🐠Gourami: gear and buying guides

Gouramis, such as the pearl or blue gourami, are labyrinth fish that breathe air at the surface. Calm but sometimes territorial between males, they need a planted tank of at least 100 L, heated between 24 and 28 °C, with a still surface and temperate air above the water. Their slow swimming calls for quiet tankmates.

Profile : 8 to 12 cm as an adult depending on the species, 100 L minimum, water between 24 and 28 °C.

Species profile

Lifespan

4 to 6 years

Adult size

12 cm

Minimum tank

100 L

Water temperature

24 to 28 °C

pH

6 to 7.5

Temperament

Calm and composed but territorial between males, it enjoys a still surface and quiet tankmates.

Health watch

white spot disease in stressed fish · gourami disease (Iridovirus) in fragile strains

🩺 The health watchpoints on this page are for information only: only a veterinarian can examine your animal and make a diagnosis.

Gourami gear, family by family

• 🍖 Food

  An omnivore: floating flakes and pellets as a staple, with brine shrimp, daphnia and some plant matter. It also hunts small insects fallen onto the surface.

• 🧴 Care & grooming

  Soft to moderately hard, slightly acidic to neutral water with a 20 to 25 percent weekly change. A lid keeps the air above the water warm and humid, essential for its labyrinth organ.

• 🎾 Toys & enrichment

  Floating plants such as water lettuce soften the light and support the males' bubble nests. Dense plant cover lets females escape persistent courtship.

• 🏠 Bedding & habitat

  A tank of at least 100 L, richly planted, with almost no surface current. Keep a single male per medium-sized tank to avoid territorial fights.

• 🧳 Travel & safety

  Bag transport with a generous volume of air, essential since it breathes at the surface. Keep the bag warm and acclimate gently for 30 minutes.

• 🧰 Accessories

  An adjustable-flow filter angled to keep the surface calm, a 100 to 150 W heater and a full lid. Around 130 to 220 euros of equipment for a 100 to 150 L tank.

Guides to read

• Community aquarium or species-only tank: which is right for a first setup?Bedding & habitat

  Community aquarium or species-only tank: pros, cohabitation risks and advice for choosing how to set up your first aquarium.

• Best easy aquarium plants without CO2 for beginnersToys & enrichment

  Which aquarium plants can you choose without CO2 injection? A selection of hardy, easy plants for a beginner's planted tank.

• Budget for a first brackish water aquarium: the real cost to get startedBedding & habitat

  How much does a first brackish water aquarium cost? Tank, filtration, salt and salinity monitoring, budgeted item by item.

• Changing filter media too often: the mistake that wrecks your aquarium's cycleCare & grooming

  Why you should never replace all your filter media at once: nitrifying bacteria, replacement frequency and the right habits.

• Restarting a neglected aquarium: a step-by-step guideCare & grooming

  How do you restart an aquarium that's been left neglected without endangering the fish? Steps, water changes and mistakes to avoid.

• GH, KH and pH: understanding and adjusting aquarium water hardnessCare & grooming

  GH, KH, pH: what do these three readings actually measure, and how do you adjust aquarium water hardness without stressing the fish?

• Upgrading to a bigger aquarium: moving your fish without the stressBedding & habitat

  How do you upgrade to a bigger aquarium without breaking the biological cycle or stressing your fish? Steps and mistakes to avoid.

• Aquarium electrical safety: GFCI protection and good habitsTravel & safety

  Heater, filter, lighting near the water: what electrical precautions keep an aquarium safe for fish and people?