temperature
75–86°F
24–30°C
pH
6.0–7.5
Adult size
5.1 in
13 cm
Minimum tank
30 gal
115 L
Temperament
Mostly peaceful
Social behavior
Social
Swim level
Middle
Diet
Omnivore
Difficulty
Easy
Breeding
Bubble nester · Medium
Rarity
Rare
Family
Osphronemidae

Overview

The opaline gourami has swirled dark marbling over a blue-silver body in place of the two body spots. Stores also sell it as the marbled or cosby gourami. It is easy to keep and a good first fish.

Did you know

The opaline gourami's species is named for three spots, two on the body and the eye as the third. On an opaline the body spots are lost in the marbling, so the eye is the only spot left.

Caring for the opaline gourami

Set up a planted tank of at least 30 gal (115 L) for an opaline gourami, with floating cover and a soft substrate. Keep the water calm. Opaline gouramis breathe air at the surface like other labyrinth fish, so keep a warm, humid gap under the lid.

Hold the water at 75 to 86°F (24 to 30°C) with a pH of 6.0 to 7.5. Offer a varied diet of flake or pellet, frozen bloodworm and brine shrimp, and some greens.

An opaline gourami does fine alone, as a pair or in a small group. It is mostly peaceful and generally mixes well with community fish. It cruises the middle and upper water, feeling around with its long, thread-like pelvic fins. Adult males can turn territorial, so give them plenty of space and cover, and watch for bullying.

Males carry a pointed dorsal fin. They build a bubble nest and guard the brood, and breeding opaline gouramis is of medium difficulty.

Good to know

The opaline gourami's marbling comes from dark pigment spreading unevenly instead of gathering into the two flank spots. The pattern is individual to each fish, and shops rarely grade them, so pick by eye. Opaline pairs give opaline fry, but the exact markings are not repeatable from one generation to the next. Body shape and finnage are unchanged, and only the pigment layout differs.

In the wild

The opaline's marbled pattern was bred from the blue three-spot in captivity and does not occur in wild fish. Hobby references trace it through a strain called the cosby gourami, credited to an American breeder named Cosby. That strain is described as a silver-blue fish carrying darker blue markings. The opaline was developed on from there, and the sources repeating that account attach no date to it.

Weekly picks

Tank mates

The opaline gourami is a mostly peaceful, social species that keeps to the middle. These picks share a community profile with it, are safe together in both directions, and overlap on water type, temperature and pH.

Check the full mix in the stocking calculator

Common questions

Is an opaline gourami a different species from the three spot gourami?

No. An opaline gourami is a variety of the three spot gourami, Trichopodus trichopterus, and it wants the same tank, water and food as the species.

What size tank does an opaline gourami need?

An opaline gourami needs at least 30 gal (115 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.

What does an opaline gourami eat?

An opaline gourami eats flake or pellet foods with frozen bloodworm and brine shrimp. Add some greens for a varied diet.

How big does an opaline gourami get?

An adult opaline gourami reaches about 5.1 in (13 cm).

How can you tell a male opaline gourami from a female?

Males have a pointed dorsal fin.

How does an opaline gourami breed?

Male opaline gouramis build a bubble nest and guard the brood. Breeding them is of medium difficulty.

Related species