Pearl gourami

Trichopodus leerii

FreshwaterFish

Care at a glance

Temperature: 75–86°F (24–30°C)
pH: 6.0–7.5
Adult size: 4.7 in (12 cm)
Minimum tank: 30 gal (115 L)
Temperament: Peaceful
Social behavior: Social
Swim level: Middle
Difficulty: Easy
Breeding: Medium
Rarity: Common
Origin: Malaysia, Thailand, Sumatra
Family: Osphronemidae

Overview

A peaceful, social fish that sits in the middle and upper water. Keep a group, ideally with more females than males, in a tank of at least 115 liters. Aim for mid to high 20s C and a pH from about 6 to 7.5. They eat flake, small pellets, and frozen foods like bloodworms and brine shrimp, and they get along with most calm community tankmates.

In the wild

Pearl gouramis come from slow, heavily planted lowland waters in Malaysia, Thailand, and Sumatra, often soft and a bit acidic. Set the tank up to match that, with dense planting, some floating cover up top, and calm flow. They use the surface to breathe air, so leave a gap between the water line and the lid.

Good to know

This is a member of the Osphronemidae, the gourami and betta family. Adults reach about 12 cm. They are bubble nest builders, with the male building a nest at the surface and guarding the eggs and fry. With good care they commonly live 4 to 5 years.

Did you know

Pearl gouramis have long, threadlike pelvic fins they use almost like feelers, touching objects and tankmates as they move around. The fins are sensitive to taste and touch, so the fish is basically feeling its way through the tank.