Moonlight Gourami
Trichopodus microlepis
Osphronemidae
About
The moonlight gourami is a large but notably gentle labyrinth fish from the slow, heavily vegetated ponds, swamps and floodplains of the lower Mekong in Cambodia, Thailand and Vietnam. Its silvery body shimmers with a soft moonlit sheen thanks to very fine scales, and mature fish trail long, thread-like ventral fins used to sense their surroundings. Shy and retiring by nature, it is calmer than the closely related three-spot gourami, though rival males may spar mildly. As an air-breather it must reach a warm, calm surface for atmospheric oxygen, so a tight lid and unchilled air gap above the water are essential.
Care
Keep as a single fish or a compatible pair in a spacious, well-planted 150 L+ tank at 24-30°C with soft to neutral water, gentle flow and a calm surface. Provide floating cover, peaceful tankmates and a tight lid for surface breathing.
Diet
Micropredatory omnivore that hunts small invertebrates, zooplankton and insect larvae; feed quality dry foods plus frequent frozen or live meaty foods and a little plant matter.
Tankmate compatibility
Gets along with (24)
Possible with care (159)
Avoid (88)
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 Moonlight Gourami need?
- A Moonlight Gourami needs an aquarium of at least 150 litres (39.6 US gallons) with a footprint at least 100 cm (39.4 in) long — for this species, swimming length matters as much as raw volume.
- What water parameters does a Moonlight Gourami need?
- Moonlight Gourami does best at 24–30 °C (75.2–86 °F), pH 6–7.5 and a general hardness of 2–25 °dGH.
- Is the Moonlight Gourami suitable for beginners?
- Yes — Moonlight Gourami is one of the easier species to keep and forgives typical first-tank mistakes, as long as the aquarium is cycled and maintained.