Croaking Gourami
Trichopsis vittata
Osphronemidae
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About
The croaking gourami is a 6-7 cm labyrinth fish from the still, heavily vegetated swamps, ditches and rice paddies of Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Sumatra, Borneo and Java. It is the larger cousin of the sparkling gourami and shares its party trick: a specialised pectoral-fin mechanism, unique in the family, that produces audible croaks during squabbles and purring sounds while spawning — loud enough to hear across a quiet room. Peaceful, slow-moving and genuinely undemanding, it is a proper community fish rather than a project, provided the tank is planted, gently filtered and free of anything boisterous.
Care
Keep six or more in a planted 80 cm tank at 24-27 °C with soft, slightly acidic water, gentle flow and floating cover. Seriously Fish sizes 60 x 30 x 30 cm for a single pair and says a group needs more, which is why the gate here is a tank longer than the one you will see quoted. As an air-breather it needs a warm, humid air layer under a close-fitting lid. Peaceful with other calm community fish; avoid fin-nippers, fast feeders and anything large enough to intimidate it.
Diet
Micropredator taking zooplankton, crustaceans and insect larvae; small live and frozen foods keep colour and condition, with dry foods accepted over time.
Tankmate compatibility
Gets along with (209)
Possible with care (162)
Avoid (47)
Computed by the AquaSage engine for a spacious reference tank — always check the full verdict for your exact setup in the calculator.
Telling males from females
What works for this species, most reliable first.
- Dorsal fin shapeStrong · from about 4 months
In most gouramis the dorsal fin ends differently between the sexes, and it can be read from outside the glass without touching the fish.
- The ovipositorStrong · from about 4 months
A small white tube at the vent, just behind the ventral fins, visible on a mature female from below or head-on. It reads as a single white dot.
- Extended finsA hint only · from about 8 months, and later in a suppressed male
On many cichlids and killifish the male's dorsal and anal fins draw out into trailing points as he matures, while the female's stay rounded.
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Frequently asked questions
- What tank size does a Croaking Gourami need?
- A Croaking Gourami needs an aquarium of at least 90 litres (23.8 US gallons) with a footprint at least 80 cm (31.5 in) long — for this species, swimming length matters as much as raw volume.
- What water parameters does a Croaking Gourami need?
- Croaking Gourami does best at 22–28 °C (71.6–82.4 °F), pH 5–7.5 and a general hardness of 1–15 °dGH.
- What group size does a Croaking Gourami need?
- Croaking Gourami is a social species — keep a group of at least 6 so natural behaviour emerges and stress stays low.
- Is the Croaking Gourami suitable for beginners?
- Yes — Croaking Gourami is one of the easier species to keep and forgives typical first-tank mistakes, as long as the aquarium is cycled and maintained.