Giant Gourami
Osphronemus goramy
- Care level
- Specialist
- Adult size
- 70 cm
- Minimum tank
- 681 litres
- Temperature
- 20–30 °C
Species profile
Giant Chocolate Gourami
Sphaerichthys acrostoma
Common names: Giant Chocolate Gourami
Recognized speciesGouramis
Adult size
Up to 7 cm
Up to 7 cm
Countries of origin
Good fit for your tank?
Good fit for
- A keeper who has researched this fish and can match its needs
Think carefully if
- Your tap water is hard and you do not want to treat it
- You only want to keep one or two, because this fish needs a group of 5 or more
- You keep shrimp you want to protect
The largest chocolate gourami, with a longer, pointed head, and also sold as the Sharp-nosed or Moonlight Chocolate Gourami. Keep a group of at least 5 in 72 litres or more.
Appearance and Identification
The largest chocolate gourami, with a longer, pointed head, and also sold as the Sharp-nosed or Moonlight Chocolate Gourami. It is uncommon in the hobby and needs very soft, acidic water.
Check the scientific name when buying, as common names vary between sellers and countries.
Males are usually brighter, with more pointed dorsal fins, and females are rounder.
Tank Requirements
- Suggested filter
- About 140–220 litres an hour
- Suggested heater
- About 75–100 W for this tank
- Minimum tank volume
- 72 litres
- Minimum tank length
- 80 cm
- Minimum group size
- 5
- Recommended group size
- 8
- Activity level
- Low
- Flow preference
- Low
- Planting preference
- Heavily planted
- Hiding places
- Yes
- Lid recommended
- Yes
- Jumping risk
- Moderate
Keep the water calm, with floating plants and tall stems for cover, and leave a little open water at the surface, because gouramis breathe air. A lid keeps the air above the water warm, which protects the labyrinth organ.
Behaviour and Tankmates
A calm, deliberate fish that explores with its long, thread-like pelvic fins and takes breaths of air from the surface.
Can be kept singly or in a small group. Males may squabble, so give them cover if you keep more than one.
Males can be territorial, especially when building a nest.
Usually suits a calm community of fish that are not too boisterous. Avoid fin nippers, which go for its long pelvic fins. It is likely to eat shrimp. Choose its tankmates with care.
Water Parameters
Needs soft, acidic water. Keep the temperature steady.
Parameter caveat
Keep up regular water changes, and acclimatise new fish slowly.
Feeding
- Diet types
- Omnivore
- Feeding frequency
- Daily
- Preferred foods
- Quality pellets or flakeA good staple. Choose a size that fits its mouth.
- Frozen bloodworm, daphnia and brine shrimpOffer several times a week for colour and condition.
- Algae or vegetable-based foodInclude some plant matter for balance.
Takes prepared foods readily, along with live and frozen foods.
Feed small amounts, and remove anything left after a few minutes.
Breeding
- Breeding type
- Mouthbrooder
- Breeding difficulty
- Difficult
- Parental care
- Mouthbrooding
- Baby foods
- Newly hatched brine shrimpThe fry can usually take this from the start.
- Crushed flakeA simple addition as they grow.
A mouthbrooder. The female usually holds the eggs and young fry in her mouth for a few weeks, and releases free-swimming young. Give her cover, and avoid stressing her during this time.
Habitat and Origin
- Geographic origin
- Indonesia, Southeast Asia
- Natural habitat
- Blackwater, Freshwater Stream, Swamp
- Aquarium contexts
- Planted Aquarium
- Audience level
- Intermediate
Classification
- Profile type
- Recognized species
- Genus
- Sphaerichthys
- Family
- Osphronemidae
- Species group
- Fish, Gouramis
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- Minimum tank
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- Temperature
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- Temperature
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