Pearl Gourami
Trichopodus leerii
Osphronemidae
About
The pearl gourami is a graceful, long-lived labyrinth fish from the peat swamps and slow blackwater streams of the Malay Peninsula, Sumatra and Borneo. Its lace-like pearlescent spotting and a bold dark lateral line make it one of the most elegant gouramis, and breeding males flush a rich orange-red across the throat and breast. Peaceful and relatively shy, it needs a spacious, tall, well-planted tank with a calm surface and floating cover. Long thread-like pelvic fins make it sensitive to fin-nipping tankmates, so choose companions carefully.
Care
Provide a tall, quiet, planted 110 L+ tank at 24-30°C with gentle flow and floating plants. Peaceful and long-lived; avoid fin-nipping tankmates.
Diet
Omnivore; flake/pellet, live/frozen foods and some veg; happily eats hydra.
Tankmate compatibility
Gets along with (33)
Possible with care (148)
Avoid (90)
Computed by the AquaSage engine for a spacious reference tank — always check the full verdict for your exact setup in the calculator.
Full tank-mates guide with reasons →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 Pearl Gourami need?
- A Pearl Gourami needs an aquarium of at least 110 litres (29.1 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 Pearl Gourami need?
- Pearl Gourami does best at 24–30 °C (75.2–86 °F), pH 6–7.5 and a general hardness of 4–15 °dGH.
- Is the Pearl Gourami suitable for beginners?
- Yes — Pearl Gourami is one of the easier species to keep and forgives typical first-tank mistakes, as long as the aquarium is cycled and maintained.