Three Spot Gourami

Scientific Name

Trichogaster trichopterus

Type

Gouramis

Family

Osphronemidae

Subfamily

Trichogasterinae (sometimes Trichogastrinae), Belontiidae

Other Names

• Blue Gourami
• Opaline Gourami
• Opal Gourami
• Cosby Gourami
• Golden Gourami
• Silver Gourami
• Two Spot Gourami
• Platinum Gourami
• Lavender Gourami
• Amethyst Gourami
• Brown Gourami
• Hairfin Gourami

Minimum Tank Size

20-gallon

Tank Level

Top, mid-dweller

Care

Easy, hardy

Behavior

Peaceful, especially with other larger fish. Have been known to attack smaller fish if they are kept in a tank that is too small. Males can get territorial with other male gourami.

Compatibility

Does well with Asian bottom fish (loaches, catfish) and calm barbs, danios and rasboras. One male per tank as males are highly territorial, unless the tank is large enough for both males to have their space.

Life Span

4 years

Size

Up to 6" (15cm), but usually smaller.

Aquarium

Large covered, planted tank with some floating plants. Gentle water circulation with central open area.

Water Chemistry

Freshwater, soft to slightly hard

pH

6.0 - 8.8

Hardness

5 - 35 dGH

Temperature

72° - 82° F (22° - 28° C)

Feeding

Omnivore (animal that eats both meat and vegetables), eats most foods. Flake foods (green flakes) various live and frozen foods. They are prized for feeding on hydra, which are small carnivorous animals from the phylum Cnidaria that can be introduced to a tank by feeding live food. Hydra look like small bags of tentacles.

Sexing

Males and females differ in the shape of the dorsal fin. In males it is long and pointed and in females it is shorter and more rounded.

Breeding

Egg layer—bubblenest builder, prefer soft slightly acidic water when in breeding season

Origin

Southeast Asia

Extras

Their colors can change with their moods. Blue gouramis are deeper blue during spawning. Although they have the name, "Three Spot," they actually only have two spots on each side. The third spot is actually their eye. The cosby and opaline hybrids lack the spots and the darker blue marbling.