Seven-banded giant gourami

Osphronemus septemfasciatus

Also known as Red kaloi, Giant red gourami, Sevenbar giant gourami

FreshwaterFish

Care at a glance

Temperature: 72–82°F (22–28°C)
pH: 6.0–7.5
Adult size: 19.7 in (50 cm)
Minimum tank: 264 gal (1,000 L)
Temperament: Mostly peaceful
Social behavior: Solitary
Swim level: Middle
Difficulty: Medium
Breeding: Hard
Rarity: Very rare
Origin: Endemic to Borneo, in the large slow rivers of Sarawak, Brunei, and Kalimantan.
Family: Osphronemidae

Overview

This is a monster fish that commonly reaches 50 cm and can grow larger, so it needs a very large aquarium of 1000 litres or more, realistically a heated indoor pond for adults. Keep it at 22 to 28 C with a pH of 6.0 to 7.5 and powerful filtration. It is mostly peaceful but becomes territorial in tight quarters, so pair it only with other large, sturdy fish. Feed an omnivorous mix of vegetables, pellets, and some meaty foods.

In the wild

Lives in the main channels of big, slow rivers, with juveniles also using larger tributaries. The water is often soft and tannin-stained where it flows through peat and forest. It is an obligate air-breather that must reach the surface to breathe. It grows into a genuinely huge fish.

Good to know

Osphronemus septemfasciatus is a giant gourami in the family Osphronemidae, named for the seven dark bars it keeps throughout life. Most sold are juveniles, but the species is recorded at over 70 cm and more than 20 kg in the wild. It is one of four recognized Osphronemus species.