Opaline Gourami (Trichopodus trichopterus) Care Guide
A color morph of the Three Spot Gourami with a beautiful marbled blue pattern. Hardy and adaptable, but males can be territorial and aggressive towards other gouramis.
Compiled by Aquairi from published sources · Published · Updated
Overview
Trichopodus trichopterus is a species in the family Osphronemidae. A color morph of the Three Spot Gourami with a beautiful marbled blue pattern. Hardy and adaptable, but males can be territorial and aggressive towards other gouramis. Uses its thread-like pelvic fins to sense surroundings. A labyrinth fish that breathes atmospheric air.
Taxonomy
- Family: Osphronemidae
- Genus: Trichopodus
- Scientific name: Trichopodus trichopterus
- Other names: Marbled Gourami, Cosby Gourami
- Origin: Southeast Asia
Habitat
A selectively bred marbled colour form of the three-spot gourami (Trichopodus trichopterus), which is native to the Mekong basin and across Southeast Asia. The wild species inhabits sluggish lowland waters, marshes and rice paddies with dense vegetation and breathes air via a labyrinth organ.
Tank requirements
- Minimum tank volume: 120 L
- Temperature: 24-28 °C
- pH: 6-8
- GH: 5-20 °dGH
- Water flow: low
- Adult size: 10-15 cm
- Lifespan: 4-6 years
- Difficulty: beginner
Diet
Classified as omnivore. Recommended feeding frequency: 2x daily. In captivity, offer a varied diet appropriate to the species — quality prepared foods supplemented with frozen or live items of suitable size.
Compatibility
- Temperament: semi-aggressive
- Swimming level: top
- Compatible tank mates: Large Tetras, Corydoras, Bristlenose Pleco, Barbs
- Avoid with: Other Male Gouramis, Betta, Small Fish
Breeding
- Breeding difficulty: intermediate
Opaline Gourami Breeding Guide
Overview
The opaline gourami is a colour morph of Trichopodus trichopterus, a labyrinth fish that breeds by building a bubble nest at the surface. The male constructs and tends the nest, and after spawning the female should be removed because the male becomes aggressive toward her.
Sexing
The male is larger and develops a pointed dorsal fin, while the female is smaller and rounder in the belly.
Conditioning
Condition the fish on live foods. Providing two or three females per male is advisable because the male can be hard on unwilling females.
Breeding Setup
- Shallow water about 6-8 inches (15-20 cm) deep
- Abundant floating plants for the bubble nest
- Gentle air-powered filtration
- Two or three females available per male
Spawning Behavior & Trigger
The male builds a large bubble nest among the floating plants, incorporating plant material. The pair touch each other with their modified ventral fins, then spawn beneath the nest in the typical anabantoid embrace, with the eggs floating upward as the male shepherds them into the nest. Between 500 and 1200 eggs may be produced.
Egg & Fry Care
Remove the female after spawning, as she is chased away and could be seriously harmed. The eggs hatch in around 20-30 hours, and the fry become free-swimming in another 4-5 days, at which point the male should also be removed. Feed infusoria or liquid fry food for the first week, then brine shrimp nauplii and microworm. Much cannibalism can occur because the fry grow at uneven rates, so careful grading and monitoring help.
Common Challenges
Male aggression toward the female and toward other males is the main behavioural challenge, while the uneven growth of the very large fry brood makes cannibalism and the supply of fine first foods the key rearing concerns.