The process of setting up an aquarium can be very exciting, particularly when deciding which fish to include in your underwater paradise. Among the many interesting choices, gouramis are particularly noteworthy for their beauty and diversity. These fish are a popular option for both novice and seasoned aquarists due to their wide variety of colors and sizes.
Gouramis are renowned for their distinct personality and charm. They are perfect for community tanks since they have a unique way of interacting with their surroundings and many species are fairly peaceful. There is a gourami type to fit every taste and aquarium setup, from the brilliant colors of the Pearl Gourami to the striking appearance of the Dwarf Gourami.
This post will discuss the various gourami species that can liven up and brighten your aquarium. We’ll talk about their unique characteristics, maintenance needs, and interactions with other fish. Guramis are a fantastic addition that can improve your aquatic world, whether you’re setting up a new tank or trying to diversify your current one.
Gourami Type | Description |
Pearl Gourami | These gouramis have a beautiful pearly sheen and are known for their peaceful nature. They do well in community tanks with other calm fish. |
Betta Gourami | Also known as Betta fish, they are vibrant and can be territorial. They are best kept alone or with very peaceful tank mates. |
Dwarf Gourami | Small and colorful, dwarf gouramis add a splash of color and are relatively easy to care for. They thrive in a well-planted tank. |
Moonlight Gourami | Named for their moon-like appearance, these gouramis are peaceful and get along well with other fish. They prefer slightly acidic water. |
Giant Gourami | These gouramis are much larger and need a spacious tank. They are hardy and can adapt to various water conditions. |
Adding a range of gourami species to an aquarium can result in a lively and dynamic aquatic setting. Gouramis come in a variety of varieties, each of which adds something special to the tank. They are well-known for their striking colors and intriguing behaviors. You may create an aesthetically pleasing and peaceful underwater environment that flourishes with the diversity of these endearing fish by investigating the various gourami species, from the more striking and active species to the more peaceful dwarf varieties.
- Gourami varieties
- Brown
- Lunar
- Pearl
- Platinum
- Rainbow
- Honey
- Spotted
- Blue
- Golden
- Marbled
- Yellow-red
- White
- Dwarf
- Kissing
- Chocolate
- Grumbling
- Tiger
- Vaillant
- Giant
- Compatibility of different representatives in one aquarium
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Gourami varieties
There are numerous gourami species in the wild, each with unique colors, sizes, and traits. Furthermore, numerous novel varieties of labyrinths were created during the selection process.
Brown
The Brown Gourami, also referred to as the Snake-like, is one of the biggest thread-bearers. This species can grow up to 30 cm in length in the wild, but aquarium specimens are only about 15 cm long, or two times shorter.
Southeast Asia includes Cambodia, Vietnam, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Indonesia as its habitat.
The elongated body with silvery scales is one of the brown gourami’s distinctive characteristics. The entire body is covered in a ribbon of black spots with transverse light stripes running through them. The fish’s scales have an odd pattern that makes them look like snake skin.
Lunar
The lunar gourami, which is marginally smaller than the brown gourami, stands out for its incredible beauty.
Qualities that define this species:
- small silver scales with a bluish tint;
- red-orange eyes;
- long orange whiskers on the male and yellow on the female.
The fish appear to be glowing like moonlight because of their peculiar coloring.
Moon gourami are prized for their aesthetic appeal as well as their capacity to maintain the pond’s cleanliness.
Pearl
A similarly vibrant Trichogaster species known as Pearl prefers to reside in the reservoirs of Borneo, Malaysia, and Thailand. The fish’s original color led to the naming of this species.
The gourami’s body is coated in silvery-purple scales that are dotted with pearlescent dots that resemble real pearls. An uneven dark border is formed by numerous dots that run along the body.
In an artificial reservoir, pearl fish can grow up to 10–12 cm, but in the wild, they can grow up to 15 cm.
Use 30C water when breeding pearl gourami in an artificial reservoir.
In addition to size, males and females have different neck colors—males’ are reddish, while females’ are orange-tinted.
Platinum
The platinum gourami is one of the artificially bred selection morphs. There are no fish like these in the wild.
