Threestripe croaking gourami
Trichopsis schalleri
Also known as Three-striped croaking gourami, Schaller's croaking gourami, Schaller's gourami, Giant Sparkling Gourami
FreshwaterFish
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 72–82°F
- 22–28°C
- pH
- 6.0–7.5
- Adult size
- 2 in
- 5 cm
- Minimum tank
- 12 gal
- 45 L
- Temperament
- Peaceful
- Social behavior
- Social
- Swim level
- Middle
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Breeding
- Medium
- Rarity
- Rare
- Family
- Osphronemidae
- Origin
- Mekong and Chao Phraya river basins of Thailand and Laos, in still and slow-moving waters with plenty of plants.
Overview
A group is happy in a 45 litre planted tank at 22 to 28 C with a pH of 6.0 to 7.5. Feed small live and frozen foods such as daphnia, artemia, and micro worm, moving on to fine dried foods once settled. It is peaceful and works in a nano community with small rasboras and pygmy corydoras. Provide floating plants and calm water so it can build bubble nests.
In the wild
Occupies sluggish ditches, marshes, and floodplain pools that are warm, still, and rich in vegetation. It stays among plant stems and floating cover in the upper half of the water. Like other labyrinth fish it gulps air, so it copes in low-oxygen conditions. The water is usually soft and slightly acidic.
Good to know
Trichopsis schalleri was described by Ladiges in 1962 and belongs to the family Osphronemidae. It is the middle-sized croaking gourami, larger than the pygmy Trichopsis pumila but smaller than Trichopsis vittata. Both sexes can make an audible croaking sound using specialized pectoral fin tendons.
Did you know
The croaking sound it makes during courtship and squabbles is loud enough to be heard from outside the tank.
Weekly picks
Tank mates
Threestripe croaking gourami is a 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.
Sicklefin livebearer
Girardinus falcatus
Freshwater2.6 in (6.5 cm) · 11 gal (40 L)68–82°F (20–28°C)
Bamboo shrimp
Atyopsis moluccensis
Freshwater3.9 in (10 cm) · 13 gal (50 L)72–84°F (22–29°C)
Wandering snail
Ampullaceana balthica
Freshwater0.8 in (2 cm) · 11 gal (40 L)50–84°F (10–29°C)
Dwarf thorny catfish
Physopyxis lyra
Freshwater1.4 in (3.5 cm) · 11 gal (40 L)73–82°F (23–28°C)
Green neon rasbora
Microdevario kubotai
Freshwater0.8 in (2 cm) · 12 gal (45 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)
Green panchax
Aplocheilus blockii
Freshwater2 in (5 cm) · 11 gal (40 L)72–82°F (22–28°C)
Common questions
What size tank does a Threestripe croaking gourami need?
A Threestripe croaking gourami needs at least 12 gal (45 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.
What temperature and pH does a Threestripe croaking gourami need?
A Threestripe croaking gourami is comfortable at 72–82°F (22–28°C) with a pH of 6.0–7.5.
How big does a Threestripe croaking gourami get?
An adult Threestripe croaking gourami reaches about 2 in (5 cm).
Related species
1.6 in (4 cm)15 gal (55 L)72–82°F (22–28°C)Pygmy gourami
Trichopsis pumila
1.6 in (4 cm) · 15 gal (55 L)
2.8 in (7 cm)25 gal (95 L)72–82°F (22–28°C)Croaking gourami
Trichopsis vittata
2.8 in (7 cm) · 25 gal (95 L)
2 in (5 cm)16 gal (60 L)72–81°F (22–27°C)Balunga betta
Betta balunga
2 in (5 cm) · 16 gal (60 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)
2 in (5 cm)20 gal (75 L)72–82°F (22–28°C)Honey gourami
Trichogaster chuna
2 in (5 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)
2 in (5 cm)12 gal (45 L)72–82°F (22–28°C)Ornate paradisefish
Malpulutta kretseri
2 in (5 cm) · 12 gal (45 L)