Sharpnose chocolate gourami
Sphaerichthys acrostoma
Also known as Giant chocolate gourami, Pointed-mouth chocolate gourami, Sharp-nosed chocolate gourami, Sharp nose chocolate gourami
FreshwaterFish
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 72–79°F
- 22–26°C
- pH
- 4.0–6.5
- Adult size
- 2.8 in
- 7 cm
- Minimum tank
- 24 gal
- 90 L
- Temperament
- Peaceful
- Social behavior
- Social
- Tankmates
- With caution
- Swim level
- Middle
- Diet
- Carnivore
- Difficulty
- Difficult
- Breeding
- Mouthbrooder · Hard
- Rarity
- Very rare
- Family
- Osphronemidae
- Origin
- Mentaya River drainage in Central Kalimantan, Borneo, in acidic blackwater habitats.
Overview
The sharpnose chocolate gourami is a peaceful, retiring gourami for a dim blackwater tank. It is a fish for experienced keepers.
Did you know
In the sharpnose chocolate gourami, the father does the mouthbrooding. Its relative, the crossband chocolate gourami, leaves the brooding to the female.
Caring for the sharpnose chocolate gourami
Keep a group of sharpnose chocolate gouramis in a blackwater tank of at least 24 gal (90 L). Give them plenty of leaf litter and dim light.
Keep the water very soft and acidic, at 72 to 79°F (22 to 26°C) and a pH of 4.0 to 6.5. They prefer slightly cooler water than most blackwater fish, so avoid high temperatures. Feed small live and frozen foods such as baby brine shrimp, daphnia and bloodworm. They are fussy micropredators that often refuse dried food.
Keep them in a quiet species tank or with very calm tank mates. The sharpnose chocolate gourami is a paternal mouthbrooder, and the male carries the eggs and fry in his mouth. Breeding them is hard.
Good to know
Sphaerichthys acrostoma is a member of the family Osphronemidae and the biggest of the chocolate gouramis. Its pointed, elongated snout and larger size set it apart from the other Sphaerichthys species.
In the wild
The sharpnose chocolate gourami comes from soft, acidic, tannin-stained blackwater in the Mentaya River drainage of Central Kalimantan, Borneo. It lives among cover in shaded forest waters, keeping to leaf litter and submerged wood in dim conditions. The water is mineral-poor and often cooler than most tropical blackwater.
Common questions
What size tank does a sharpnose chocolate gourami need?
A sharpnose chocolate gourami needs at least 24 gal (90 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.
What temperature and pH does a sharpnose chocolate gourami need?
A sharpnose chocolate gourami is comfortable at 72–79°F (22–26°C) with a pH of 4.0–6.5.
What does a sharpnose chocolate gourami eat?
A sharpnose chocolate gourami eats small live and frozen foods, such as baby brine shrimp, daphnia and bloodworm. It is a fussy micropredator that often refuses dried food.
How big does a sharpnose chocolate gourami get?
An adult sharpnose chocolate gourami reaches about 2.8 in (7 cm).
How does a sharpnose chocolate gourami breed?
A sharpnose chocolate gourami is a paternal mouthbrooder, and the male carries the eggs and fry in his mouth. Breeding it is hard.
Related species
2.2 in (5.5 cm)20 gal (75 L)70–77°F (21–25°C)Vaillant's chocolate gourami
Sphaerichthys vaillanti
2.2 in (5.5 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)
2 in (5 cm)17 gal (65 L)79–88°F (26–31°C)Chocolate gourami
Sphaerichthys osphromenoides
2 in (5 cm) · 17 gal (65 L)
1.8 in (4.5 cm)16 gal (60 L)79–86°F (26–30°C)Crossband chocolate gourami
Sphaerichthys selatanensis
1.8 in (4.5 cm) · 16 gal (60 L)
2.8 in (7 cm)18 gal (67 L)72–82°F (22–28°C)Croaking gourami
Trichopsis vittata
2.8 in (7 cm) · 18 gal (67 L)
2.8 in (7 cm)16 gal (60 L)72–82°F (22–28°C)Pugnax betta
Betta pugnax
2.8 in (7 cm) · 16 gal (60 L)
2.8 in (7 cm)26 gal (100 L)72–81°F (22–27°C)Raja betta
Betta raja
2.8 in (7 cm) · 26 gal (100 L)