Resemble the wild ancestor in appearance but are different in color. Platinum individuals have an elongated body covered in snow-white scales that shimmer with silver and gold. The tail section has distinctive dark markings.
The lifespan of platinum fish is only four years, compared to other species’ lifespans.
Rainbow
The rainbow gourami, the most colorful member of the Trichogaster genus, is located close to the Java and Sumatra islands. Fish that are 8 cm long and have a silvery-brown body with blue, red, and orange undertones are known for their multicolored appearance.
Male aggression toward females does not always result in serious harm.
Males take care of the fertilized eggs during spawning because they don’t trust the female to do so.
Because of their similar colors, rainbow gourami and laliuses are frequently confused.
Honey
The Honey gourami is a type of labyrinth fish that grows to a maximum size of 5–6 cm, making it one of the smallest and most graceful varieties. This species is native to northeastern India.
Young fish can be identified by their longitudinal chocolate stripe and silvery-brown color. Adults become honey-colored, and when they spawn, they turn bright red.
Spotted
Spotted fish have two dark spots on each side of their silvery, purple-tinted body.
This species is also known as the common gourami, and it can grow up to 13 cm. Blue, marble, and gold are some of the color morphs that breeders have created based on it.
Blue
The blue gourami can be identified by its vivid blue scales. The abdomen is striped in barely perceptible places. There are two black spots on each side of the body, one on the tail and one in the middle.
There are tiny, silver-colored dots all over the fins’ surface. Every single person is no longer than eight or ten centimeters.
Golden
It took several trials to cross-breed various gourami species to produce a fish with a golden body color. Additionally, the entire body is covered in transverse stripes in a variety of shades. Its body is covered in dark markings, just like that of its wild ancestor.
Solar people are occasionally referred to as golden people. Pets may have a maximum size of 14–15 cm.
Marbled
Due to its distinctive color, the American breeder of the breed named it the marble gourami. Black dots mixed with silver-blue scales create an eye-catching pattern that looks like marble.
The anal, dorsal, and caudal fins are speckled with numerous yellowish specks and painted in dark gray shades.
A pet can reach a maximum size of 15 cm when kept in a roomy container.
Aquarists are drawn to this particular type of thread-bearer due to its unusual appearance as well as its ability to withstand infectious diseases.
Yellow-red
The yellow-red gourami is a subspecies of the spotted Trichogaster that inhabits Thailand and Bombay.
The fish resembles gold and honey individuals from the outside. A vivid red stripe that crosses the anal fin sets it apart from the gold one. The yellow-red gourami is less placid and has bigger dimensions (about 14–15 cm) than the honey gourami.
White
The white gourami, a fish native to Malaysia, is named for its consistent white-silver color. The height of white individuals in an artificial reservoir is 14–17 cm.
The fish is incredibly busy, building nests and tending to their plants. tries to remain near the water’s surface.
Dwarf
Fish that are too small to be in aquariums—those that are longer than 4 cm—are uncommon. This species is called Pumila, which translates to "dwarf," due to its diminutive stature.
The olive-green scales that cover the dwarf gourami’s body have a reddish-blue hue. The head to the tail is where the dark strip is located. Fins painted in bluish tones have dark patches all over them. The red stripe is bordered by the fins’ edges.
To ensure that dwarf individuals grow to their full potential, it should be a part of the fishing tubular moth diet.
Dwarf people resemble the females of roosters that fight.
Kissing
This kind of guri inhabits the reservoirs of East Asia and the island of Java. It is a member of the Helostoma genus.
The fish was given such a unique name because of its peculiar behavior. It appears that two people are kissing when they come into contact with each other’s lips. Because of the structure of the lips, which contains many horn teeth, this sensation is amplified. As a result, full, plump lips protrude forward, seemingly ready for a kiss.
The hues of kissing gourami range from pink to grayish-green to yellow. Occasionally, there are albinos among them.
Fish in aquariums reach a maximum size of 15–16 cm and have a lifespan of 6–8 years.
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Chocolate
The chocolate gourami, a member of the Spherichthys genus, is found in Hindustan, Sumatra Island, and the Maklaka Peninsula in Southeast Asia. This kind of fish is no longer than 6 centimeters. The pets’ bodies are painted in tones of dark brown, interspersed with lighter transverse stripes.
