Three-spot Gourami
Trichopodus trichopterus
Osphronemidae
About
The three-spot gourami is a large, hardy labyrinth fish from the slow and still waters of Southeast Asia, named for the two dark body spots that, with the eye, form a row of three. Widely sold as the blue, opaline, gold and cosby colour forms, it is undemanding and adaptable, but grows to around 15 cm and turns territorial with age. Males in particular squabble and can become spiteful, so it is best kept singly or as one male with several females rather than in a group. As an air-breather it must reach the surface for atmospheric oxygen, so a warm, calm surface and a tight lid are essential.
Care
Keep one male in a spacious, planted 110 L+ tank at 24-30°C with a calm surface, floating cover and a tight lid for surface breathing. Territorial with age; house singly or with females and avoid small or timid tankmates.
Diet
Generalist omnivore; feed quality flake and pellet plus frozen and live foods and a little vegetable matter. Happily picks at hydra and tiny invertebrates.
Tankmate compatibility
Gets along with (27)
Possible with care (205)
Avoid (39)
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 Three-spot Gourami need?
- A Three-spot Gourami needs an aquarium of at least 110 litres (29.1 US gallons) with a footprint at least 90 cm (35.4 in) long — for this species, swimming length matters as much as raw volume.
- What water parameters does a Three-spot Gourami need?
- Three-spot Gourami does best at 24–30 °C (75.2–86 °F), pH 5.5–8.5 and a general hardness of 3–25 °dGH.
- Is the Three-spot Gourami suitable for beginners?
- Yes — Three-spot Gourami is one of the easier species to keep and forgives typical first-tank mistakes, as long as the aquarium is cycled and maintained.