There are several distinctions between this kind of gourami and its counterparts. Their maintenance requirements are higher. Even though the fish are small, their aquarium needs to be fairly large. Furthermore, the maternal instinct is more developed in chocolate females. Unlike other species of labyrinth fish, which assign this role to the male, they take care of the young themselves.
Grumbling
Because of their grumbling sounds, labyrinth fish in the genus Trichopsis were given the fitting name, grumbling gourami. Males are primarily born with characteristic sounds that they make during mating season.
The growling gourami’s body is covered in brown scales that run along a longitudinal border and are yellow in color with a bluish-greenish tint. The eyes have a reddish-gold color. The fins may have black inclusions or be reddish, blue, or purple in color.
Small sizes (7-8 cm) are the defining characteristic of this type of gourami.
Tiger
Breeders created the new variety known as tiger by mating two different gourami varieties: marble and gold. The fish’s unusually colored abdomen gave rise to this name.
The body is a light brown color with dark stripes that resemble tiger skin. Tiger fish also have growths on their bodies that resemble wings. That’s why this species is frequently referred to as the flying gourami.
Vaillant
The male vaillant gourami is unique in that it mimics the females’ red and blue stripes with a gray hue. whose brightness serves as a gauge for the fish’s quality of life. not haphazard when it comes to upkeep and nutrition. 6 cm is the maximum length of the body.
Needs formal education.
Giant
The giant gourami is the largest species of labyrinth fish, growing up to 70 cm in the wild. Pets kept in captivity are no longer than 40 cm in length.
The fish’s scales are painted a silvery color. As one ages, dark stripes that run the length of the body fade.
A large container that holds more than 500 liters is needed to house a giant gourami. An equally large spawning tank is needed to breed this species.
Compatibility of different representatives in one aquarium
The majority of gourami representatives are serene and calm people. It is therefore preferable to pair them with fish that have a similar tranquil personality.
The following will be threadbearers’ ideal neighbors:
- neons;
- minors;
- rasboras;
- ancistrus;
- small cichlids;
- Corydoras.
You can keep honey, pearl, and dwarf labyrinth fish in one aquarium, and they won’t fight with one another. However, there are those threadbearers who stand out from the rest due to their animosity toward their family members. Blue, marble, and moon gourami, for instance. Adult males engage in conflict the most frequently. Consequently, it is advised to maintain a school with one male for every three to four female students.
Certain species’ members occasionally act aggressively toward smaller fish. particularly in a small aquarium. Relocating the fish to a larger tank and providing it with lots of shelters will help you solve the issue.
Every species of gourami is distinct. However, none of them will give the owners too much trouble when it comes to decorating the aquarium.
Adding a variety of gourami to your aquarium can create an underwater world with a striking array of colors and personalities. These adorable fish are available in a variety of sizes and forms, and they each bring something special to the aquatic environment. There is a gourami out there that will work well with your current setup or perhaps even serve as inspiration for a brand-new aquatic theme, ranging from the serene Pearl Gourami to the eye-catching Blue Gourami.
It’s crucial to take into account the unique requirements and behaviors of gourami when adding them to your tank. Despite their general peaceful nature, certain species may have distinct needs when it comes to their tank mates and surroundings. The Opaline Gourami can withstand a little bit more activity in the tank, whereas the Dwarf Gourami prefers a well-planted tank with a moderate water flow. Ensuring that your setup corresponds with their requirements will help maintain a peaceful habitat for all of your fish.
In addition to being stunning, gouramis are also highly social creatures that frequently exhibit intriguing habits like surface gulping and bubble nesting. It can be enjoyable to watch them as they investigate their environment and engage with one another. These fish can become the center of attention in your aquarium for many years to come if given the proper care, showcasing their vibrant colors and antics.
You can design an aquarium that is both beautiful and dynamic by carefully choosing and combining various species of gourami. Their diversity and distinctive qualities provide countless customization options. If you just keep in mind their particular requirements, you’ll be able to enjoy a vibrant, stunning aquarium kingdom that really stands out.